Ruth 4:4-14

4 I thought I should inform you:^[a] Buy [it] back in the presence of those seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you want to redeem [it], do so. But if you do^[b] not want to redeem [it], tell me, so that I will know, because there isn't anyone other than you to redeem [it], and I am next after you." "I want to redeem [it]," he answered.

5 Then Boaz said, "On the day you buy the land from Naomi, you will also acquire^[c] Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the deceased man, to perpetuate the man's name on his property."^[d]

6 The redeemer replied, "I can't redeem [it] myself, or I will ruin my [own] inheritance. Take my right of redemption, because I can't redeem it."

7 At an earlier period in Israel, a man removed his sandal^[e] and gave [it] to the other party in order to make any matter [legally] binding concerning the right of redemption or the exchange of property. This was [the method of] legally binding a transaction in Israel.

8 So the redeemer removed his sandal and said to Boaz, "Buy back [the property] yourself."

9 Boaz said to the elders and all the people, "You are witnesses today that I am buying from Naomi everything that belonged to Elimelech, Chilion, and Mahlon.

10 I will also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon's widow, as my wife, to perpetuate the deceased man's name on his property,^[f] so that his name will not disappear among his relatives or from the gate of his home. You are witnesses today."

11 The elders and all the people who were at the gate said, "We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is entering your house like Rachel and Leah, who together built the house of Israel. May you be powerful in Ephrathah and famous in Bethlehem.

12 May your house become like the house of Perez, the son Tamar bore to Judah,^[g] because of the offspring the Lord will give you by this young woman."

13 Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he was intimate with her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.

14 Then the women said to Naomi, "Praise the Lord, who has not left you without a family redeemer today. May his name be famous in Israel.

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Ruth 4:4-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO RUTH 4

This chapter relates how an offer was made to the nearest kinsman of Ruth to redeem her, and the field her husband left, which he refused to do, Ru 4:1-8, upon which Boaz redeemed both, and married Ruth before the elders of the city as witnesses, and who congratulated him and her on that occasion, Ru 4:9-12, to whom a son was born, called Obed by the neighbours, Ru 4:13-17 and the chapter is concluded with the genealogy of David, who sprung from him, Ru 4:18-22.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Footnotes 7

[a]. Lit should uncover your ear, saying
[b]. Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Vg; other Hb mss read if he does
[c]. Vg; MT reads Naomi and from
[d]. Gn 38:6-11; Lv 25:23-34; Dt 25:5-10
[e]. Dt 25:9
[f]. Ru 4:5
[g]. Gn 38

Ruth 4:4-14

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Ruth 4:4-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO RUTH 4

Footnotes 7