Ruth 4:1-8

Ruth and Boaz Marry

1 Boaz went to the gate [of the town]^[a] and sat down there. Soon, the family redeemer Boaz had spoken about^[b] came by. Boaz called him by name and said, "Come^[c] over here and sit down." So he went over and sat down.

2 Then Boaz took 10 men of the city's elders and said, "Sit here." And they sat down.

3 He said to the redeemer, "Naomi, who has returned from the land of Moab, is selling a piece of land that belonged to our brother Elimelech.

4 I thought I should inform you:^[d] 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^[e] 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^[f] Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the deceased man, to perpetuate the man's name on his property."^[g]

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^[h] 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."

Ruth 4:1-8 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.

Footnotes

• [a] Ru 3:11
• [b] Ru 3:12
• [c] Lit Boaz said so-and-so come
• [d] Lit should uncover your ear, saying
• [e] Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Vg; other Hb mss read if he does
• [f] Vg; MT reads Naomi and from
• [g] Gn 38:6-11; Lv 25:23-34; Dt 25:5-10
• [h] Dt 25:9