Obed was the son of Boaz and Ruth, the father of Jesse, and the grandfather of King David. He is mentioned in the genealogies of Jesus Christ in Matthew 1 and Luke 3. Though he is not a major figure in the Bible, Obed’s story shows God’s faithfulness across generations and how God used a non-Israelite woman, Ruth, to bring about the line of David leading to Jesus.
Obed’s Family Background
Obed was born to Boaz and Ruth in Bethlehem during the time of the judges (Ruth 4:13,17). Boaz was a wealthy Israelite landowner and kinsman-redeemer who took Ruth as his wife after the death of her first husband Mahlon (Ruth 2:1, 4:9-10). Ruth was a Moabite woman who chose to follow Naomi, her Israelite mother-in-law, to Bethlehem after Naomi’s sons Mahlon and Chilion died. There Ruth met and married Boaz (Ruth 1:16-17, 4:13).
So Obed had an Israelite father in Boaz but a Moabite mother in Ruth. Intermarriage between Israelites and other nations was forbidden at times in the Old Testament, so Ruth’s union with Boaz showed God’s acceptance of her into His people. God blessed this mixed union with a son, Obed, who would become the grandfather of Israel’s King David.
Obed’s Birth
After Boaz fulfilled his duty as kinsman-redeemer and took Ruth as his wife, the Lord enabled Ruth to conceive and she gave birth to a son (Ruth 4:13). The text says specifically that Obed was born to Boaz through Ruth, emphasizing her role as the childbearer through whom God brought about His redemptive plan.
The women of Bethlehem praised God for this child, saying to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him” (Ruth 4:14-15). They recognized God’s great blessing to Naomi of a “restorer” – this grandson Obed born to Ruth.
The Meaning of Obed’s Name
The name Obed means “servant” or “worshiper” in Hebrew. When Obed was born, the women said, “A son has been born to Naomi.” So he was originally referred to as “a son.” But then the text clarifies, “And they called his name Obed” (Ruth 4:17).
The name Obed suits the themes of Ruth and Boaz’s story – Ruth as a servant gleaning in the fields (Ruth 2:2) and Boaz as a worshiper of God (Ruth 2:4,12). Most importantly, just as Ruth served Naomi and Boaz served as God’s kinsman-redeemer, little Obed would serve God’s redemptive purposes as an ancestor of Christ.
Obed in Jesus’ Genealogy
Though Obed was the son of Boaz and father of Jesse, he is perhaps most significant as the grandfather of King David. God’s promise to establish the house of David is fulfilled through Obed (1 Kings 11:36, 1 Chronicles 17:11-14).
For this reason, Obed is mentioned generations later in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. Matthew 1:5 lists Obed as the one through whom Boaz fathered Jesse, who fathered King David. Luke 3:32 again names Obed between Boaz and Jesse in Jesus’ family line.
So while Obed was not a major character himself, through his birth and lineage God demonstrated His faithfulness across generations to fulfill His redemptive plan through David leading to Jesus Christ. Even a non-Israelite like Ruth was grafted into this family tree by God’s grace.
Lessons from Obed’s Life
Though little is said directly about Obed in Scripture, some lessons emerge:
1. God works His plan across generations. The story did not end with Ruth and Boaz, as God continued His redemptive work through their son Obed. We can trust God to work out His purposes beyond our lifetimes.
2. God uses outsiders. Ruth was a foreigner brought into God’s people, and Obed was born to this unlikely woman. God draws people to Himself from all nations.
3. Our lives impact future generations. Though Obed did nothing particularly noteworthy, he served a crucial place in God’s plan as King David’s grandfather. Even everyday obedience matters.
4. Women play important roles. Ruth, more than Obed himself, is praised for her faith and blessing future generations. We should value how God uses both men and women.
5. God works even through sinful origins. Despite Ruth being a Moabite, a nation originating from incest (Genesis 19:37), God used and blessed her line. God overcomes humanity’s failures.
6. God fulfills His Word. The promise made to Abraham to bless the world through his offspring (Genesis 12:1-3) was upheld through Obed generations later, and fulfilled through Jesus Christ. We can fully trust all God’s promises.
While Obed does not stand out on his own in Scripture, his birth marked a key transition in God’s continuing plan of redemption through the lineage of Perez leading through generations to David and culminating in Jesus Christ, the promised seed who would bless all nations (Matthew 1:1-17). Obed’s life reminds us to see the bigger picture of what God is doing through seemingly ordinary people and events as He works out His perfect plan across history.