Naomi took the child may be rendered in some languages as “Naomi took the child in her arms” or “Naomi took the child in her hands.”

Held him close is literally in Hebrew “laid him in her bosom” (cf. New English Bible “laid him in her lap,” and New American Bible “placed him on her lap”). One meaning of the Hebrew term translated “bosom” or “lap” may refer to a fold of the garment at the height of the breast, but this is hardly an appropriate meaning in this context. See especially Baumgartner, s.v. cheq. Most receptor languages have an appropriate way of speaking about this action of taking a child and holding it on the lap or holding it close to oneself. The rendering of Good News Translation is in this context rather neutral.

It is probable that the expression held him close refers to the rite of adoption. Such a rite was well known in the Orient and has been attested in Mesopotamian and Hurrian law in the second millennium B. C. It is not specifically mentioned in the Old Testament laws, but several Old Testament stories suggest that this practice was not unknown in Israel; for example, the adoption of the children of Bilhah and Zilpah by Rachel and Leah in Genesis 30.3-13. There also seem to be traces of such a rite in the blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh (Gen 48) and the fact that the sons of Machir were born on the knees of Joseph (Gen 50.23). Through a kind of legal adoption symbolized by this act, they were considered the sons of Joseph. See L. Köhler, “Die Adoptionsform von Ruth 4.16,” ZAW 29 (1909), pages 312-314; Gerleman, op. cit., ad loc. This adoption of Obed by Naomi does not necessarily support the argument in favor of an ancient matriarchy which may have preceded a patriarchal organization, So Lods, op cit., pages 220-221. nor is the adoption referred to in this passage a typical or ordinary one, since it takes place within the family group, and the legal effects would be restricted to the family relationship. So de Vaux, op cit., page 86.

It is not entirely clear whether the Hebrew term underlying the translation and took care of him should be taken literally as “to nurse,” So Brown-Driver-Briggs, Köhler, Baumgartner, Tamisier, and all modern English translations. or whether it means simply to look after the child. So Rudolph, Haller, Hertzberg, Luther, Zürcher, BJ, and Dhorme. It would certainly seem better to employ a more general expression such as “and she looked after him,” “and she took care of him,” or “and she watched after him.”

Quoted with permission from de Waard, Jan and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Ruth. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1978, 1992. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .