(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.”

Read full chapter

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.”

Read full chapter

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