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Ruth 4:12
ESV and may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring that the LORD will give you by this young woman.”
NIV Through the offspring the LORD gives you by this young woman, may your family be like that of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah.'
NASB Moreover, may your house be like the house of Perez whom Tamar bore to Judah, through the descendants whom the Lord will give you by this young woman.'
CSB May your house become like the house of Perez, the son Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring the Lord will give you by this young woman."
NLT And may the Lord give you descendants by this young woman who will be like those of our ancestor Perez, the son of Tamar and Judah.'
KJV And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman.

What does Ruth 4:12 mean?

The people and elders of Bethlehem have prayed blessings of fertility on Ruth and Boaz. Now, their words get personal.

Ruth and Boaz will have a levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5–6). The first son will live as the heir of Ruth's late father-in-law Elimelech. He will inherit Elimelech's property and position in the clan.

Tamar was also a levirate bride (Genesis 38). She married Er, the oldest son of Judah. Er committed horrible sins, and God struck him down. As is the practice, Judah married Tamar to his next-oldest son, Onan. Onan was to provide an heir for Er, but he refused. Because of this, God struck him down, as well.

Judah's third son, Shelah, was too young to marry. But even when he was old enough, Judah did not give him to Tamar; he was afraid God would take Shelah, as well. By withholding his son, Judah took Tamar's rights for a son. In response, Tamar took off her widow's clothes, veiled herself, and waited where she knew Judah would be traveling. Judah saw her, thought she was a prostitute because of the veil, and propositioned her. She agreed. When Judah heard she was pregnant, he resolved to kill her for adultery. But when she revealed he was the father, he admitted that he was guilty of even greater sin. Tamar gave birth to twin boys, Perez and Zerah. Perez was an ancestor of Boaz.

The people's blessing comes true. Ruth will give birth to Obed. Obed will be the father of Jesse. Jesse will be the father of Israel's greatest king, David (Ruth 4:21–22). And, of course, the Messiah of Israel and Savior of the world will descend from David (Matthew 1:5–16; Luke 3:23–32).
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