Ruth 4:1-22 King James Version (KJV)

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.

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

³ And 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:

⁴ And 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.

⁵ 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.

⁶ And 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.

⁷ 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 neighbor: and this was a testimony in Israel.

⁸ Therefore 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.

¹⁰ Moreover 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.

¹¹ And 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:

¹² And 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.

¹⁴ And 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.

¹⁵ And 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.

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

¹⁷ And 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.

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

¹⁹ And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab,

²⁰ And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon,

²¹ And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed,

²² And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.

Ruth 4:1-22 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

¹ Then went ^H5927 Boaz ^H1162 up ^H5927 to the gate, ^H8179 and sat him down ^H3427 there: and, behold, the kinsman ^H1350 of whom Boaz ^H1162 spake ^H1696 came ^H5674 by; unto whom he said, ^H559 Ho, ^H1945 such ^H6423 a one! ^H492 turn aside, ^H5493 sit down ^H3427 here. And he turned aside, ^H5493 and sat down. ^H3427

² And he took ^H3947 ten ^H6235 men ^H582 of the elders ^H2205 of the city, ^H5892 and said, ^H559 Sit ye down ^H3427 here. And they sat down. ^H3427

³ And he said ^H559 unto the kinsman, ^H1350 Naomi, ^H5281 that is come again ^H7725 out of the country ^H7704 of Moab, ^H4124 selleth ^H4376 a parcel ^H2513 of land, ^H7704 which was our brother ^H251 Elimelech's: ^H458

⁴ And I thought ^H559 to advertise ^H1540 ^H241 thee, saying, ^H559 Buy ^H7069 it before the inhabitants, ^H3427 and before the elders ^H2205 of my people. ^H5971 If thou wilt redeem ^H1350 it, redeem ^H1350 it: but if thou wilt not redeem ^H1350 it, then tell ^H5046 me, that I may know: ^H3045 for there is none to redeem ^H1350 it beside ^H2108 thee; and I am after ^H310 thee. And he said, ^H559 I will redeem ^H1350 it.

⁵ Then said ^H559 Boaz, ^H1162 What day ^H3117 thou buyest ^H7069 the field ^H7704 of the hand ^H3027 of Naomi, ^H5281 thou must buy ^H7069 it also of Ruth ^H7327 the Moabitess, ^H4125 the wife ^H802 of the dead, ^H4191 to raise up ^H6965 the name ^H8034 of the dead ^H4191 upon his inheritance. ^H5159

⁶ And the kinsman ^H1350 said, ^H559 I cannot ^H3201 redeem ^H1350 it for myself, lest I mar ^H7843 mine own inheritance: ^H5159 redeem ^H1350 thou my right ^H1353 to thyself; for I cannot ^H3201 redeem ^H1350 it.

⁷ Now this was the manner in former time ^H6440 in Israel ^H3478 concerning redeeming ^H1353 and concerning changing, ^H8545 for to confirm ^H6965 all things; ^H1697 a man ^H376 plucked off ^H8025 his shoe, ^H5275 and gave ^H5414 it to his neighbour: ^H7453 and this was a testimony ^H8584 in Israel. ^H3478

⁸ Therefore the kinsman ^H1350 said ^H559 unto Boaz, ^H1162 Buy ^H7069 it for thee. So he drew off ^H8025 his shoe. ^H5275

⁹ And Boaz ^H1162 said ^H559 unto the elders, ^H2205 and unto all the people, ^H5971 Ye are witnesses ^H5707 this day, ^H3117 that I have bought ^H7069 all that was Elimelech's, ^H458 and all that was Chilion's ^H3630 and Mahlon's, ^H4248 of the hand ^H3027 of Naomi. ^H5281

¹⁰ Moreover Ruth ^H7327 the Moabitess, ^H4125 the wife ^H802 of Mahlon, ^H4248 have I purchased ^H7069 to be my wife, ^H802 to raise up ^H6965 the name ^H8034 of the dead ^H4191 upon his inheritance, ^H5159 that the name ^H8034 of the dead ^H4191 be not cut off ^H3772 from among ^H5973 his brethren, ^H251 and from the gate ^H8179 of his place: ^H4725 ye are witnesses ^H5707 this day. ^H3117

¹¹ And all the people ^H5971 that were in the gate, ^H8179 and the elders, ^H2205 said, ^H559 We are witnesses. ^H5707 The LORD ^H3068 make ^H5414 the woman ^H802 that is come ^H935 into thine house ^H1004 like Rachel ^H7354 and like Leah, ^H3812 which two ^H8147 did build ^H1129 the house ^H1004 of Israel: ^H3478 and do ^H6213 thou worthily ^H2428 in Ephratah, ^H672 and be famous ^H7121 ^H8034 in Bethlehem: ^H1035

¹² And let thy house ^H1004 be like the house ^H1004 of Pharez, ^H6557 whom Tamar ^H8559 bare ^H3205 unto Judah, ^H3063 of the seed ^H2233 which the LORD ^H3068 shall give ^H5414 thee of this young woman. ^H5291

¹³ So Boaz ^H1162 took ^H3947 Ruth, ^H7327 and she was his wife: ^H802 and when he went in ^H935 unto her, the LORD ^H3068 gave ^H5414 her conception, ^H2032 and she bare ^H3205 a son. ^H1121

¹⁴ And the women ^H802 said ^H559 unto Naomi, ^H5281 Blessed ^H1288 be the LORD, ^H3068 which hath not left ^H7673 thee this day ^H3117 without a kinsman, ^H1350 that his name ^H8034 may be famous ^H7121 in Israel. ^H3478

¹⁵ And he shall be unto thee a restorer ^H7725 of thy life, ^H5315 and a nourisher ^H3557 of thine old age: ^H7872 for thy daughter in law, ^H3618 which loveth ^H157 thee, which is better ^H2896 to thee than seven ^H7651 sons, ^H1121 hath born ^H3205 him.

¹⁶ And Naomi ^H5281 took ^H3947 the child, ^H3206 and laid ^H7896 it in her bosom, ^H2436 and became nurse ^H539 unto it.

¹⁷ And the women her neighbours ^H7934 gave ^H7121 it a name, ^H8034 saying, ^H559 There is a son ^H1121 born ^H3205 to Naomi; ^H5281 and they called ^H7121 his name ^H8034 Obed: ^H5744 he is the father ^H1 of Jesse, ^H3448 the father ^H1 of David. ^H1732

¹⁸ Now these are the generations ^H8435 of Pharez: ^H6557 Pharez ^H6557 begat ^H3205 Hezron, ^H2696

¹⁹ And Hezron ^H2696 begat ^H3205 Ram, ^H7410 and Ram ^H7410 begat ^H3205 Amminadab, ^H5992

²⁰ And Amminadab ^H5992 begat ^H3205 Nahshon, ^H5177 and Nahshon ^H5177 begat ^H3205 Salmon, ^H8009

²¹ And Salmon ^H8012 begat ^H3205 Boaz, ^H1162 and Boaz ^H1162 begat ^H3205 Obed, ^H5744

²² And Obed ^H5744 begat ^H3205 Jesse, ^H3448 and Jesse ^H3448 begat ^H3205 David. ^H1732

Ruth 4:1-22 American Standard (ASV)

¹ 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.

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

³ And 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:

⁴ And 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.

⁵ 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.

⁶ And 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.

⁷ 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.

⁸ So the near kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thyself. And 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.

¹⁰ Moreover 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.

¹¹ And 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 Bethlehem:

¹² and 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.

¹³ So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife; and he went in unto her, and Jehovah gave her conception, and she bare a son.

¹⁴ And 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.

¹⁵ And 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.

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

¹⁷ And 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.

¹⁸ Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez begat Hezron,

¹⁹ and Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab,

²⁰ and Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon,

²¹ and Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed,

²² and Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.

Ruth 4:1-22 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

¹ And Boaz hath gone up to the gate, and sitteth there, and lo, the redeemer is passing by of whom Boaz had spoken, and he saith, `Turn aside, sit down here, such a one, such a one;' and he turneth aside and sitteth down.

² And he taketh ten men of the elders of the city, and saith, `Sit down here;' and they sit down.

³ And he saith to the redeemer, `A portion of the field which `is' to our brother, to Elimelech, hath Naomi sold, who hath come back from the fields of Moab;

⁴ and I said, I uncover thine ear, saying, Buy before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people; if thou dost redeem -- redeem, and if none doth redeem -- declare to me, and I know, for there is none save thee to redeem, and I after thee.' And he saith, I redeem `it'.'

⁵ And Boaz saith, `In the day of thy buying the field from the hand of Naomi, then from Ruth the Moabitess, wife of the dead, thou hast bought `it', to raise up the name of the dead over his inheritance.'

⁶ And the redeemer saith, `I am not able to redeem `it' for myself, lest I destroy mine inheritance; redeem for thyself -- thou -- my right of redemption, for I am not able to redeem.'

⁷ And this `is' formerly in Israel for redemption and for changing, to establish anything: a man hath drawn off his sandal, and given `it' to his neighbour, and this `is' the testimony in Israel.

⁸ And the redeemer saith to Boaz, `Buy `it' for thyself,' and draweth off his sandal.

⁹ And Boaz saith to the elders, and `to' all the people, `Witnesses `are' ye to-day that I have bought all that `is' to Elimelech, and all that `is' to Chilion and Mahlon, from the hand of Naomi;

¹⁰ and also Ruth the Moabitess, wife of Mahlon, I have bought to myself for a wife, to raise up the name of the dead over his inheritance; and the name of the dead is not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place; witnesses ye `are' to-day.'

¹¹ And all the people who `are' in the gate say -- also the elders -- `Witnesses! Jehovah make the woman who is coming in unto thy house as Rachel and as Leah, both of whom built the house of Israel; and do thou virtuously in Ephrathah, and proclaim the Name in Beth-Lehem;

¹² and let thy house be as the house of Pharez (whom Tamar bare to Judah), of the seed which Jehovah doth give to thee of this young woman.'

¹³ And Boaz taketh Ruth, and she becometh his wife, and he goeth in unto her, and Jehovah giveth to her conception, and she beareth a son.

¹⁴ And the women say unto Naomi, `Blessed `is' Jehovah who hath not let a redeemer cease to thee to-day, and his name is proclaimed in Israel,

¹⁵ and he hath been to thee for a restorer of life, and for a nourisher of thine old age, for thy daughter-in-law who hath loved thee -- who is better to thee than seven sons -- hath borne him.'

¹⁶ And Naomi taketh the lad, and layeth him in her bosom, and is to him for a nurse;

¹⁷ and the neighbouring women give to him a name, saying, `There hath been a son born to Naomi,' and they call his name Obed; he `is' father of Jesse, father of David.

¹⁸ And these are genealogies of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron,

¹⁹ and Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminidab,

²⁰ and Amminidab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon,

²¹ and Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed,

²² and Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.

Ruth 4:1-22 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

¹ 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.

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

³ And he said to him that had the right of redemption: Naomi, who is come back out of the country of Moab, sells the allotment that was our brother Elimelech's.

⁴ And I thought I would apprise thee of it and say, Buy [it] in the presence of the inhabitants, and in the presence of the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem [it], redeem; but if thou wilt not redeem, tell me, that I may know; for there is none to redeem besides thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem [it].

⁵ 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.

⁶ And he that had the right of redemption said, I cannot redeem [it] for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance. Redeem thou for thyself what I should redeem, for I cannot redeem [it].

⁷ 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.

⁸ And he that had the right of redemption said to Boaz, Buy for thyself; and he drew off his sandal.

⁹ And Boaz said to the elders and 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;

¹⁰ moreover 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.

¹¹ And all the people that were in the gate and the elders said, [We are] witnesses. Jehovah make the woman that cometh into thy house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel; and acquire power in Ephratah, and make thyself a name in Bethlehem;

¹² and let thy house become like the house of Pherez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, of the seed which Jehovah shall give thee of this young woman.

¹³ And Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife; and he went in unto her, and Jehovah gave her conception, and she bore a son.

¹⁴ And the women said to Naomi, Blessed be Jehovah who hath not left thee this day without one that has the right of redemption, and may his name be famous in Israel!

¹⁵ And he shall be to thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age; for thy daughter-in-law who loves thee, who is better to thee than seven sons, has borne him.

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

¹⁷ And 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.

¹⁸ Now these are the generations of Pherez. Pherez begot Hezron,

¹⁹ and Hezron begot Ram, and Ram begot Amminadab,

²⁰ and Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon,

²¹ and Salmon begot Boaz, and Boaz begot Obed,

²² and Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David.

Ruth 4:1-22 World English Bible (WEB)

¹ Now Boaz went up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the near kinsman of whom Boaz spoke came by; to whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. He turned aside, and sat down.

² He took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit you down here. They sat down.

³ He said to the near kinsman, Naomi, who has come back out of the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's:

⁴ I thought to disclose it to you, saying, Buy it before those who sit here, and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it: but if you will not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know; for there is none to redeem it besides you; and I am after you. He said, I will redeem it.

⁵ Then said Boaz, What day you buy the field of the hand of Naomi, you must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead on his inheritance.

⁶ The near kinsman said, I can't redeem it for myself, lest I mar my own inheritance: take my right of redemption on you; for I can't redeem it.

⁷ 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.

⁸ So the near kinsman said to Boaz, Buy it for yourself. He drew off his shoe.

⁹ Boaz said to the elders, and to all the people, You 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.

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

¹¹ All the people who were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. Yahweh make the woman who has come into your house like Rachel and like Leah, which two built the house of Israel: and do you worthily in Ephrathah, and be famous in Bethlehem:

¹² and let your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, of the seed which Yahweh shall give you of this young woman.

¹³ So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife; and he went in to her, and Yahweh gave her conception, and she bore a son.

¹⁴ The women said to Naomi, Blessed be Yahweh, who has not left you this day without a near kinsman; and let his name be famous in Israel.

¹⁵ He shall be to you a restorer of life, and sustain you in your old age, for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him.

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

¹⁷ The women her neighbors gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they named him Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

¹⁸ Now this is the history of the generations of Perez: Perez became the father of Hezron,

¹⁹ and Hezron became the father of Ram, and Ram became the father of Amminadab,

²⁰ and Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon became the father of Salmon,

²¹ and Salmon became the father of Boaz, and Boaz became the father of Obed,

²² and Obed became the father of Jesse, and Jesse became the father of David.

Ruth 4:1-22 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

¹ And Boaz went up to the public place of the town, and took his seat there: and the near relation of whom he had been talking came by; and Boaz, crying out to him by name, said, Come and be seated here. And he came and was seated.

² Then he got ten of the responsible men of the town, and said, Be seated here. And they took their seats.

³ Then he said to the near relation, Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is offering for a price that bit of land which was our brother Elimelech's:

⁴ And it was in my mind to give you the chance of taking it, with the approval of those seated here and of the responsible men of my people. If you are ready to do what it is right for a relation to do, then do it: but if you will not do it, say so to me now; for there is no one who has the right to do it but you, and after you myself. And he said, I will do it.

⁵ Then Boaz said, On the day when you take this field, you will have to take with it Ruth, the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, so that you may keep the name of the dead living in his heritage.

⁶ And the near relation said, I am not able to do the relation's part, for fear of damaging the heritage I have: you may do it in my place, for I am not able to do it myself.

⁷ Now, in earlier times this was the way in Israel when property was taken over by a near relation, or when there was a change of owner. To make the exchange certain one man took off his shoe and gave it to the other; and this was a witness in Israel.

⁸ So the near relation said to Boaz, Take it for yourself. And he took off his shoe.

⁹ Then Boaz said to the responsible men and to all the people, You are witnesses today that I have taken at a price from Naomi all the property which was Elimelech's, and everything which was Chilion's and Mahlon's.

¹⁰ And, further, I have taken Ruth, the Moabitess, who was the wife of Mahlon, to be my wife, to keep the name of the dead man living in his heritage, so that his name may not be cut off from among his countrymen, and from the memory of his town: you are witnesses this day.

¹¹ And all the people who were in the public place, and the responsible men, said, We are witnesses. May the Lord make this woman, who is about to come into your house, like Rachel and Leah, which two were the builders of the house of Israel: and may you have wealth in Ephrathah, and be great in Beth-lehem;

¹² May your family be like the family of Perez, the son whom Tamar gave to Judah, from the offspring which the Lord may give you by this young woman.

¹³ So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife; and he went in to her, and the Lord made her with child and she gave birth to a son.

¹⁴ And the women said to Naomi, A blessing on the Lord, who has not let you be this day without a near relation, and may his name be great in Israel.

¹⁵ He will be a giver of new life to you, and your comforter when you are old, for your daughter-in-law, who, in her love for you, is better than seven sons, has given birth to him.

¹⁶ And Naomi took the child and put her arms round it, and she took care of it.

¹⁷ And the women who were her neighbours gave it a name, saying, Naomi has a child; and they gave him the name of Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

¹⁸ Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez became the father of Hezron;

¹⁹ And Hezron became the father of Ram, and Ram became the father of Amminadab;

²⁰ And Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon became the father of Salmon;

²¹ And Salmon became the father of Boaz, and Boaz became the father of Obed;

²² And Obed became the father of Jesse, and Jesse became the father of David.

Commentary on Ruth 4 Matthew Henry Commentary

John Gill Keil & Delitzsch Robert Jamieson: Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Chapter 4

In this chapter we have the wedding between Boaz and Ruth, in the circumstances of which there was something uncommon, which is kept upon record for the illustration, not only of the law concerning the marrying of a brother's widow (Deu. 25:5, etc.), for cases help to expound laws, but of the gospel too, for from this marriage descended David, and the Son of David, whose espousals to the Gentile church were hereby typified. We are here told,

I. How Boaz got clear of his rival, and fairly shook him off (v. 1-8).
II. How his marriage with Ruth was publicly solemnized, and attended with the good wishes of his neighbours (v. 9-12).
III. The happy issue that descended from this marriage, Obed, the grandfather of David (v. 13-17). And so the book concludes with the pedigree of David (v. 18-22). Perhaps it was to oblige him that the blessed Spirit directed the inserting of this story in the sacred canon, he being desirous that the virtues of his great-grandmother Ruth, together with her Gentile extraction and the singular providences that attended her, should be transmitted to posterity.

Rth 4:1-8

Here,

1. Boaz calls a court immediately. It is probable he was himself one of the elders (or aldermen) of the city; for he was a mighty man of wealth. Perhaps he was father of the city, and sat chief; for he seems here to have gone up to the gate as one having authority, and not as a common person; like Job, ch. 29:7, etc. We cannot suppose him less than a magistrate in his city who was grandson to Nahshon, prince of Judah; and his lying at the end of a heap of corn in the threshing-floor the night before was not at all inconsistent, in those days of plainness, with the honour of his sitting judge in the gate. But why was Boaz so hasty, why so fond of the match? Ruth was not rich, but lived upon alms; not honourable, but a poor stranger. She was never said to be beautiful; if ever she had been so, we may suppose that weeping, and travelling, and gleaning, had withered her lilies and roses. But that which made Boaz in love with her, and solicitous to expedite the affair, was that all her neighbours agreed she was a virtuous woman. This set her price with him far above rubies (Prov. 31:10); and therefore he thinks, if by marrying her he might do her a real kindness, he should also do himself a very great kindness. He will therefore bring it to a conclusion immediately. It was not court-day, but he got ten men of the elders of the city to meet him in the town-hall over the gate, where public business used to be transacted, v. 2. So many, it is probable, by the custom of the city, made a full court. Boaz, though a judge, would not be judge in his own cause, but desired the concurrence of other elders. Honest intentions dread not a public cognizance.
2. He summons his rival to come and hear the matter that was to be proposed to him (v. 1): "Ho, such a one, sit down here.' He called him by his name, no doubt, but the divine historian thought not fit to record it, for, because he refused to raise up the name of the dead, he deserved not to have his name preserved to future ages in this history. Providence favoured Boaz in ordering it so that this kinsman should come by thus opportunely, just when the matter was ready to be proposed to him. Great affairs are sometimes much furthered by small circumstances, which facilitate and expedite them.
3. He proposes to the other kinsman the redemption of Naomi's land, which, it is probable, had been mortgaged for money to buy bread with when the famine was in the land (v. 3): "Naomi has a parcel of land to sell, namely, the equity of the redemption of it out of the hands of the mortgagee, which she is willing to part with;' or, as some think, it was her jointure for her life, and, wanting money, for a small matter she would sell her interest to the heir at law, who was fittest to be the purchaser. This he gives the kinsman legal notice of (v. 4), that he might have the refusal of it. Whoever had it must pay for it, and Boaz might have said, "My money is as good as my kinsman's; if I have a mind to it, why may not I buy it privately, since I had the first proffer of it, and say nothing to my kinsman?' No, Boaz, though fond enough of the purchase, would not do so mean a thing as to take a bargain over another man's head that was nearer a-kin to it; and we are taught by his example to be not only just and honest, but fair and honourable, in all our dealings, and to do nothing which we are unwilling should see the light, but be above-board.
4. The kinsman seemed forward to redeem the land till he was told that, if he did that, he must marry the widow, and then he flew off. He liked the land well enough, and probably caught at that the more greedily because he hoped that the poor widow being under a necessity of selling he have so much the better bargain: "I will redeem it' (said he) "with all my heart,' thinking it would be a fine addition to his estate, v. 4. But Boaz told him there was a young widow in the case, and, if he have the land, he must take her with it, Terra transit cum onere-The estate passes with this incumbrance; either the divine law or the usage of the country would oblige him to it, or Naomi insisted upon it that she would not sell the land but upon this condition, v. 5. Some think this does not relate to the law of marrying the brother's widow (for that seems to oblige only the children of the same father, Deu. 25:5, unless by custom it was afterwards made to extend to the next of kin), but to the law of redemption of inheritances (Lev. 25:24, 25), for it is a goel, a redeemer, that is here enquired for; and if so it was not by the law, but by Naomi's own resolution, that the purchaser was to marry the widow. However it was, this kinsman, when he heard the conditions of the bargain, refused it (v. 6): "I cannot redeem it for myself. I will not meddle with it upon these terms, lest I mar my own inheritance.' The land, he thought, would be an improvement of his inheritance, but not the land with the woman; that would mar it. Perhaps he thought it would be a disparagement to him to marry such a poor widow that had come from a strange country, and almost lived upon alms. He fancied it would be a blemish to his family, it would mar his blood, and disgrace his posterity. Her eminent virtues were not sufficient in his eye to counterbalance this. The Chaldee paraphrase makes his reason for this refusal to be that he had another wife, and, if he should take Ruth, it might occasion strife and contention in his family, which would mar the comfort of his inheritance. Or he thought she might bring him a great many children, and they would all expect shares out of his estate, which would scatter it into too many hands, so that the family would make the less figure. This makes many 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 at the same time they will give their good word with it; they are willing to part with it, and cannot be bound to it, for fear of marring their own inheritance in this world. Heaven they could be glad of, but holiness they can dispense with; it will not agree with the lusts they have already espoused, and therefore, let who will purchase heaven at that rate, they cannot.
5. The right of redemption is fairly resigned to Boaz. If this nameless kinsman lost a good bargain, a good estate, and a good wife too, he may thank himself for not considering it better, and Boaz will thank him for making his way clear to that which he valued and desired above any thing. In those ancient times it was not the usage to pass estates by writings, as afterwards (Jer. 32:10, etc.), but by some sign or ceremony, as with us by livery and seisin, as we commonly call it, that is, the delivery of seisin, seisin of a house by giving the key, of land by giving turf and a twig. The ceremony here used was, he that surrendered plucked off his shoe (the Chaldee says it was the glove of his right hand) and gave it to him to whom he made the surrender, intimating thereby that, whatever right he had to tread or go upon the land, he conveyed and transferred it, upon a valuable consideration, to the purchaser: this was a testimony in Israel, v. 7. And it was done in this case, v. 8. If this kinsman had been bound by the law to marry Ruth, and his refusal had been a contempt of that law, Ruth must have plucked off his shoe and spit in his face, Deu. 25:9. But, though his relation should in some measure oblige him to the duty, yet the distance of his relation might serve to excuse him from the penalty, or Ruth might very well dispense with it, since his refusal was all she desired from him. But bishop Patrick, and the best interpreters, think this had no relation to that law, and that the drawing off of the shoe was not any disgrace as there, but a confirmation of the surrender, and an evidence that it was not fraudulently nor surreptitiously obtained. Note, Fair and open dealing in all matters of contract and commerce is what all those must make conscience of that would approve themselves Israelites indeed, without guile. How much more honourably and honestly does Boaz come by this purchase than if he had secretly undermined his kinsman, and privately struck up a bargain with Naomi, unknown to him. Honesty will be found the best policy.

Rth 4:9-12

Boaz now sees his way clear, and therefore delays not to perform his promise made to Ruth that he would do the kinsman's part, but in the gate of the city, before the elders and all the people, publishes a marriage-contract between himself and Ruth the Moabitess, and therewith the purchase of all the estate that belonged to the family of Elimelech. If he had not been (ch. 2:1) a mighty man of wealth, he could not have compassed this redemption, nor done this service to his kinsman's family. What is a great estate good for, but that it enables a man to do so much the more good in his generation, and especially to those of his own household, if he have but a heart to use it so! Now concerning this marriage it appears,

I. That it was solemnized, or at least published, before many witnesses, v. 9, 10. "You are witnesses,'
- 1. "That I have bought the estate. Whoever has it, or any part of it, mortgaged to him, let him come to me and he shall have his money, according to the value of the land,' which was computed by the number of years to the year of jubilee (Lev. 25:15), when it would have returned of course to Elimelech's family. The more public the sales of estates are the better they are guarded against frauds.
- 2. "That I have purchased the widow to be my wife.' He had no portion with her; what jointure she had was encumbered, and he could not have it without giving as much for it as it was worth, and therefore he might well say he purchased her; and yet, being a virtuous woman, he reckoned he had a good bargain. House and riches are the inheritance of fathers, but a prudent wife is more valuable, is from the Lord as a special gift. He designed, in marrying her, to preserve the memory of the dead, that the name of Mahlon, though he left no son to bear it up, might not be cut off from the gate of his place, but by this means might be preserved, that it should be inserted in the public register that Boaz married Ruth the widow of Mahlon, the son of Elimelech, which posterity, whenever they had occasion to consult the register, would take particular notice of. And this history, being preserved for the sake of that marriage and the issue of it, proved an effectual means to perpetuate the name of Mahlon, even beyond the thought or intention of Boaz, to the world's end. And observe that because Boaz did this honour to the dead, as well as this kindness to the living, God did him the honour to bring him into the genealogy of the Messiah, by which his family was dignified above all the families of Israel; while the other kinsman, that was so much afraid of diminishing himself, and marring his inheritance, by marrying the widow, has his name, family, and inheritance, buried in oblivion and disgrace. A tender and generous concern for the honour of the dead and the comfort of poor widows and strangers, neither of which can return the kindness (Lu. 14:14), is sure what God will be well pleased with and will surely recompense. Our Lord Jesus is our Goel, our Redeemer, our everlasting Redeemer. He looked, like Boaz, with compassion on the deplorable state of fallen mankind. At a vast expense he redeemed the heavenly inheritance for us, which by sin was mortgaged, and forfeited into the hands of divine justice, and which we should never have been able to redeem. He likewise purchased a peculiar people, whom he would espouse to himself, though strangers and foreigners, like Ruth, poor and despised, that the name of that dead and buried race might not be cut off for ever. He ventured the marring of his own inheritance, to do this, for, though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor; but he was abundantly recompensed for it by his Father, who, because he thus humbled himself, hath highly exalted him, and given him a name above every name. Let us own our obligations to him, make sure our contract with him, and study all our days how to do him honour. Boaz, by making a public declaration of this marriage and purchase, not only secured his title against all pretenders, as it were by a fine with proclamations, but put honour upon Ruth, showed that he was not ashamed of her, and her parentage and poverty, and left a testimony against clandestine marriages. It is only that which is evil that hates the light and comes not to it. Boaz called witnesses to what he did, for it was what he could justify, and would never disown; and such regard was then had, even to the contemned crowd, that not only the elders, but all the people that were in the gate, passing and re-passing, were appealed to (v. 9), and hearkened to (v. 11) when they said, We are witnesses.
II. That it was attended with many prayers. The elders and all the people, when they witnessed to it, wished well to it, and blessed it, v. 11, 12. Ruth, it should seem, was now sent for; for they speak of her (v. 12) as present: This young woman; and, he having taken her to wife, they look upon her as already come into his house. And very heartily they pray for the new-married couple.
- 1. The senior elder, it is likely, made this prayer, and the rest of the elders, with the people, joined in it, and therefore it is spoken of as made by them all; for in public prayers, though but one speaks, we must all pray. Observe,
  - (1.) Marriages ought to be blessed, and accompanied with prayer, because every creature and every condition are that to us, and no more, that God makes them to be. It is civil and friendly to wish all happiness to those who enter into that condition; and what good we desire we should pray for from the fountain of all good. The minister who gives himself to the word and prayer, as he is the fittest person to exhort, so he is the fittest to bless and pray for those that enter into this relation.
  - (2.) We ought to desire and pray for the welfare and prosperity one of another, so far from envying or grieving at it.
- 2. Now here,
  - (1.) They prayed for Ruth: The Lord make the woman that has come into thy house like Rachel and Leah, that is, "God make her a good wife and a fruitful mother.' Ruth was a virtuous woman, and yet needed the prayers of her friends, that by the grace of God she might be made a blessing to the family she had come into. They prayed that she might be like Rachel and Leah, rather than like Sarah and Rebekah, for Sarah had but one son, and Rebekah but one that was in covenant, the other was Esau, who was rejected; but Rachel and Leah did build up the house of Israel: all their children were in the church, and their offspring was numerous. "May she be a flourishing, fruitful, faithful vine by thy house side.'
  - (2.) They prayed for Boaz, that he might continue to do worthily in the city to which he was an ornament, and might there be more and more famous. They desired that the wife might be a blessing in the private affairs of the house, and the husband a blessing in the public business of the town, that she in her place, and he in his, might be wise, virtuous, and successful. Observe, The way to be famous is to do worthily. Great reputation must be obtained by great merits. It is not enough not to do unworthily, to be harmless and inoffensive, but we must do worthily, be useful and serviceable to our generation. Those that would be truly illustrious must in their places shine as lights.
  - (3.) They prayed for the family: "Let thy house be like the house of Pharez,' that is, "let it be very numerous, let it greatly increase and multiply, as the house of Pharez did.' The Bethlehemites were of the house of Pharez, and knew very well how numerous it was; in the distribution of the tribes, that grandson of Jacob had the honour which none of the rest had but Manasseh and Ephraim, that his posterity was subdivided into two distinct families, Hezron and Hamul, Num. 26:21. Now they prayed that the family of Boaz, which was one branch of that stock, might in process of time become as numerous and great as the whole stock now was.

Rth 4:13-22

Here is,

I. Ruth a wife. Boaz took her, with the usual solemnities, to his house, and she became his wife (v. 13), all the city, no doubt, congratulating the preferment of a virtuous woman, purely for her virtues. We have reason to think that Orpah, who returned from Naomi to her people and her gods, was never half so well preferred as Ruth was. He that forsakes all for Christ shall find more than all with him; it shall be recompensed a hundred-fold in this present time. Now Orpah wished she had gone with Naomi too; but she, like the other kinsman, stood in her own light. Boaz had prayed that this pious proselyte might receive a full reward of her courage and constancy from the God of Israel, under whose wings she had come to trust; and now he became an instrument of that kindness, which was an answer to his prayer, and helped to make his own words good. Now she had the command of those servants with whom she had associated and of those fields in which she had gleaned. Thus sometimes God raiseth up the poor out of the dust, to set them with princes, Ps. 113:7, 8.
II. Ruth a mother: The Lord gave her conception; for the fruit of the womb is his reward, Ps. 127:3. It is one of the keys he hath in his hand; and he sometimes makes the barren woman that had been long so to be a joyful mother of children, Ps. 113:9; Isa. 54:1.
III. Ruth still a daughter-in-law, and the same that she always was, to Naomi, who was so far from being forgotten that she was a principal sharer in these new joys. The good women that were at the labour when this child was born congratulated Naomi upon it more than either Boaz or Ruth, because she was the match-maker, and it was the family of her husband that was hereby built up. See here, as before, what an air of devotion there was then even in the common expressions of civility among the Israelites. Prayer to God attended the birth of the child. What a pity it is that such pious language should either be disused among Christians or degenerate into a formality. "Blessed be the Lord that has sent thee this grandson,' v. 14, 15.
- 1. Who was the preserver of the name of her family, and who, they hoped, would be famous, because his father was so.
- 2. Who would be hereafter dutiful and kind to her, so they hoped, because his mother was so. If he would but take after her, he would be a comfort to his aged grandmother, a restorer of her life, and, if there should be occasion, would have wherewithal to be the nourisher of her old age. It is a great comfort to those that are going into years to see any of those that descend from them growing up, that are likely, by the blessing of God, to be a stay and support to them, when the years come wherein they will need such, and of which they will say they have no pleasure in them. Observe, They say of Ruth that she loved Naomi, and therefore was better to her than seven sons. See how God in his providence sometimes makes up the want and loss of those relations from whom we expected most comfort in those from whom we expected least. The bonds of love prove stronger than those of nature, and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother; so here there was a daughter-in-law better than an own child. See what wisdom and grace will do. Now here,
  - (1.) The child is named by the neighbours, v. 17. The good women would have it called Obed, a servant, either in remembrance of the meanness and poverty of the mother or in prospect of his being hereafter a servant, and very serviceable, to his grandmother. It is no dishonour to those that are ever so well born to be servants to God, their friends, and their generation. The motto of the princes of Wales is Ich dien-I serve.
  - (2.) The child is nursed by the grandmother, that is, dry-nursed, when the mother had weaned him from the breast, v. 16. She laid it in her bosom, in token of her tender affection to it and care of it. Grandmothers are often the most fond.
IV. Ruth is hereby brought in among the ancestors of David and Christ, which was the greatest honour. The genealogy is here drawn from Pharez, through Boaz and Obed, to David, and so leads towards the Messiah, and therefore it is not an endless genealogy.

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