American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
Ruth 4
1
Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spoke came by; to whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.
Reference
2
And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit you down here. And they sat down.
Reference
3
And he said to the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, sells a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's:
4
And I thought to advertise you, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, 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 beside you; and I am after you. And 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.
Reference
6
And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar my own inheritance: redeem you my right to yourself; 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 to Boaz, Buy it for you. So he drew off his shoe.
9
And 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 be not cut off from among his brothers, and from the gate of his place: you are witnesses this day.
Reference
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 your house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do you worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem:
Reference
📍 Ephrathah
Parallel theme
Psalm 132:6
Genesis 24:60
Deuteronomy 25:9
Ruth 1:2
References Israel
Matthew 2:6
Micah 5:2
12
And let your house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give you of this young woman.
Reference
Parallel theme
Genesis 38:29
1 Chronicles 2:4
Matthew 1:3
Genesis 46:12
References Lord
1 Samuel 2:20
13
So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in to her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son.
Reference
Parallel theme
Genesis 33:5
Ruth 3:11
Genesis 30:2
1 Samuel 2:5
References Lord
Genesis 29:31
Psalm 127:3
Psalm 113:9
Genesis 25:21
1 Samuel 1:27
Ruth 4:12
14
And the women said to Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which has not left you this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.
Reference
15
And he shall be to you a restorer of your life, and a nourisher of your old age: for your daughter in law, which loves you, which is better to you than seven sons, has born him.
Reference
16
And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse to 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.
People
20
And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon,
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 1:7
22
And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.
Summary of Ruth 4
Ruth chapter 4 provides the reader with the book’s resolution. Boaz goes to the city gate, where legal and family issues are brought up and resolved. He invites the closer relative for a talk about Naomi’s property redemption. The relative declines the proposition when he finds out that it also involves Ruth’s marriage. Boaz then agrees to marry Ruth and becomes her redeemer. He and Ruth have a son called Obed. The chapter concludes by linking Obed to the line of David.
Early in the morning, Boaz goes to the Bethlehem gate, where the city’s elders and other officials congregate. The location is significant because it is the place where legal and family issues are discussed and resolved.
Boaz sees the closer relative, who he has already talked to in chapter 3, and invites him to sit down with him. Boaz then invites ten elders of the city as witnesses.
He tells the relative that Naomi has arrived from the country and that the land of Elimelech is for sale. As the closest relative, he has the right to buy it.
The man agrees to buy the property at first. However, Boaz tells him that the deal also includes Ruth, the Moabite widow of Mahlon. He has to marry her to keep the land in the family.
When the relative hears that, he refuses to buy the property. He tells Boaz that he cannot take on the responsibility of a foreigner’s widow, which might bring bad luck to his household. He asks Boaz to buy the widow’s land to keep it in the family.
The agreement is then made public before the city elders and officials. The chapter narrates an ancient practice of footwear and sandals as a sign of something being transferred. The relative gives his shoe to Boaz, indicating that the responsibility for Naomi’s property redemption and Ruth’s marriage now belongs to him.
Boaz then declares before the city elders and the people that he has purchased everything that belonged to Elimelech, Chilion, and Mahlon from Naomi.
He has also married Ruth, the Moabite widow of Mahlon. He does this to keep the family name from being lost among his people or the city.
Everyone who has witnessed the agreement then blesses Boaz and Ruth. They compare Ruth to Rachel and Leah, the wives of Jacob, who bore all the tribes of Israel. They also wish that Ruth’s family line be like the family line of Pharez, the son of Judah and Tamar.
Boaz marries Ruth, and the Lord blesses her with children. She conceives and bears a son.
The women of Bethlehem then speak to Naomi. They praise the Lord for not leaving her desolate and giving her a son to comfort her in her old age.
They also acknowledge Ruth’s commitment to Naomi, saying that she is more faithful to her than seven sons would have been.
Naomi takes the child in her arms and thanks God. The women of Bethel then name the child Obed.
Obed grows to become the father of Jesse, who in turn becomes the father of David.
The final verses of the chapter contain a genealogy that traces the line of David back to Pharez. This genealogy shows that the story of Ruth is part of a much larger narrative that involves the history of Israel.
Ruth chapter 4 concludes the narrative about redemption that began in chapter 1. Naomi arrives in Bethlehem as an empty woman, but she leaves with a grandson to comfort her in her old age.
Ruth also finds redemption in marrying Boaz, her redeemer. She comes to Bethlehem as a poor, widowed foreigner, but she leaves as the wife of a wealthy landowner and the mother of their son, Obed.
Boaz is a redeemer of great faith and impeccable manners. He respects the rights of the closer relative by giving him the first option to buy Naomi’s property and marry Ruth.
He does not take advantage of the closer relative’s reluctance and leaves him free to make his choice.
The people of Bethlehem also help Naomi and Ruth by witnessing the agreement between Boaz and the closer relative. The legal and familial responsibilities for Naomi’s property and Ruth’s marriage are publicly known.
Finally, Naomi’s suffering in chapter 1 is redeemed. Her journey with Ruth has not been easy, and she has lost her husband, sons, and seemingly hope of ever having grandchildren. However, Naomi has her grandson to comfort her in her old age, and Ruth has found a new family to belong to.
Although her journey has been full of hardship, Naomi’s faith in the Lord has been rewarded many times over. Ruth’s faithfulness has also been rewarded as she becomes part of Israel’s royal family line.
The genealogy at the end of the chapter serves as a reminder that the story of Ruth and Naomi is part of a much greater story.
Ruth and Boaz are the parents of Obed, who becomes the grandfather of Jesse and the father of David. The story of a poor widow who lost everything but remained faithful to the Lord and joined Naomi in her time of need is a story of hope and faith. It is a story of kindness and love that begins with famine, the loss of husbands and sons, and ends with joy and the birth of a child who will one day rule over Israel.
Ruth chapter 4 concludes the book of Naomi’s redemption and Naomi’s hope. She is no longer empty-handed, Ruth has found a new family, and Boaz has fulfilled his duty as a redeemer.
Early in the morning, Boaz goes to the Bethlehem gate, where the city’s elders and other officials congregate. The location is significant because it is the place where legal and family issues are discussed and resolved.
Boaz sees the closer relative, who he has already talked to in chapter 3, and invites him to sit down with him. Boaz then invites ten elders of the city as witnesses.
He tells the relative that Naomi has arrived from the country and that the land of Elimelech is for sale. As the closest relative, he has the right to buy it.
The man agrees to buy the property at first. However, Boaz tells him that the deal also includes Ruth, the Moabite widow of Mahlon. He has to marry her to keep the land in the family.
When the relative hears that, he refuses to buy the property. He tells Boaz that he cannot take on the responsibility of a foreigner’s widow, which might bring bad luck to his household. He asks Boaz to buy the widow’s land to keep it in the family.
The agreement is then made public before the city elders and officials. The chapter narrates an ancient practice of footwear and sandals as a sign of something being transferred. The relative gives his shoe to Boaz, indicating that the responsibility for Naomi’s property redemption and Ruth’s marriage now belongs to him.
Boaz then declares before the city elders and the people that he has purchased everything that belonged to Elimelech, Chilion, and Mahlon from Naomi.
He has also married Ruth, the Moabite widow of Mahlon. He does this to keep the family name from being lost among his people or the city.
Everyone who has witnessed the agreement then blesses Boaz and Ruth. They compare Ruth to Rachel and Leah, the wives of Jacob, who bore all the tribes of Israel. They also wish that Ruth’s family line be like the family line of Pharez, the son of Judah and Tamar.
Boaz marries Ruth, and the Lord blesses her with children. She conceives and bears a son.
The women of Bethlehem then speak to Naomi. They praise the Lord for not leaving her desolate and giving her a son to comfort her in her old age.
They also acknowledge Ruth’s commitment to Naomi, saying that she is more faithful to her than seven sons would have been.
Naomi takes the child in her arms and thanks God. The women of Bethel then name the child Obed.
Obed grows to become the father of Jesse, who in turn becomes the father of David.
The final verses of the chapter contain a genealogy that traces the line of David back to Pharez. This genealogy shows that the story of Ruth is part of a much larger narrative that involves the history of Israel.
Ruth chapter 4 concludes the narrative about redemption that began in chapter 1. Naomi arrives in Bethlehem as an empty woman, but she leaves with a grandson to comfort her in her old age.
Ruth also finds redemption in marrying Boaz, her redeemer. She comes to Bethlehem as a poor, widowed foreigner, but she leaves as the wife of a wealthy landowner and the mother of their son, Obed.
Boaz is a redeemer of great faith and impeccable manners. He respects the rights of the closer relative by giving him the first option to buy Naomi’s property and marry Ruth.
He does not take advantage of the closer relative’s reluctance and leaves him free to make his choice.
The people of Bethlehem also help Naomi and Ruth by witnessing the agreement between Boaz and the closer relative. The legal and familial responsibilities for Naomi’s property and Ruth’s marriage are publicly known.
Finally, Naomi’s suffering in chapter 1 is redeemed. Her journey with Ruth has not been easy, and she has lost her husband, sons, and seemingly hope of ever having grandchildren. However, Naomi has her grandson to comfort her in her old age, and Ruth has found a new family to belong to.
Although her journey has been full of hardship, Naomi’s faith in the Lord has been rewarded many times over. Ruth’s faithfulness has also been rewarded as she becomes part of Israel’s royal family line.
The genealogy at the end of the chapter serves as a reminder that the story of Ruth and Naomi is part of a much greater story.
Ruth and Boaz are the parents of Obed, who becomes the grandfather of Jesse and the father of David. The story of a poor widow who lost everything but remained faithful to the Lord and joined Naomi in her time of need is a story of hope and faith. It is a story of kindness and love that begins with famine, the loss of husbands and sons, and ends with joy and the birth of a child who will one day rule over Israel.
Ruth chapter 4 concludes the book of Naomi’s redemption and Naomi’s hope. She is no longer empty-handed, Ruth has found a new family, and Boaz has fulfilled his duty as a redeemer.