Ruth4
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1Now 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.
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 near kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth the parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech’s:
4and I thought to disclose it unto thee, saying, Buy it before them that sit here, 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 besides 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 near kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: take thou my right of redemption on thee; for I cannot redeem it.
7Now 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.
8So the near kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thyself. And he drew off his shoe.
9And 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. Jehovah make the woman that is come into thy house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephrathah, and be famous in Beth-lehem:
12and let thy house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which Jehovah shall give thee of this young woman.
13So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife; and he went in unto her, and Jehovah gave her conception, and she bare a son.
14And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be Jehovah, who hath not left thee this day without a near kinsman; and let his name be famous in Israel.
15And he shall be unto thee a restorer of life, and a nourisher of thine old age, for thy daughter-in-law, who loveth thee, who is better to thee than seven sons, hath borne him.
16And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it.
17And the women her neighbors 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 Perez: Perez 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.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Ruth 4.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The kinsman refuses to redeem Ruth's inheritance. (1–8). Boaz marries Ruth. (9–12). Birth of Obed. (13–22).
vv1-8
This matter depended on the laws given by Moses about inheritances, and doubtless the whole was settled in the regular and legal manner. This kinsman, when he heard the conditions of the bargain, refused it. In like manner many are shy of the great redemption; they are not willing to espouse religion; they have heard well of it, and have nothing to say against it; they will give it their good word, but they are willing to part with it, and cannot be bound to it, for fear of marring their own inheritance in this world. The right was resigned to Boaz. Fair and open dealing in all matters of contract and trade, is what all must make conscience of, who would approve themselves true Israelites, without guile. Honesty will be found the best policy.
vv9-12
Men are ready to seize opportunities for increasing their estates, but few know the value of godliness. Such are the wise men of this world, whom the Lord charges with folly. They attend not to the concerns of their souls, but reject the salvation of Christ, for fear of marring their inheritance. But God did Boaz the honour to bring him into the line of the Messiah, while the kinsman, who was afraid of lessening himself, and marring his inheritance, has his name, family, and inheritance forgotten.
vv13-22
Ruth bore a son, through whom thousands and myriads were born to God; and in being the lineal ancestor of Christ, she was instrumental in the happiness of all that shall be saved by him; even of us Gentiles, as well as those of Jewish descent. She was a witness for God to the Gentile world, that he had not utterly forsaken them, but that in due time they should become one with his chosen people, and partake of his salvation. Prayer to God attended the marriage, and praise to him attended the birth of the child. What a pity it is that pious language should not be more used among Christians, or that it should be let fall into formality! Here is the descent of David from Ruth. And the period came when Bethlehem-Judah displayed greater wonders than those in the history of Ruth, when the outcast babe of another forlorn female of the same race appeared, controlling the counsels of the Roman master of the world, and drawing princes and wise men from the east, with treasures of gold, and frankincense, and myrrh to his feet. His name shall endure for ever, and all nations shall call Him blessed. In that Seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.
Key Words
בֹּעַז: Boaz, the ancestor of David; also the name of a pillar in front of the temple
עָלָה: to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
שַׁעַר: an opening, i.e. door or gate
יָשַׁב: properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
שָׁם: there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence
הִנֵּה: lo!
גָּאַל: to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relative's property, marry his widow, etc.)
דָבַר: perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
עָבַר: to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation)
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
Cross References
Ruth 4The Mosaic law requiring a brother or near kinsman to marry the widow and raise offspring.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
New Testament citation of the levirate marriage law referenced by Boaz.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The legal ceremony of plucking off the shoe to symbolize relinquishing redemption rights.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The ancient Israelite practice of assembling ten elders for weighty legal transactions.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The Levitical law regulating the redemption of land sold due to poverty.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The birth of Pharez, the ancestor of the Bethlehemite clan mentioned in the elders' blessing.
Supported by JFB
Traces the lineage of Pharez to Christ, fulfilling the genealogy recorded here.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Traces Salmon, Boaz, Obed, and Jesse directly into the messianic genealogy of Jesus.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Identifies Jesse and David, concluding the genealogy and establishing the royal line.
Supported by JFB
Transactions conducted publicly at the city gate before all who enter.
Supported by JFB
The famous prophecy concerning Bethlehem Ephratah, home of Boaz and ultimate birthplace of Messiah.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallels the genealogy of Judah's descendants through Pharez.
Supported by JFB
Traces the ancestry of Jesus through Jesse, Obed, and Boaz.
Supported by Matthew Henry