Charles Ellicott Commentary Ruth 4:11

"And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. Jehovah make the woman that is come into thy house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephrathah, and be famous in Bethlehem:" — Ruth 4:11 (ASV)

The Lord ...—In this way, the nuptial blessing is invoked.

Is come.—Rather, is coming.

Rachel—though the younger sister and the junior wife—is put first, probably because her death and burial associated her with Bethlehem (Genesis 35:19). In this way, too, we should explain the prophecy of Jeremiah as applied by St. Matthew (Jeremiah 31:15; Matthew 2:18).

Build.—From the Hebrew word to build, the words for son and daughter are derived; thus, a twofold aspect of the word sometimes appears, as it does here (Genesis 30:3).

Do thou worthily.—The Hebrew phrase (asah khayil), rendered this way, involves the notion of doing something with vigour and might. The khayil of a soldier is his valour—of a land, its material resources—and (Proverbs 31:10) the “virtuous woman” of the English Version is literally woman of khayil. The good wish for Boaz here is that by his energy he may secure continual prosperity.

Be famous.—Literally, proclaim a name.