Ruth — Chapter 4

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1Then 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.

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. 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.

13So 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.

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 Bethlehem:

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.

1Now Boaz went up to the village gate and sat there. Then along came the guardian whom Boaz had mentioned to Ruth. Boaz said, “Come here, what’s-your-name, and sit down.” So he came and sat down.

2Boaz chose 10 of the village leaders and said, “Sit down here!” So they sat down.

3Then Boaz said to the guardian, “Naomi, who has returned from the region of Moab, is selling the portion of land that belongs to our relative Elimelech.

4So I am legally informing you: Acquire it before those sitting here and before the leaders of my people. If you want to exercise your right to redeem it, then do so. But if not, then tell me so I will know. For you possess the first option to redeem it; I am next in line after you.” He replied, “I will redeem it.”

5Then Boaz said, “When you acquire the field from Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the wife of our deceased relative, in order to preserve his family name by raising up a descendant who will inherit his property.”

6The guardian said, “Then I am unable to redeem it, for I would ruin my own inheritance in that case. You may exercise my redemption option, for I am unable to redeem it.”

7(Now this used to be the customary way to finalize a transaction involving redemption in Israel: A man would remove his sandal and give it to the other party. This was a legally binding act in Israel.)

8So the guardian said to Boaz, “You may acquire it,” and he removed his sandal.

9Then Boaz said to the leaders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I have acquired from Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech, Kilion, and Mahlon.

10I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, the wife of Mahlon, as my wife to raise up a descendant who will inherit his property so the name of the deceased might not disappear from among his relatives and from his village. You are witnesses today.”

11All the people who were at the gate and the elders replied, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is entering your home like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built up the house of Israel! May you prosper in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem.

12May your family become like the family of Perez—whom Tamar bore to Judah—through the descendants the Lord gives you by this young woman.”

13So Boaz married Ruth and slept with her. The Lord enabled her to conceive and she gave birth to a son.

14The village women said to Naomi, “May the Lord be praised because he has not left you without a guardian today! May he become famous in Israel!

15He will encourage you and provide for you when you are old, for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, has given him birth. She is better to you than seven sons!”

16Naomi took the child and placed him on her lap; she became his caregiver.

17The neighbor women gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. Now he became the father of Jesse—David’s father.

18These are the descendants of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron,

19Hezron was the father of Ram, Ram was the father of Amminadab,

20Amminadab was the father of Nachshon, Nachshon was the father of Salmah,

21Salmon was the father of Boaz, Boaz was the father of Obed,

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

1Now Boaz went up to the gate, and sat down there. Behold, the near kinsman of whom Boaz spoke came by. He said to him, “Come over here, friend, and sit down!” He came over, and sat down.

2He took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, “Sit down here,” and they sat down.

3He 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.

4I thought I should tell 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 no one to redeem it besides you; and I am after you.” He said, “I will redeem it.”

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

6The near kinsman said, “I can’t redeem it for myself, lest I endanger my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption for yourself; for I can’t redeem it.”

7Now this was the custom in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning exchanging, to confirm all things: a man took off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbor; and this was the way of formalizing transactions in Israel.

8So the near kinsman said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” then he took off his shoe.

9Boaz said to the elders, and to all the people, “You are witnesses today, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, from the hand of Naomi.

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

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

12Let your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, of the offspring which Yahweh will give you by this young woman.”

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

14The women said to Naomi, “Blessed be Yahweh, who has not left you today without a near kinsman. Let his name be famous in Israel.

15He 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 given birth to him.”

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

17The women, her neighbors, gave him a name, saying, “A son is born to Naomi”. They named him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

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

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

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

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

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

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
Videos
Reflection

Summary

Boaz redeems Naomi's land and takes Ruth as his wife after the nearer kinsman declines. Ruth bears Obed, the grandfather of David, placing this Moabite woman in the royal and messianic lineage.

Authorship & Background

Author: Unknown, traditionally attributed to Samuel. Ruth is set 'in the days when the judges ruled' (1:1) but provides a beautiful contrast to the moral chaos of Judges. While Judges ends with 'every man did that which was right in his own eyes,' Ruth shows ordinary people living faithfully in dark times. The book demonstrates God's providence, the kinsman-redeemer (go'el) concept, and the inclusion of Gentiles in God's plan. Ruth, a Moabite woman, becomes the great-grandmother of David and an ancestor of Christ (Matthew 1:5).
Historical Context: Chapter 4 brings the book to its climax and resolution at the city gate — the place of legal transactions, judicial decisions, and public witness in ancient Israel. Boaz wastes no time: "Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there" (v.1). The gate was the ancient equivalent of a courthouse — elders sat there to witness contracts, settle disputes, and validate transactions. Boaz assembles ten elders as witnesses (v.2) — later Jewish tradition required ten men (a "minyan") for legal proceedings, and this passage may be the origin of that practice. The legal negotiation that follows is masterful. Boaz first presents only the land transaction: Naomi is selling Elimelech's parcel (v.3). The nearer kinsman agrees to buy it — land acquisition is profitable. Then Boaz reveals the full obligation: "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" (v.5). The land comes with Ruth — and with the obligation to produce an heir in Mahlon's name. This changes everything. The heir would inherit the land, meaning the kinsman would pay for property that would ultimately pass to another man's line. "I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance" (v.6). The nearer kinsman's refusal is economically rational but spiritually revealing: he prioritizes his own inheritance over his obligation to the dead. He is willing to acquire land but not to sacrifice for family. The sandal ceremony (v.7-8) — removing and giving one's sandal — confirmed the transfer of rights. This custom was already ancient by the narrator's time ("this was the manner in former time in Israel"). Boaz then makes his public declaration: he has bought all that belonged to Elimelech, Chilion, and Mahlon, and he has acquired Ruth as his wife "to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance" (v.10). The people and elders respond with a remarkable blessing: "The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel" (v.11). Ruth the Moabitess is compared to the matriarchs of Israel — the outsider is placed alongside the founders. They also invoke Perez — the son of Judah and Tamar (v.12) — another irregular union that produced the line of Judah. The book's conclusion is swift and beautiful: Boaz takes Ruth, the LORD gives conception, and Obed is born. The women of Bethlehem bless Naomi: "Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman" (v.14). The woman who said "call me Mara" now holds a grandson in her arms. Ruth is declared "better to thee than seven sons" (v.15) — the highest possible praise, since seven sons represented the ideal family. The genealogy (vv.18-22) traces ten generations from Perez to David, placing Ruth's story in the grand narrative of God's redemptive plan. This Moabite widow, who chose Israel's God on a road in Moab, becomes the great- grandmother of Israel's greatest king — and an ancestor of Christ.
The Gate Transaction (vv.1-6): Boaz's legal strategy is deliberate. He presents the land first because it is attractive — the nearer kinsman sees profit. Only then does he reveal the full cost: Ruth and the obligation to raise an heir for the dead. The kinsman's refusal — "lest I mar mine own inheritance" — reveals his values. He will not risk his estate for the sake of his dead relative's name. His unnamed status in the text is telling: the man who refused to preserve another's name has his own name forgotten by Scripture. He is simply "such a one" (KJV) or "friend" (ESV) — anonymous forever. Meanwhile, Boaz, who sacrificed to preserve Mahlon's name, has his own name preserved eternally in the genealogy of Christ.
The Sandal Ceremony (vv.7-8): The narrator explains this custom for readers unfamiliar with it — suggesting the book was written after the practice had fallen out of common use. Removing the sandal symbolized relinquishing one's right to "walk on" (possess) the land. Compare Deuteronomy 25:9-10, where the widow removes the refusing kinsman's sandal in disgrace — here the transfer is voluntary and without shame. The sandal is both a legal instrument (confirming the transaction) and a symbol (transferring the right to walk the land).
Boaz's Declaration and the People's Blessing (vv.9-12): Boaz's public statement is comprehensive: he has bought the land AND acquired Ruth as wife, with the explicit purpose of raising up the dead man's name. The community responds with witness ("We are witnesses") and blessing. The blessing invokes Rachel and Leah — the mothers of the twelve tribes — placing Ruth in their company. It invokes Perez — born of Judah and Tamar's unusual union — connecting Ruth's story to another instance where God worked through unconventional means to preserve the line of promise. The blessing is prophetic: Ruth will indeed "build the house of Israel" through David's line.
Birth of Obed and Restoration of Naomi (vv.13-17): "The LORD gave her conception" (v.13) — after ten childless years with Mahlon in Moab, Ruth conceives immediately with Boaz. The narrator attributes this directly to God. The women's blessing to Naomi (vv.14-15) completes her restoration: she who was "empty" (1:21) now has a redeemer, a grandson, and a daughter-in-law "better than seven sons." Naomi takes the child to her bosom and becomes his nurse (v.16) — the grandmother who thought God had abandoned her now holds the future king's grandfather. The neighbors name the child Obed ("servant/worshipper") and declare: "There is a son born to Naomi" — legally, the child continues Elimelech's line through Mahlon, fulfilling the purpose of redemption.
The Genealogy of David (vv.18-22): The book closes with ten generations: Perez — Hezron — Ram — Amminadab — Nahshon — Salmon — Boaz — Obed — Jesse — David. This genealogy connects Ruth's story to the larger narrative of God's plan. Perez was born of Judah and Tamar (Genesis 38) — another story of levirate obligation, unconventional means, and God's preservation of the messianic line. Nahshon was the leader of Judah during the wilderness wandering (Numbers 2:3). Salmon (Boaz's father) married Rahab according to Matthew 1:5 — another Gentile woman of faith. The genealogy demonstrates that God's redemptive plan runs through ordinary people, unexpected unions, and faithful outsiders. It culminates in David — and beyond David, in Christ (Matthew 1:5-6).

Map & Geography

  • The city gate of Bethlehem: The legal and commercial center where elders sat and transactions were publicly witnessed
  • Bethlehem ("house of bread"): Now fulfilled — famine has turned to harvest, emptiness to fullness
  • Ruth's journey is complete: from Moab to Bethlehem's fields to the city gate to the lineage of David and Christ

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik emphasizes the typology of Boaz as kinsman-redeemer pointing to Christ: willing to pay the full price, taking the bride, raising up new life from death. He notes that the unnamed kinsman represents the Law — which identifies the obligation but cannot fulfill it — while Boaz represents grace, which both identifies and accomplishes redemption.
  • Charles Spurgeon: "The nearer kinsman said, 'I cannot redeem it, lest I mar mine own inheritance.' He counted the cost and found it too great. But Boaz counted the cost and found it worth paying. Here is the difference between law and grace. The law says, 'I cannot redeem — the cost is too high, the obligation too great, the sacrifice too much.' But grace says, 'I will redeem. I will pay the price. I will take the bride. I will raise up the dead man's name.' Christ is our Boaz. He did not say, 'I cannot redeem, lest I mar mine own inheritance.' He said, 'I will redeem, though it cost me everything.' He bought us with His blood. He took us as His bride. He gives us His name. And the inheritance He gains is not diminished but multiplied — for we are His inheritance, and He is ours."

Videos

The Bible Project — Ruth Overview

Reflection

  • 1. True redemption costs the redeemer (vv.5-6,10). The nearer kinsman was willing to acquire land (profit) but not to bear the full cost of redemption (sacrifice). Boaz paid the price willingly. Christ, our Kinsman-Redeemer, did not count the cost too great. He took our debt, our shame, our death — and gave us His inheritance. Redemption is never free for the redeemer; it is always free for the redeemed.
  • 2. The one who preserves another's name has his own name preserved (vv.1,10,22). The unnamed kinsman refused to preserve Mahlon's name — and Scripture erases his own. Boaz sacrificed to preserve the dead man's name — and his own name stands forever in the genealogy of Christ. Those who seek to save their life lose it; those who lose their life for others find it (Matthew 16:25).
  • 3. God works through the outsider (vv.11-12,17). Ruth the Moabitess is blessed alongside Rachel and Leah. A woman from a cursed nation (Deuteronomy 23:3) enters the line of David and of Christ. God's grace demolishes every boundary that human religion constructs. No one is too far outside for God to bring in. The genealogy of Christ includes Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba — women whose stories defy conventional expectations.
  • 4. God fills what He empties (vv.14-16). Naomi went out full and came back empty (1:21). Now she holds a grandson — a "restorer of life." God's emptying is never His final word. What He takes away in one season, He restores — often with greater abundance — in another. The bitter becomes sweet. The empty becomes full. But the filling often comes through paths we would never have chosen.
  • 5. Ordinary faithfulness produces extraordinary legacy (vv.17-22). Ruth gleaned barley. Boaz managed his fields. Naomi counseled her daughter-in-law. None of them knew they were building the lineage of David and of Christ. Faithfulness in small, daily, unglamorous tasks produces outcomes we cannot foresee. The significance of our obedience is rarely visible in our lifetime. Trust that God is weaving your ordinary faithfulness into His extraordinary plan.