Ruth 4
Ruth 4 is the final chapter of the Book of Ruth, and it unfolds around the process by which Boaz officially takes Ruth as his wife. This chapter contains the central themes of the customs of the kinsman-redeemer (goel) system and the restoration of family and community that follows. It also beautifully shows how the stories of Ruth, Boaz, and Naomi finally bear fruit through God’s providence.
1verseNow Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there. Behold, the near kinsman of whom Boaz spoke came by. Boaz said to him, “Come over here, friend, and sit down!” He came over, and sat down.
2verseBoaz took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, “Sit down here,” and they sat down.
3verseHe 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.
4verseI 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.”
5verseThen 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.”
6verseThe 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.”
7verseNow this was the custom in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning exchanging, to confirm all things: a man took off his sandal, and gave it to his neighbor; and this was the way of formalizing transactions in Israel.
8verseSo the near kinsman said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” then he took off his sandal.
9verseBoaz 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.
10verseMoreover, 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.”
11verseAll the people who were in the gate, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. May the LORD 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.
12verseLet your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, of the offspring which the LORD will give you by this young woman.”
13verseSo Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife; and he went in to her, and the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she bore a son.
14verseThe women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you today without a near kinsman. Let his name be famous in Israel.
15verseHe 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.”
16verseNaomi took the child, laid him in her bosom, and became nurse to him.
17verseThe 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.
18verseNow this is the history of the generations of Perez: Perez became the father of Hezron,
19verseand Hezron became the father of Ram, and Ram became the father of Amminadab,
20verseand Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon became the father of Salmon,
21verseand Salmon became the father of Boaz, and Boaz became the father of Obed,
22verseand Obed became the father of Jesse, and Jesse became the father of David.
Flow and Structure by Scene
| Verses 1-8: | Boaz carries out the procedure at the city gate, before relatives who have the first right to redeem the property and before witnesses. Because the nearest relative feels burdened by the property and Ruth’s marriage, he transfers his right to Boaz. |
| Verses 9-12: | Boaz officially declares in the presence of all the witnesses that he will redeem Naomi’s property and take Ruth as his wife. The witnesses pray that God’s blessing will come upon this household. |
| Verses 13-17: | A son named Obed is born to Ruth and Boaz, and through this, Naomi’s family line and the property are restored. Neighboring women celebrate the blessing that the child has been given to Naomi. |
| Verses 18-22: | As the lineage from Obed’s genealogy onward to King David is mentioned, the story of Ruth is connected to Israel’s history. |
Overall Meaning
Ruth 4 shows how personal faithfulness and love lead to the salvation and restoration of the community. The devotion and sense of responsibility shown through Ruth and Boaz remind us that even in the midst of hardship, God’s careful guidance can bring blessing. Also, although the ending of Ruth is the story of an ordinary household, it reveals God’s great plan and love for all of Israel through the genealogy that leads to the ancestors of King David.
Points for Reflection
- Remember that God brings about great purposes and history through our small choices and faithfulness.
- Even in difficult circumstances, reflect on how when you practice love with a sense of responsibility, an unexpected path of blessing and restoration may open.
- Through Ruth 4, let’s think about the importance of love and community restoration that the meaning of “redeeming the property” (redemption) holds for us today.
Try Applying It to Yourself
- Let’s check whether we have the responsibility to serve and love difficult neighbors around us or people who need commitment.
- Let’s act in faith, believing that our daily decisions and faithfulness can be included in God’s greater plan.
- Pray and put into practice what roles and responsibilities you should carry out within the community and family.
This is the last chapter of Ruth.