Obed
“Servant (of Jehovah)”
Summary
Obed was the son of Boaz and Ruth the Moabitess, and the grandfather of King David, making him an ancestor of Jesus Christ.
☩Son of Boaz and Ruth
Obed was born to Boaz and Ruth the Moabitess in Bethlehem. His birth is recorded with much beauty in the book of Ruth, where the women of the neighborhood named him, saying to Naomi, "The Lord hath not left thee without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel." They prophesied that he would be a nourisher of Naomi's old age, declaring that Ruth, who bore him, was better to Naomi than seven sons. Obed became the father of Jesse, who was the father of King David. His name appears in the genealogies of Christ in both Matthew and Luke.
☩Other Men Named Obed
Several other individuals in Scripture bear the name Obed. One was a descendant of Sheshan through his daughter, who married Jarha, an Egyptian servant. Another Obed was counted among David's mighty men. A fourth was a Korahite doorkeeper, son of Shemaiah and grandson of Obed-edom. Finally, Obed was the father of Azariah, one of the centurions who joined Jehoiada in deposing Queen Athaliah and placing Joash on the throne.
Related Verses26 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Obed," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VII (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Obed," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).
- 3.James Orr (ed.), "Obed," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. IV (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).