Ruth 4 · Verse 16

Ruth 4:16

And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it.
Ruth 4:16, King James Version

Ruth 4:16 in other translations

BSBAnd Naomi took the child, placed him on her lap, and became a nurse to him.
WEBNaomi took the child, laid him in her bosom, and became nurse to him.
ASVAnd Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it.
YLTAnd Naomi taketh the lad, and layeth him in her bosom, and is to him for a nurse;
DARBYAnd Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse to it.
BBEAnd Naomi took the child and put her arms round it, and she took care of it.
WebsterAnd Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became its nurse.

What does Ruth 4:16 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 Naomi took the child - This might do for Naomi, but it was bad for the child. A child, unless remarkably healthy and robust, will suffer considerably by being nursed by an old woman, especially if the child sleep with her. The aged gain refreshment and energy by sleeping with the young; and from the same means the young derive premature decrepitude. The vigor which is absorbed by the former is lost by the latter. It is a foolish and destructive custom to permit young children, which is a common case, to sleep with aged aunts and old grandmothers. Bacon's grand secret of the cure of old age, couched in so many obscure and enigmatical terms, is simply this: Let young persons sleep constantly with those who are aged and infirm. And it was on this principle that the physicians of David recommended a young healthy girl to sleep with David in his old age. They well knew that the aged infirm body of the king would absorb a considerable portion of healthy energy from the young woman.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ruth 4:13-22

Ruth bore a son, through whom thousands and myriads were born to God; and in being the lineal ancestor of Christ, she was instrumental in the happiness of all that shall be saved by him; even of us Gentiles, as well as those of Jewish descent. She was a witness for God to the Gentile world, that he had not utterly forsaken them, but that in due time they should become one with his chosen people, and partake of his…

Read the full comment on Ruth 4:13-22 →

Ruth 4:16 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַתִּקַּ֨חva.ti.Kachand she tookH3947
נָעֳמִ֤יno.'o.MiNaomiH5281
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
הַיֶּ֙לֶד֙hai.Ye.ledthe childH3206
וַתְּשִׁתֵ֣הוּva.te.shi.Te.huand she placed himH7896
בְחֵיקָ֔הּve.chei.Kahon bosom herH2436
וַתְּהִי\־va.te.hi-and she becameH1961
ל֖וֹloof him
לְאֹמֶֽנֶת\׃le.'o.Me.net<into> a nurseH539

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Context

  • Ruth 4:15

    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.

  • Ruth 4:16

    And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it.

  • Ruth 4:17

    And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Read all of Ruth 4

Ruth 4:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y tomando Noemi el hijo, púsolo en su regazo, y fuéle su ama.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Naomi prit l’enfant, et le mit dans son sein, et elle lui tint lieu de nourrice.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Noomi nahm das Kind und legte es auf ihren Schoß und wurde seine Wärterin.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Susceptumque Noëmi puerum posuit in sinu suo, et nutricis ac gerulæ fungebatur officio.