Ruth 4:5
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.
4 I thought I should inform you that you may 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 will not redeem it, tell me so I may know, because there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am next after you.” “I will redeem it,” he replied.
Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi and also from Ruth the Moabitess, you must also acquire the widow of the deceased in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance.”
6 The kinsman-redeemer replied, “I cannot redeem it myself, or I would jeopardize my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption, because I cannot redeem it.”
7 Now in former times in Israel, concerning the redemption or exchange of property, to make any matter legally binding a man would remove his sandal and give it to the other party, and this was a confirmation in Israel.
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
- Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi and also from Ruth the Moabitess, you must also acquire the widow of the deceased in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance.”
- KJV
- Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.
- WEB
- Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must buy it also from Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead on his inheritance.”
- ASV
- Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.
- DARBY
- And Boaz said, On the day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy [it] also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.
- BLB
- And Boaz said, “In the day of your buying the field from the hand of Naomi, and from Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, you must buy [it] to raise up the name of the dead on his inheritance.”
- ÅB
- Da sa Boas: Når du kjøper åkeren av No'omi, kjøper du den også av moabittinnen Rut, den avdødes hustru, for å oppreise den avdødes navn på hans arvelodd.
- OTB
- Da sa Boas: "Den dagen du kjøper jorden fra Noomi, får du også Rut, moabittinnen, den avdødes enke, for å opprettholde navnet til den døde med hans arv."
- B1930
- Da sa Boas: Når du kjøper akeren av No'omi, kjøper du den også av moabittinnen Rut, den avdødes hustru, for å opreise den avdødes navn på hans arvelodd.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Matthew 22:24
“Teacher,” they said, “Moses declared that if a man dies without having children, his brother is to marry the widow and raise up offspring for him.
Read in contextGenesis 38:8
Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife. Perform your duty as her brother-in-law and raise up offspring for your brother.”
Read in contextDeuteronomy 25:5–6
When brothers dwell together and one of them dies without a son, the widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother is to take her as his wife and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law for her.
Read in contextRuth 3:12–13
Yes, it is true that I am a kinsman-redeemer, but there is a redeemer nearer than I.
Read in contextLuke 20:28
“Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man is to marry his brother’s widow and raise up offspring for him.
Read in context