Ruth 4:1

Meanwhile, Boaz went to the gate and sat down there. Soon the kinsman-redeemer of whom he had spoken came along, and Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.” So he went over and sat down.

2 Then Boaz took ten of the elders of the city and said, “Sit here,” and they did so.

3 And he said to the kinsman-redeemer, “Naomi, who has returned from the land of Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our brother Elimelech.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Meanwhile, Boaz went to the gate and sat down there. Soon the kinsman-redeemer of whom he had spoken came along, and Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.” So he went over and sat down.
KJV
Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.
WEB
Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there. Behold, the near kinsman of whom Boaz spoke came by. Boaz said to him, “Come over here, friend, and sit down!” He came over, and sat down.
ASV
Now Boaz went up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the near kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.
DARBY
And Boaz went up to the gate, and sat down there. And behold, he that had the right of redemption, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. And he said, Thou, such a one, turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside and sat down.
BLB
And Boaz went up to the gate, and he sat there, and behold, the kinsman-redeemer was passing by, of whom Boaz had spoken. And he said, “Turn aside, sit here such a one, such a one.” And he turned aside and sat.
ÅB
Men Boas var gått opp til byporten og hadde satt seg der. Da kom løseren som Boas hadde talt om, nettopp forbi, og Boas sa: Kom hit og sett deg her, min venn! Og han kom og satte seg.
OTB
Boas gikk opp til byporten og satte seg der, og akkurat da gikk den gjenløseren Boas hadde nevnt forbi. Boas sa: "Kom hit, min venn, og sett deg ned." Så han kom bort og satte seg.
B1930
Men Boas var gått op til byporten og hadde satt sig der. Da kom løseren som Boas hadde talt om, nettop forbi, og Boas sa: Kom hit og sett dig her, min venn! Og han kom og satte sig.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Deuteronomy 25:7

    But if the man does not want to marry his brother’s widow, she is to go to the elders at the city gate and say, “My husband’s brother refuses to preserve his brother’s name in Israel. He is not willing to perform the duty of a brother-in-law for me.”

    Read in context
  • Ruth 3:12

    Yes, it is true that I am a kinsman-redeemer, but there is a redeemer nearer than I.

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 16:18

    You are to appoint judges and officials for your tribes in every town that the LORD your God is giving you. They are to judge the people with righteous judgment.

    Read in context
  • Job 29:7

    When I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square,

    Read in context
  • Amos 5:10–12

    There are those who hate the one who reproves in the gate and despise him who speaks with integrity.

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 21:19

    his father and mother are to lay hold of him and bring him to the elders of his city, to the gate of his hometown,

    Read in context
  • Job 31:21

    if I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless because I saw that I had support in the gate,

    Read in context
  • Amos 5:15

    Hate evil and love good; establish justice in the gate. Perhaps the LORD, the God of Hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.”

    Read in context