Ruth 4:15

He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The women of Bethlehem address Naomi immediately after Boaz redeems the land and marries Ruth. They speak to declare that God has provided a kinsman-redeemer to reverse Naomi’s loss.

The words — The phrase לְמֵשִׁיב נֶפֶשׁ (le./me.Shiv Ne.fesh) literally means “to restore life,” paired with וּלְכַלְכֵּל שֵׂיבָתֶךָ (u./le./khal.Kel sei.va.Te/kh) meaning “to sustain your old age.” These terms describe the tangible provision Boaz’s son will bring to Naomi.

The thread — This promise of sustenance in old age echoes Isaiah 46:4, where God vows to bear His people up when they turn gray. It parallels the provision themes in Genesis 45:11 and the burden-casting assurance of Psalms 55:22.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that human loyalty and covenant redemption operate as the mechanism for God’s provision. It asks the reader to accept that care for the vulnerable is not incidental but central to how God renews life.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְהָ֤יָהve./Ha.yahand/ he will becomeלָךְ֙lo/Khfor <the>/ youלְמֵשִׁ֣יבle./me.Shiv<into>/ [one who] restores נֶ֔פֶשׁNe.feshlife וּלְכַלְכֵּ֖לu./le./khal.Keland/ to/ sustain אֶת־'et-<obj.>שֵׂיבָתֵ֑ךְsei.va.Te/khold age/ your כִּ֣יkifor כַלָּתֵ֤ךְkha.la.Te/khdaughter-in-law/ your אֲֽשֶׁר־'asher-who אֲהֵבַ֙תֶךְ֙'a.he.Va.te/khshe loves/ you יְלָדַ֔תּוּye.la.Da.t/ushe has given birth to/ him אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-who הִיא֙hi'she ט֣וֹבָהToah[is] goodלָ֔ךְLa/khto <the>/ youמִשִּׁבְעָ֖הmi./shiv.'Ahmore than/ seven בָּנִֽים׃ba.Nimsons

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Isaiah 46:4 Even to your old age, I will be the same, and I will bear you up when you turn gray. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will sustain you and deliver you.
Genesis 45:11 And there I will provide for you, because there will be five more years of famine. Otherwise, you and your household and everything you own will come to destitution.’
Psalms 55:22 Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.
Ruth 2:11 Boaz replied, “I have been made fully aware of all you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, how you left your father and mother and the land of your birth, and how you came to a people you did not know before.
Genesis 47:12 Joseph also provided his father and brothers and all his father’s household with food for their families.
1 Samuel 1:8 “Hannah, why are you crying?” her husband Elkanah asked. “Why won’t you eat? Why is your heart so grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”
Proverbs 18:24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
Ruth 1:16 But Ruth replied: “Do not urge me to leave you or to turn from following you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.