URute 4:11

Izhibhalo Ezingcwele

11 Bathi bonke abantu abasesangweni namadoda amakhulu, Singamangqina. UYehova makamenze lo mfazi ungenayo endlwini yakho, abe njengoRakeli nanjengoLeya, abayakhayo indlu kaSirayeli bobabini, avelise amandla e-Efrata, akwenzele udumo eBhetelehem;

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the Lord: Genesis 24:60, Psalms 127:3-5, Psalms 128:3-6

Rachel: Genesis 29:32-35, Genesis 30:1-24, Genesis 35:16-20, Genesis 46:8-27, Numbers 26:1-65

build: Deuteronomy 25:9, Proverbs 14:1

do thou worthily: or, get thee riches, or power

Ephratah: Ruth 1:2, Genesis 35:16, Genesis 35:19, Psalms 132:6, Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:6

be famous: Heb. proclaim thy name

Reciprocal: Genesis 16:2 - obtain children Genesis 23:11 - in the Genesis 29:16 - was Leah Genesis 30:3 - have children by her Genesis 31:14 - Rachel Genesis 48:9 - my sons Genesis 48:19 - become Genesis 48:20 - Israel bless Deuteronomy 6:7 - shalt talk Ruth 2:4 - And they 1 Samuel 2:20 - blessed 1 Chronicles 2:51 - Bethlehem Job 29:7 - General Isaiah 8:2 - I took Jeremiah 29:22 - shall be Zechariah 8:13 - ye shall Matthew 2:5 - General Luke 2:4 - unto

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, we are witnesses,.... Both of the purchase of the estate by Boaz being legally made, and of the marriage of Ruth to him, the condition of the bargain:

the Lord make the woman that is come into thine house; not into his house, strictly and literally taken, the place of his habitation; for both he and she were now at the gate of the city, and as yet she was not introduced into his house; but by his marriage of her she was brought into his family, and was become a principal part of it, being his wife. This is a wish, prayer, or benediction of the elders, of one in the name of the rest, congratulating the married couple, and wishing them well; and particularly that the woman Boaz had married before them, as witnesses, might be

like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: the two wives of Jacob; the Targum adds, with twelve tribes; for though some of the tribes sprung from their maids, which they gave to Jacob, yet the children born of them were reckoned theirs by a moral estimation, as some express it. Rachel is set before Leah, though the youngest, and had the fewest children, because she was his first wife in his intention, and according to the covenant made with her father, though imposed upon and deceived; and she was his more lawful wife, and his most beloved one. By the children of these two, and their maidens, the house or family of Israel was built up, and became a great nation, consisting of twelve tribes, very numerous:

and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem; two names of one and the same place, Genesis 35:19. These words seem to be directed to Boaz, particularly praying that he might continue to do worthy and virtuous actions, as well as increase in wealth and riches, power and authority, and retain his name and fame, and grow in credit and reputation among his fellow citizens.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See the margin. There is something of a poetical turn in this speech of the elders, and something prophetic in the blessing pronounced by them. It is unique and obscure. The Greek Version (lxx) is unintelligible. Jerome seems to have had a slightly different reading, since he applies both clauses to Ruth. “May she be a pattern of virtue in Ephratah, and have a name famous in Bethlehem.” The meaning of “be famous” seems to be, Get thyself a name which shall be celebrated in Bethlehem, as the head of a powerful and illustrious house: literally it is, “proclaim a name,” i. e. cause others to proclaim thy name, as in Ruth 4:14.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Ruth 4:11. We are witnesses. — It is not very likely that any writing was drawn up. There was an appeal made to the people then present, whether they had seen and understood the transaction; who answered, We have witnessed it. If any minutes of court were kept, then the transaction was entered probably in some such words as these: "On --- day of ---, Boaz bought the land of Elimelech from Naomi his widow, and took Ruth, her daughter-in-law, to wife; ---, who had the nearest right, refusing to buy the land on the conditions then proposed."

The Lord make this woman - like Rachel and like Leah — May thy family be increased by her means, as the tribes were formed by means of Rachel and Leah, wives of the patriarch Jacob!

Which two did build the house of Israel — We have already seen that בן ben, a son, comes from the root בנה banah, he built; and hence אבן eben, a stone, because as a house is built of stones, so is a family of children. There is a similar figure in PLAUTUS, Mostell. Act i., sec. 2, ver. 37.

___________________Nunc etiam volo

Dicere, ut homines aedium esse similes arbitremini.

Primum dum parentes fabri liberum sunt,

Et fundamentum liberorum substruunt.

"I would also observe, that ye men are similar to houses; ye parents are the fabricators of the children, and they are the foundation of the building."