Ruth 4:1-12

The Marriage of Ruth

1 Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there, and behold, ¹the close relative of whom Boaz spoke was passing by, so he said, "Turn aside, friend *, sit down here." And he turned aside and sat down.

2 He took ten men of the ²elders of the city and said, "Sit down here." So they sat down.

3 Then he said to the closest relative, "Naomi, who has come back from the land of Moab, has to sell the piece of land ³which belonged to our brother Elimelech.

4 "So I thought to inform * you, saying, '⁴Buy it before those who are sitting here, and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if not, tell me that I may know; for ⁵there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am after you.' " And he said, "I will redeem it."

5 Then Boaz said, "On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the deceased, in order ⁶to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance."

6 ⁷The closest relative said, "I cannot * redeem it for myself, because I would jeopardize my own inheritance. Redeem it for yourself; you may have my right of redemption, for I cannot * redeem it."

7 Now this was ⁸the custom in former times in Israel concerning the redemption and the exchange of land to confirm any matter: a man removed his sandal and gave it to another; and this was the manner of attestation in Israel.

8 So the closest relative said to Boaz, "Buy it for yourself." And he removed his sandal.

9 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, "You are witnesses today that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon.

10 "Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance, so ⁹that the name of the deceased will not be cut off from his brothers or from the court of his birth place; you are witnesses today."

11 All the people who were in the court, and the elders, said, "We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is coming into your home ¹⁰like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built the house of Israel; and may you achieve wealth in Ephrathah and become famous * in Bethlehem.

12 "Moreover, may your house be like the house of ¹¹Perez whom Tamar bore to Judah, through the offspring which the LORD will give you by this young woman."

Ruth 4:1-12 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.

Cross References

• 1. Ruth 3:12
• 2. 1 Kings 21:8; Proverbs 31:23
• 3. Leviticus 25:25
• 4. Jeremiah 32:7
• 5. Leviticus 25:25
• 6. Genesis 38:8; Deuteronomy 25:5; Matthew 22:24
• 7. Leviticus 25:25
• 8. Deuteronomy 25:8-10
• 9. Deuteronomy 25:6
• 10. Genesis 29:25-30
• 11. Genesis 38:29; Genesis 46:12; Ruth 4:18

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "redeemer"
• [b]. Lit "a certain one"
• [c]. Lit "redeemer"
• [d]. Lit "uncover your ear"
• [e]. Lit "no one will redeem"
• [f]. Lit "redeemer"
• [g]. Lit "ruin"
• [h]. Lit "redeemer"
• [i]. Lit "gate"
• [j]. Lit "gate"
• [k]. Or "power"
• [l]. Lit "call the name in"
• [m]. Lit "seed"