The Meaning of Ruth 4:15 Explained

Ruth 4:15

KJV: 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.

YLT: and he hath been to thee for a restorer of life, and for a nourisher of thine old age, for thy daughter-in-law who hath loved thee -- who is better to thee than seven sons -- hath borne him.'

Darby: And he shall be to thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age; for thy daughter-in-law who loves thee, who is better to thee than seven sons, has borne him.

ASV: And he shall be unto thee a restorer of life, and a nourisher of thine old age, for thy daughter-in-law, who loveth thee, who is better to thee than seven sons, hath borne him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Ruth 4:15 Mean?

Context Summary

Ruth 4:1-22 - In The Line Of David's Ancestry
We are admitted here to a graphic picture of the old world. Men's memories were longer and stronger than ours: and what was done publicly in the Gate, the place of public concourse, had the seal of permanence irrevocably attached to it. The transference of the shoe indicated the inferior position of woman, though she was honored in Israel more than in the neighboring nations.
What a happy ending! The gleaner need never again tread the fields, following the reaper's footsteps. All the broad acres were now hers, since she had become one with the owner. When we are one with Christ, we no longer work for redemption; but being redeemed, we bring forth fruit unto God, Romans 7:4. The curtain falls on a blessed group. The tiny babe lies on Naomi's bosom. The women who had gone together into the valley of the shadow of death stand together in the light of the mountain-top. God turns mourning into gladness, Psalms 30:11. And let us Gentiles learn that we too have a part in Christ. In Him is neither Jew nor Greek, Colossians 3:11 [source]

Chapter Summary: Ruth 4

1  Boaz calls into judgment the next kinsman
6  He refuses the redemption according to the manner in Israel
9  Boaz buys the inheritance
11  He marries Ruth
13  She bears Obed, the grandfather of David
18  The generations of Pharez unto David

What do the individual words in Ruth 4:15 mean?

And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age for your daughter-in-law who loves you has borne him who is better to you than seven sons
וְהָ֤יָה לָךְ֙ לְמֵשִׁ֣יב נֶ֔פֶשׁ וּלְכַלְכֵּ֖ל אֶת־ שֵׂיבָתֵ֑ךְ כִּ֣י כַלָּתֵ֤ךְ אֲ‍ֽשֶׁר־ אֲהֵבַ֙תֶךְ֙ יְלָדַ֔תּוּ אֲשֶׁר־ הִיא֙ ט֣וֹבָה לָ֔ךְ מִשִּׁבְעָ֖ה בָּנִֽים

וְהָ֤יָה  And  may  he  be 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
לָךְ֙  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person feminine singular
לְמֵשִׁ֣יב  a  restorer 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular construct
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
נֶ֔פֶשׁ  of  life 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
וּלְכַלְכֵּ֖ל  and  a  nourisher 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct
Root: כּוּל  
Sense: to seize, contain, measure.
שֵׂיבָתֵ֑ךְ  your  old  age 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person feminine singular
Root: שֵׂיבָה  
Sense: age, gray hair, hoary head, old age.
כַלָּתֵ֤ךְ  your  daughter-in-law 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person feminine singular
Root: כַּלָּה  
Sense: bride, daughter-in-law.
אֲהֵבַ֙תֶךְ֙  loves  you 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular, second person feminine singular
Root: אָהַב  
Sense: to love.
יְלָדַ֔תּוּ  has  borne  him 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: יָלַד 
Sense: to bear, bring forth, beget, gender, travail.
ט֣וֹבָה  better 
Parse: Adjective, feminine singular
Root: טָבַב 
Sense: good, pleasant, agreeable.
לָ֔ךְ  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person feminine singular
מִשִּׁבְעָ֖ה  than  seven 
Parse: Preposition-m, Number, masculine singular
Root: שֶׁבַע  
Sense: seven (cardinal number).
בָּנִֽים  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.