Now this was (A)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. So the redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.” And he removed his sandal. 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 (B)that the name of the deceased will not be eliminated from his brothers or from the [a]court of his birth place; you are witnesses today.” 11 And all the people who were [b]in the court, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home (C)like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built the house of Israel; and may you achieve [c]wealth in Ephrathah and [d]become famous in Bethlehem. 12 Moreover, may your house be like the house of (D)Perez whom Tamar bore to Judah, through the [e]descendants whom the Lord will give you by this young woman.”

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Footnotes

  1. Ruth 4:10 Lit gate
  2. Ruth 4:11 Lit at the gate
  3. Ruth 4:11 Or power
  4. Ruth 4:11 Lit call the name in
  5. Ruth 4:12 Lit seed

In Israel, in former times, this was the practice regarding redemption and exchange to confirm any such matter: a man would take off his sandal and give it to the other person. This was the process of making a transaction binding in Israel. Then the redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” and he took off his sandal.

Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, “Today you are witnesses that I’ve bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon. 10 And also Ruth the Moabite, the wife of Mahlon, I’ve bought to be my wife, to preserve the dead man’s name for his inheritance so that the name of the dead man might not be cut off from his brothers or from the gate of his hometown—today you are witnesses.”

11 Then all the people who were at the gate and the elders said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord grant that the woman who is coming into your household be like Rachel and like Leah, both of whom built up the house of Israel. May you be fertile in Ephrathah and may you preserve a name in Bethlehem. 12 And may your household be like the household of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah—through the children that the Lord will give you from this young woman.”

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(Now in earlier times in Israel, for the redemption(A) and transfer of property to become final, one party took off his sandal(B) and gave it to the other. This was the method of legalizing transactions(C) in Israel.)(D)

So the guardian-redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it yourself.” And he removed his sandal.(E)

Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, “Today you are witnesses(F) that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelek, Kilion and Mahlon. 10 I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite,(G) Mahlon’s widow, as my wife,(H) 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.(I) Today you are witnesses!(J)

11 Then the elders and all the people at the gate(K) said, “We are witnesses.(L) May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah,(M) who together built up the family of Israel. May you have standing in Ephrathah(N) and be famous in Bethlehem.(O) 12 Through the offspring the Lord gives you by this young woman, may your family be like that of Perez,(P) whom Tamar(Q) bore to Judah.”

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