Ruth 4

King James Version

Full text for Ruth Chapter 4

1¶ 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.

2And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.

3And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which [was] our brother Elimelech's:

4And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy [it] before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem [it], redeem [it]: but if thou wilt not redeem [it, then] tell me, that I may know: for [there is] none to redeem [it] beside thee; and I [am] after thee. And he said, I will redeem [it].

5Then 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.

6And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem [it] for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem [it].

7Now 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.

8Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy [it] for thee. So he drew off his shoe.

9¶ And Boaz said unto the elders, and [unto] all the people, Ye [are] witnesses this day, that I have bought all that [was] Elimelech's, and all that [was] Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi.

10Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye [are] witnesses this day.

11And all the people that [were] in the gate, and the elders, said, [We are] witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem:

12And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman.

13¶ So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son.

14And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed [be] the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.

15And he shall be unto thee a restorer of [thy] life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.

16And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it.

17And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he [is] the father of Jesse, the father of David.

18Now these [are] the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron,

19And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab,

20And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon,

21And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed,

22And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Boaz goes to the city gate to settle the matter of Naomi's land and Ruth's redemption. The closer kinsman initially agrees to redeem the land but declines when he learns he must also take Ruth as wife to raise up the name of the dead. Boaz then publicly declares his intent to redeem the land and marry Ruth, which is confirmed by the elders and people. Boaz and Ruth marry, and she conceives a son named Obed, who becomes the grandfather of King David.

Medium Summary

At the city gate, Boaz convenes with the elders and the kinsman who has a prior right to redeem Naomi's land. Boaz presents the opportunity to the kinsman, who initially agrees to purchase the land. However, when Boaz reveals that the redemption also entails marrying Ruth, the widow of Mahlon, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, the kinsman declines, fearing it would mar his own inheritance. According to custom, the kinsman removes his shoe, signifying the transfer of his right of redemption to Boaz. Boaz then publicly declares before the witnesses that he has purchased all of Elimelech's property and taken Ruth as his wife to perpetuate the name of the deceased. The elders and people bless Boaz and Ruth, praying for their fruitfulness and fame. Boaz marries Ruth, and the Lord grants her conception, leading to the birth of Obed, the father of Jesse and grandfather of David.

Long Summary

Boaz ascends to the city gate, the customary place for legal and public affairs, and summons the unnamed closer kinsman to discuss the redemption of Naomi's land. With ten elders of the city present as witnesses, Boaz offers the kinsman the first right to redeem the parcel of land that belonged to Elimelech, Naomi's deceased husband. The kinsman initially expresses his willingness to redeem the land. However, Boaz then clarifies that purchasing the field from Naomi also necessitates taking Ruth, the Moabitess and wife of the deceased Mahlon, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, preventing the deceased's name from being cut off. Upon learning this condition, the kinsman retracts his offer, stating he cannot redeem it lest he mar his own inheritance, and instructs Boaz to redeem his right instead. Following the ancient custom in Israel for confirming such transfers, the kinsman removes his shoe and gives it to Boaz as a testimony. Boaz then publicly declares before the elders and all the people that he has purchased all of Elimelech's, Chilion's, and Mahlon's property from Naomi. Furthermore, he announces that he has purchased Ruth the Moabitess to be his wife, specifically to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, ensuring the name is not forgotten. The people and elders at the gate affirm their witness and pronounce blessings upon Boaz and Ruth, wishing her to be like Rachel and Leah, who built the house of Israel, and for Boaz to be famous and his house like that of Pharez. Boaz takes Ruth as his wife, and the Lord grants her conception, and she bears a son. The women of Bethlehem rejoice with Naomi, acknowledging the Lord's provision of a kinsman and a restorer of her life through Obed, born of Ruth, who is deemed better to Naomi than seven sons. Naomi takes the child, and the neighbours name him Obed, who is identified as the father of Jesse, and thus the grandfather of David, concluding with the lineage from Pharez to David.

Core Concepts

  • Kinsman-Redeemer (Goel)This chapter highlights the role of the kinsman-redeemer, a relative with the right and obligation to restore the family's property and perpetuate its name. Boaz fulfills this role after the closer kinsman declines.
  • Legal Proceedings at the GateThe city gate served as the public forum for legal and commercial transactions in ancient Israel. Boaz conducts the entire redemption process, including witnesses and declarations, at this significant location.
  • The Shoe CeremonyAn ancient custom in Israel where the transfer of redemption rights was publicly confirmed by the one relinquishing the right removing his shoe and giving it to the one taking over. This act served as a binding testimony.
  • Preservation of Name and InheritanceA central theme, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a family's lineage and property. Boaz's marriage to Ruth is explicitly stated as being for the purpose of raising up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.
  • Divine Blessing and ConceptionThe narrative explicitly states that 'the LORD gave her conception' when Boaz took Ruth as his wife. This highlights God's direct involvement in the continuation of the lineage.
  • Davidic LineageThe chapter concludes with a genealogy tracing the line from Pharez to David, establishing Obed, the son of Boaz and Ruth, as the grandfather of King David. This connects the humble story of Ruth to the royal line of Israel.