And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.
Naomi said to her daughter-in-law Ruth, 'May the Lord bless him! He has continued to show kindness to both the living and the dead.' Then Naomi told her, 'This man is a close relative of ours, one of our family redeemers.'
Naomi is praising God for Boaz's kindness and explaining to Ruth that he's actually a close family relative who could help restore their family.
📚 Historical Context
In the era of the Judges, around 1100 BC, Naomi and her Moabite daughter-in-law Ruth were widows facing poverty in Bethlehem after returning from Moab. Naomi recognizes Boaz as a close relative, which in ancient Israelite culture meant he could serve as a kinsman-redeemer, a role that involved protecting family inheritance and possibly marrying the widow to preserve the family line. This highlights the social and legal customs that emphasized clan loyalty and God's provision during vulnerable times.
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