HolyStudy
Bible IndexRead BibleNotesChurchesMissionPrivacyTermsContact
© 2026 HolyStudy
HomeRead BibleBible NotesChurchesSign in
HolyStudy
HomeRead BibleBible NotesChurches
Sign in

Ruth 4

1

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:

2
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.

1
1
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.

2
1
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.

1
8

Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe.

1
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.

1
1
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 Beth–lehem:

2
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.

1
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.

1
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.

1
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.

1
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.

1
18

Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron,

1
19

And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab,

1
20

And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon,

1
21

And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed,

2
22

And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.

← Previous ChapterNext Chapter →

Ruth 4:6

“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.”

Study Summary

The kinsman-redeemer's withdrawal from the redemption, citing the concern that undertaking this obligation would damage his own inheritance, reveals his unwillingness to assume the additional obligation of Levirate marriage and the production of an heir. His fear that Ruth's child would displace his own heirs and thereby diminish the value of his existing inheritance demonstrates his prioritization of personal financial interest over covenantal obligation. His withdrawal, while economically prudent, represents a failure of covenant commitment and paves the way for Boaz to assume the redemptive role.

Community Reflections

1
Sarah Koenig (test user)1d ago
God's faithfulness through history — Ruth 4

The contrast between human weakness and divine strength is so vivid in this passage. God is faithful in every circumstance.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. The thread of covenant runs through every book of the Bible.. His timing, His methods, His purposes — all beyond our comprehension, yet perfectly good.. I think this is a call to trust beyond what we can see. God is faithful in every circumstance.. His timing, His methods, His purposes — all beyond our comprehension, yet perfectly good.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. Following God is costly, but the reward is eternal.. His timing, His methods, His purposes — all beyond our comprehension, yet perfectly good.. This connects directly to the promise made to Abraham. Now I understand why — it's a daily declaration of dependence on God.. The contrast between human weakness and divine strength is so vivid in this passage. Following…

Read the note →
1
wJLrXXCmgFEEhqAcuusYmLp fJOmHAIFbPYmnreheyA (test user)1d ago
Wisdom for daily life — Ruth 4

God is faithful in every circumstance.. The Hebrew word used here carries a richness that English can't fully capture. My grandmother used to quote this verse every morning. God meets us exactly where we are — broken, uncertain, yet chosen. There's something deeply comforting about knowing that the same God who spoke these words is the same yesterday, today, and forever.. Reading the Psalms alongside this gives a fuller picture of what the author was experiencing — both the anguish and the hope.. The promise here is not conditional on our strength but on His character.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. This is one of those passages that reads differently in every season of life. The promise here is not conditional on our strength but on His character.. Today it speaks comfort; a year ago it spoke conviction.. The contrast between human weakness and divine strength is so vivid…

Read the note →

Ruth 4:6

“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.”

Study Summary

The kinsman-redeemer's withdrawal from the redemption, citing the concern that undertaking this obligation would damage his own inheritance, reveals his unwillingness to assume the additional obligation of Levirate marriage and the production of an heir. His fear that Ruth's child would displace his own heirs and thereby diminish the value of his existing inheritance demonstrates his prioritization of personal financial interest over covenantal obligation. His withdrawal, while economically prudent, represents a failure of covenant commitment and paves the way for Boaz to assume the redemptive role.

Community Reflections

1
Sarah Koenig (test user)1d ago
God's faithfulness through history — Ruth 4

The contrast between human weakness and divine strength is so vivid in this passage. God is faithful in every circumstance.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. The thread of covenant runs through every book of the Bible.. His timing, His methods, His purposes — all beyond our comprehension, yet perfectly good.. I think this is a call to trust beyond what we can see. God is faithful in every circumstance.. His timing, His methods, His purposes — all beyond our comprehension, yet perfectly good.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. Following God is costly, but the reward is eternal.. His timing, His methods, His purposes — all beyond our comprehension, yet perfectly good.. This connects directly to the promise made to Abraham. Now I understand why — it's a daily declaration of dependence on God.. The contrast between human weakness and divine strength is so vivid in this passage. Following…

Read the note →
1
wJLrXXCmgFEEhqAcuusYmLp fJOmHAIFbPYmnreheyA (test user)1d ago
Wisdom for daily life — Ruth 4

God is faithful in every circumstance.. The Hebrew word used here carries a richness that English can't fully capture. My grandmother used to quote this verse every morning. God meets us exactly where we are — broken, uncertain, yet chosen. There's something deeply comforting about knowing that the same God who spoke these words is the same yesterday, today, and forever.. Reading the Psalms alongside this gives a fuller picture of what the author was experiencing — both the anguish and the hope.. The promise here is not conditional on our strength but on His character.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. This is one of those passages that reads differently in every season of life. The promise here is not conditional on our strength but on His character.. Today it speaks comfort; a year ago it spoke conviction.. The contrast between human weakness and divine strength is so vivid…

Read the note →

Ruth 4:6

The kinsman-redeemer's withdrawal from the redemption, citing the concern that undertaking this obligation would damage his own inheritance, reveals his unwillingness to assume the additional obligation of Levirate marriage and the production of an heir. His fear that Ruth's child would displace his own heirs and thereby diminish the value of his existing inheritance demonstrates his prioritization of personal financial interest over covenantal obligation. His withdrawal, while economically prudent, represents a failure of covenant commitment and paves the way for Boaz to assume the redemptive role.