Ruth 4:15
“And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The women declare the child will restore Naomi's life, praising Ruth as better than seven sons.
What Does Ruth 4:15 Mean?
The women describe what the child will mean to Naomi: he shall be a restorer of her life and a nourisher of her old age, a comfort and a security for her remaining years. And they crown their praise of Ruth with extraordinary words: she who loves Naomi is better to her than seven sons. In a culture that prized sons above all, this is the highest honor imaginable, given to a once-foreign daughter-in-law.
What a transformation this verse marks. Naomi, who lamented that she had lost her sons and returned empty, is told that Ruth's love outweighs even seven sons, the picture of complete blessing. The emptiness she mourned is filled to overflowing, not only by a grandchild but by the steadfast love of Ruth herself. God's restoration often comes through faithful, loving people set in our lives. Ruth, who clung to Naomi on the road of grief, has become the channel of Naomi's joy. Love proves, in the end, to be the truest wealth, more precious than all that was lost.