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Boaz marries Ruth

4 In the morning, Boaz went to the gate of the town and he sat down there. ^{[ a ]} Later, the family-redeemer that Boaz had talked about to Ruth came there. Boaz said to him, ‘Come here, my friend, and sit down.’ So the man went to sit with Boaz.

² Boaz chose ten of the town's leaders and he said to them, ‘Come and sit here.’ So they sat down. ³ Then Boaz said to the family-redeemer, ‘Naomi has returned from Moab. She wants to sell the piece of land that belonged to our relative, Elimelech. ⁴ I thought that I must tell you about this, in front of the leaders of our town. Tell us if you will buy this land from Naomi, so that all the people who sit here know what you decide. If you want to buy it, then you should buy it. If you do not want to buy it, then you must tell me. Then I will know what to do. You are the person who must decide. If you do not choose to buy the land, then I can buy it.’ The relative said, ‘I will buy it.’

⁵ Then Boaz said, ‘You should also know this: When you buy the land from Naomi, you also have to marry the Moabite woman, Ruth. She is the widow of Elimelech's son. She will give birth to your children and Elimelech's land will continue to belong to his family.’

⁶ When Boaz said that, the relative replied, ‘If that is true, I cannot buy the land. It would not belong to my own children when I die. You may buy the land instead of me. I cannot buy it myself.’ ^{[ b ]}

⁷ In Israel at this time, when somebody agreed to sell land, he removed his shoe. He gave it to the man who was buying the land. Then everyone could see that they both agreed. They could not change their minds.

⁸ So the relative said to Boaz, ‘You may buy the land.’ When he said that, he removed his shoe.

⁹ Boaz said to the town's leaders and to all the people there, ‘You have all seen today that I have bought the land from Naomi. I have bought all the land that belonged to Elimelech, Kilion and Mahlon. ¹⁰ I will also marry Ruth, who came here from Moab. She was Mahlon's wife. In that way, the land will still belong to his family. Ruth's descendants will still have his family's name. His family will continue to belong to this town where he lived. Today you have seen that this is what we have agreed together.’

¹¹ Then all the leaders and the other people at the gate said, ‘We have seen that this is true. We pray that the Lord will bless the woman who is coming into your home as your wife. We pray that he will bless her as he blessed Rachel and Leah. ^{[ c ]} They gave birth to many children for the family of Israel. We pray that you will become a rich man in Ephrathah's clan. And we pray that you will become famous in Bethlehem town. ¹² We pray that this woman will give birth to many children for you. Then the Lord will give you many descendants, so that you have a large family. We pray that your family will be like the family of Perez, who was the son of Judah and his wife, Tamar.’ ^{[ d ]}

Ruth gives birth to a son

¹³ So Boaz married Ruth. He lived with her as his wife. The Lord blessed her so that she became pregnant. She gave birth to a son. ¹⁴ The women of Bethlehem said to Naomi, ‘We praise the Lord ! Today, he has given to you a relative to take care of you! We pray that the child will become famous everywhere in Israel! ¹⁵ He will help you to feel young again. He will take care of you when you are old. Your son's wife, Ruth, has given birth to this boy. She loves you and she has helped you more than seven sons could ever do.’

¹⁶ Naomi took the child and she held him near to her. She took care of him as if he was her own son. ¹⁷ The women who lived there said, ‘Now Naomi has a son again!’ They called the boy Obed. He became the father of Jesse, who became the father of David.

King David's family

¹⁸ These are the descendants of Perez:

Perez was the father of Hezron.

¹⁹ Hezron was the father of Ram.

Ram was the father of Amminadab.

²⁰ Amminadab was the father of Nahshon.

Nahshon was the father of Salmon.

²¹ Salmon was the father of Boaz.

Boaz was the father of Obed.

²² Obed was the father of Jesse.

Jesse was the father of David.

Footnotes

4:1 The gate of the town was an important place. The town's leaders met there to decide important things.
4:6 The family-redeemer might marry Ruth and have a son. If the family-redeemer had no other sons, then Ruth's son would receive all his land. His land would then be in Elimelech's family. This would be the same for Boaz.
4:11 Rachel and Leah were the wives of Jacob. God had promised that Israel would be his people. He promised that the 12 sons of Rachel and Leah would begin large families. These families would be the 12 important families in Israel.
4:12 Perez was one of Boaz's ancestors. His father, Judah, had been a family-redeemer for Tamar.

Boaz and Naomi’s Close Relative

4 Boaz went to the place where people gather near the city gates. He sat there until the close relative he had told Ruth about passed by. Boaz called to him, “Come and sit here, friend.”

² Boaz also gathered ten of the elders of the city. He told them, “Sit here!” So they sat down.

³ Then Boaz spoke to Naomi’s close relative. He said, “Naomi came back from the hill country of Moab. She wants to sell the land that belonged to our relative Elimelech. ⁴ I decided to tell you about this in front of the people living here and in front of the elders of our people. If you want to pay the widow for the land and keep it in the family, then pay her for it. If you don’t want to buy the land, tell me, because I am the next one in the family who has the right to buy it. If you don’t buy the land from her, I will.”

Naomi’s closest relative said, “I will buy the land from her.”

⁵ Then Boaz said, “If you buy the land from her, you must also marry the dead man’s wife, Ruth, the Moabite woman. Then the first child will get the land, and it will stay in the dead man’s family.”

⁶ The close relative answered, “Then I cannot buy the land. If I do, I might lose my own land. So I cannot do it. You buy the land.” ⁷ Then he gave Boaz something to show that he was serious. During that time in Israel, when people bought property, one person took off a sandal and gave it to the other person. This was like signing an agreement. ⁸ So when the close relative said to Boaz, “You buy the land,” he took off his sandal and gave it to Boaz. ^{[ a ]}

⁹ Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I am buying from Naomi everything that belonged to Elimelech, Kilion, and Mahlon. ¹⁰ I also take Ruth to be my wife. Then the dead man’s property will continue to belong to his family. And he will always be remembered by his family and the people in his hometown. You are all witnesses of what I am doing today.”

¹¹ So all the elders and the people who were near the city gates said, “We are witnesses to all of this. And may the Lord bless this woman who is coming into your home to be like Rachel and Leah. They are the ones who had many children to make the people of Israel strong. And may you become powerful in the tribe of Ephrathah and famous in Bethlehem! ¹² May the Lord bless you with many children through Ruth. May your family become great like the family of Perez, ^{[ b ]} the son Tamar bore for Judah.”

¹³ So Boaz married Ruth. The Lord allowed Ruth to become pregnant, and she had a son. ¹⁴ The women there said to Naomi, “Praise the Lord who gave you this child. ^{[ c ]} May he become famous in Israel. ¹⁵ He will make you alive again and care for you in your old age. Your daughter-in-law made it happen because she bore this child for you. She loves you, and she is better for you than seven sons.”

¹⁶ Naomi took the boy, held him in her arms, and cared for him. ¹⁷ The neighbors gave the boy his name. These women said, “Naomi has a son now!” ^{[ d ]} They named him Obed. Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of David.

The Family of Ruth and Boaz

¹⁸ This is the family history of Perez:

Perez was the father of Hezron.

¹⁹ Hezron was the father of Ram.

Ram was the father of Amminadab.

²⁰ Amminadab was the father of Nahshon.

Nahshon was the father of Salmon.

²¹ Salmon was the father of Boaz.

Boaz was the father of Obed.

²² Obed was the father of Jesse.

Jesse was the father of David.

Footnotes

Ruth 4:8 and gave it to Boaz This is from the ancient Greek version.
Ruth 4:12 Perez One of Boaz’s ancestors.
Ruth 4:14 child Literally, “protector” or “redeemer.” This might refer to Boaz, or the women might have used this name for the baby because he would be the one to care for Naomi and her family and to carry on the name of Elimelech.
Ruth 4:17 Naomi … now Literally, “A son was born for Naomi.”

4 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 neighbour: 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 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 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.

The Marriage of Ruth

4 Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there, and behold, ^{( A )} the redeemer of whom Boaz spoke was passing by, so he said, “Come over here, ^{[ a ]} friend, sit down here.” And he came over and sat down. ² Then he took ten men of the ^{( B )} elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down. ³ And he said to the redeemer, “Naomi, who has returned from the land of Moab, has to sell the plot of land ^{( C )} which belonged to our brother Elimelech. ⁴ So I thought that I would ^{[ b ]} inform you, saying, ‘ ^{( D )} Buy it before those who are sitting here , and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it , redeem it ; but if ^{[ c ]} not, tell me so that I may know; for ^{( E )} there is no one except you to redeem it , and I am after you.’” And he said, “I will redeem it .” ⁵ Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the deceased, in order ^{( F )} to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance.” ⁶ Then ^{( G )} the redeemer said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, otherwise I would ^{[ d ]} jeopardize my own inheritance. Redeem it for yourself; you may have my right of redemption, since I cannot redeem it .”

⁷ Now this was ^{( H )} the custom in former times in Israel concerning the redemption and the exchange of land to confirm any matter: a man removed his sandal and gave it to another; and this was the way of confirmation in Israel. ⁸ So the redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.” And he removed his sandal. ⁹ Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon. ¹⁰ Furthermore, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance, so ^{( I )} that the name of the deceased will not be eliminated from his brothers or from the ^{[ e ]} court of his birth place; you are witnesses today.” ¹¹ And all the people who were ^{[ f ]} in the court, and the elders, said, “ We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home ^{( J )} like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built the house of Israel; and may you achieve ^{[ g ]} wealth in Ephrathah and ^{[ h ]} become famous in Bethlehem. ¹² Moreover, may your house be like the house of ^{( K )} Perez whom Tamar bore to Judah, through the ^{[ i ]} descendants whom the Lord will give you by this young woman.”

¹³ So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he had relations with her. And ^{( L )} the Lord ^{[ j ]} enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. ¹⁴ Then the ^{( M )} women said to Naomi, “Blessed is the Lord who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name ^{[ k ]} become famous in Israel. ¹⁵ May he also be to you one who restores life and sustains your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you ^{[ l ]} ^{( N )} and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.”

The Line of David

¹⁶ Then Naomi took the child and ^{[ m ]} laid him in her lap, and became his nurse. ¹⁷ And the neighbor women gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi!” So they named him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

¹⁸ Now these are the generations of Perez: ^{( O )} Perez fathered Hezron, ¹⁹ Hezron fathered Ram, and Ram fathered Amminadab, ²⁰ and Amminadab fathered Nahshon, and Nahshon fathered Salmon, ²¹ and Salmon fathered Boaz, and Boaz fathered Obed, ²² and Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.

Footnotes

Ruth 4:1 Lit a certain one
Ruth 4:4 Lit uncover your ear
Ruth 4:4 Lit no one will redeem
Ruth 4:6 Lit damage
Ruth 4:10 Lit gate
Ruth 4:11 Lit at the gate
Ruth 4:11 Or power
Ruth 4:11 Lit call the name in
Ruth 4:12 Lit seed
Ruth 4:13 Lit gave her conception
Ruth 4:14 Lit be called in
Ruth 4:15 Lit who
Ruth 4:16 I.e., as her own

Boaz Marries Ruth

4 Meanwhile Boaz went up to the town gate ^{( A )} and sat down there just as the guardian-redeemer ^{[ a ]} ^{( B )} he had mentioned ^{( C )} came along. Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.” So he went over and sat down.

² Boaz took ten of the elders ^{( D )} of the town and said, “Sit here,” and they did so. ^{( E )} ³ Then he said to the guardian-redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our relative Elimelek. ^{( F )} ⁴ I thought I should bring the matter to your attention and suggest that you buy it in the presence of these seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, do so. But if you ^{[ b ]} will not, tell me, so I will know. For no one has the right to do it except you, ^{( G )} and I am next in line.”

“I will redeem it,” he said.

⁵ Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, ^{( H )} the ^{[ c ]} dead man’s widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property.” ^{( I )}

⁶ At this, the guardian-redeemer said, “Then I cannot redeem ^{( J )} it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it.” ^{( K )}

⁷ (Now in earlier times in Israel, for the redemption ^{( L )} and transfer of property to become final, one party took off his sandal ^{( M )} and gave it to the other. This was the method of legalizing transactions ^{( N )} in Israel.) ^{( O )}

⁸ So the guardian-redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it yourself.” And he removed his sandal. ^{( P )}

⁹ Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, “Today you are witnesses ^{( Q )} that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelek, Kilion and Mahlon. ¹⁰ I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, ^{( R )} Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, ^{( S )} in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from his hometown. ^{( T )} Today you are witnesses! ^{( U )} ”

¹¹ Then the elders and all the people at the gate ^{( V )} said, “We are witnesses. ^{( W )} May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, ^{( X )} who together built up the family of Israel. May you have standing in Ephrathah ^{( Y )} and be famous in Bethlehem. ^{( Z )} ¹² Through the offspring the Lord gives you by this young woman, may your family be like that of Perez, ^{( AA )} whom Tamar ^{( AB )} bore to Judah.”

Naomi Gains a Son

¹³ So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, ^{( AC )} and she gave birth to a son. ^{( AD )} ¹⁴ The women ^{( AE )} said to Naomi: “Praise be to the Lord , ^{( AF )} who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. ^{( AG )} May he become famous throughout Israel! ¹⁵ He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, ^{( AH )} who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, ^{( AI )} has given him birth.”

¹⁶ Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. ¹⁷ The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, ^{( AJ )} the father of David. ^{( AK )}

The Genealogy of David ^{( AL )}

¹⁸ This, then, is the family line of Perez ^{( AM )} :

Perez was the father of Hezron, ^{( AN )}

¹⁹ Hezron the father of Ram,

Ram the father of Amminadab, ^{( AO )}

²⁰ Amminadab the father of Nahshon, ^{( AP )}

Nahshon the father of Salmon, ^{[ d ]}

²¹ Salmon the father of Boaz, ^{( AQ )}

Boaz the father of Obed,

²² Obed the father of Jesse,

and Jesse the father of David.

Footnotes

Ruth 4:1 The Hebrew word for guardian-redeemer is a legal term for one who has the obligation to redeem a relative in serious difficulty (see Lev. 25:25-55); also in verses 3, 6, 8 and 14.
Ruth 4:4 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts he
Ruth 4:5 Vulgate and Syriac; Hebrew (see also Septuagint) Naomi and from Ruth the Moabite, you acquire the
Ruth 4:20 A few Hebrew manuscripts, some Septuagint manuscripts and Vulgate (see also verse 21 and Septuagint of 1 Chron. 2:11); most Hebrew manuscripts Salma

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Table of Contents

Boaz marries Ruth

Ruth gives birth to a son

King David's family

Footnotes

Boaz and Naomi’s Close Relative

The Family of Ruth and Boaz

Footnotes

The Marriage of Ruth

The Line of David

Footnotes

Cross references

Boaz Marries Ruth

Naomi Gains a Son

The Genealogy of David ^{( AL )}

Footnotes

Cross references

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BibleStudyIt Ruth 4

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Boaz marries Ruth

Ruth gives birth to a son

King David's family

Footnotes

Boaz and Naomi’s Close Relative

The Family of Ruth and Boaz

Footnotes

The Marriage of Ruth

The Line of David

Footnotes

Cross references

Boaz Marries Ruth

Naomi Gains a Son

The Genealogy of David ( AL )

Footnotes

Cross references

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The Genealogy of David ^{( AL )}