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Ruth 2:20

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Ruth 2:20 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And Naomi said unto her daughter-in-law, Blessed be he of Jehovah, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is nigh of kin unto us, one of our near kinsmen.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And Naomi said unto her daughter-in-law, Blessed be he of Jehovah, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is nigh of kin unto us, one of our near kinsmen.
Ruth 2:20 — American Standard Version

Context — Ruth 2

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
17So she gleaned in the field until even; and she beat out that which she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.
18And she took it up, and went into the city; and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth and gave to her that which she had left after she was sufficed.
19And her mother-in-law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to-day? and where hast thou wrought? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she showed her mother-in-law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man`s name with whom I wrought to-day is Boaz.
20And Naomi said unto her daughter-in-law, Blessed be he of Jehovah, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is nigh of kin unto us, one of our near kinsmen.
21And Ruth the Moabitess said, Yea, he said unto me, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.
22And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter-in-law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, and that they meet thee not in any other field.
23So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz, to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and she dwelt with her mother-in-law.
← Ruth 2:19Ruth 2:21 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, blessed be he of the Lord, etc.] Or the Lord bless him with all kind of blessings, temporal and spiritual; and as he has blessed him already, may he be blessed more and more: who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead; he had been kind to Elimelech and to his sons, who were now dead, and he continued his kindness to the reliefs of them, Naomi and Ruth, who were living, and was kind to them for the sake of the dead; and showing kindness to them expressed his respect to the memory of the dead: and Naomi said unto her; continued her speech to her, and added to what she had said: the man is near of kin to us; a near relation of ours,…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“the man is . . . one of our next kinsmen--Hebrew, "one of our redeemers," on whom it devolves to protect us, to purchase our lands, and marry you, the widow of his next kinsman. She said, "one of them," not that there were many in the same close relationship, but that he was a very near kinsman, one other individual only having the precedence.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Blessed be he of the Lord ... - We may gather from Naomi’s allusion to the dead that both her husband and son had been faithful servants of Jehovah, the God of Israel. His kindness to the dead consisted in raising up (as Naomi hoped) an heir to perpetuate the name; and, in general, in His care for their widows. One of our next kinsmen - The word here is גאל gā'al, the redeemer, who had the right: (1) of redeeming the inheritance of the person; (2) of marrying the widow; (3) of avenging the death. (See Leviticus 25:25-31, Leviticus 25:47-55; Deuteronomy 25:5-10; Deuteronomy 19:1-13.) Since these rights belonged to the next of kin, גאל gā'al came to mean the nearest kinsman. return to 'Top…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“To the dead - That is, which he formerly shewed to those who are now dead, my husband and his sons whilst they were living, and now continues to us. Ruth 2:21”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“2:20 family redeemers (Hebrew go’el): The law specified that the go’el, the nearest male kinsman, was to help a relative who fell into economic difficulty (see “The Family Redeemer” Theme Note; see also study note on Lev 25:25).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Blessed: Rut 3:10; Sa2 2:5; Job 29:12, Job 29:13; Ti2 1:16-18 hath not: Sa2 9:1; Pro 17:17; Phi 4:10 one of our: or, one that hath right to redeem, Rut 3:9, Rut 4:6; Lev 25:25; Deu 25:5-7; Job 19:25 Ruth 2:21”
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Related study paths

Read Ruth 2 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification