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Ruth 4:7

5 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.”

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.

8 So the kinsman-redeemer removed his sandal and said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.”

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

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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
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.
KJV
Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel.
WEB
Now this was the custom in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning exchanging, to confirm all things: a man took off his sandal, and gave it to his neighbor; and this was the way of formalizing transactions in Israel.
ASV
Now this was [the custom] in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning exchanging, to confirm all things: a man drew off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbor; and this was the [manner of] attestation in Israel.
DARBY
Now this [was the custom] in former time in Israel concerning redemption and concerning exchange, to confirm the whole matter: a man drew off his sandal, and gave it to his neighbour, and this was the [mode of] attestation in Israel.
BLB
And this [was] formerly in Israel concerning the redemption and concerning the exchange: To confirm every matter, a man would remove his sandal and give [it] to his companion, and this [was] the testimony in Israel.
ÅB
I gamle dager var det skikk i Israel ved innløsning og bytte at den ene part til stadfestelse av saken dro sin sko av og gav den til den andre; dette gjaldt som bekreftelse i Israel.
OTB
Tidligere i Israel, for at innløsning og overføring av eiendom skulle bli fullført, ville en part ta av seg sandalen og gi den til den andre. Dette var metoden for å legalisere transaksjoner i Israel.
B1930
I gamle dager var det skikk i Israel ved innløsning og bytte at den ene part til stadfestelse av saken drog sin sko av og gav den til den andre; dette gjaldt som bekreftelse i Israel.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Deuteronomy 25:7–10

    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.”

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