Discovery BoxRuth 4:14-17 
Context4:14 The village women said to Naomi, “May the Lord be praised because he has not left you without a guardian 1 today! May he 2 become famous in Israel! 3 4:15 He will encourage you and provide for you when you are old, 4 for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, has given him birth. She 5 is better to you than seven sons!” 4:16 Naomi took the child and placed him on her lap; 6 she became his caregiver. 7 4:17 The neighbor women named him, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. 8 Now he became the father of Jesse – David’s father!
1 tn Or “redeemer.” See the note on the phrase “guardian of the family interests” in 3:9. As the following context indicates, the child is referred to here.
2 tn The “guardian” is the subject of the verb, as the next verse makes clear.
3 tn Heb “may his name be called [i.e., “perpetuated”; see Gen 48:16] in Israel.”
4 tn Heb “and he will become for you a restorer of life and a sustainer of your old age” (NASB similar).
5 tn Heb “who, she”; KJV “which is better to thee.”
6 tn Or “breast”; KJV, NRSV “in her bosom.”
7 tn Heb “his nurse,” but this refers to a dry nurse, not a medical attendant. Cf. NIV “and cared for him”; TEV “and took (+ good CEV) care of him.”
8 tn The name “Obed” means “one who serves,” perhaps anticipating how he would help Naomi (see v. 15).
