Ruth 4 9

Ruth 4:9 kjv

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.

Ruth 4:9 nkjv

And Boaz said to the elders and all the people, "You are witnesses this day that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, from the hand of Naomi.

Ruth 4:9 niv

Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, "Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelek, Kilion and Mahlon.

Ruth 4:9 esv

Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, "You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and to Mahlon.

Ruth 4:9 nlt

Then Boaz said to the elders and to the crowd standing around, "You are witnesses that today I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelech, Kilion, and Mahlon.

Ruth 4 verses

Ruth 4 9 Meaning

Ruth 4:9 signifies Boaz's formal, public declaration and acquisition of the inheritance belonging to Elimelech, Mahlon, and Chilion. This act, witnessed by the city elders and all the people, formally establishes his legal claim over the property and, implicitly, his right and obligation as a kinsman-redeemer to perpetuate the deceased family's name through Ruth. It is a pivotal moment in the legal transfer of family legacy and the redemption process.

Ruth 4 9 Context

Ruth 4:9 is situated at the climax of the legal proceedings in the city gate of Bethlehem, a traditional place for communal gatherings, legal judgments, and business transactions in ancient Israel (cf. Gen 23:10; Deut 21:19). Prior to this verse, Boaz had approached the anonymous closer kinsman to offer him the first right of redemption for Elimelech's land. The custom dictated that if a family's land was sold or forfeited due to poverty, a near relative, the goel or kinsman-redeemer, had the right and obligation to buy it back to keep it within the family (Lev 25:25).

However, in the narrative, the redemption of the land became inextricably linked with the marriage to Ruth, the Moabitess widow of Mahlon, to raise up an heir for the deceased line. The unnamed kinsman-redeemer, after initially considering the property, declined to fulfill the full redemptive duty, specifically the marriage to Ruth, as it might "endanger his own inheritance" (Ruth 4:6) – likely referring to diluting his own family's wealth or property through an additional heir who would claim from the redeemed land. This set the stage for Boaz, who was the next in line and genuinely devoted to Ruth, to take on the responsibility. Thus, Ruth 4:9 is the formal declaration where Boaz, having secured the legal right from the kinsman, publicly confirms his intention to acquire the land. This public transaction underscores the transparency and legal validity essential in Israelite society, ensuring that the legacy of Elimelech, Mahlon, and Chilion would endure.

Ruth 4 9 Word analysis

• Then Boaz said to the elders and to all the people:
  • Then Boaz said (וַיֹּאמֶר בֹּעַז): The verb vayyomer (and he said) marks a crucial transition and announcement. Boaz, a man of standing, takes the initiative in this public setting.
  • the elders (לַזְּקֵנִים, laz'qenim): Refers to the respected leaders and legal authorities of the city. They served as judges, arbitrators, and witnesses in communal and legal affairs. Their presence ensured the legality and public endorsement of the transaction.
  • and to all the people (וּבְכָל הָעָם, u'v'chol ha'am): Highlights the highly public nature of this event. The community at large were observers, adding to the indisputable legitimacy of Boaz's actions. Public testimony was critical in ancient legal systems to prevent disputes.
• “You are witnesses this day:
  • You are witnesses (עֵדִים אַתֶּם, edim attem): Edim (witnesses) emphasizes the active role of those present. Boaz is not just informing them; he is calling upon them to be formal attesters of the legal act about to transpire. This verbal declaration acts as a legal bind, sealing the transaction in the community's memory.
  • this day (הַיּוֹם, hayyom): "This day" denotes the present moment as the legal time marker, indicating that the agreement and transaction are fully effective from that instant onward. It establishes a clear point of no return.
• that I have bought from the hand of Naomi:
  • that I have bought (כִּי קָנִיתִי, ki qanithi): The Hebrew verb qanah (קָנָה) means "to acquire," "to buy," or "to possess." It implies complete legal transfer of ownership. It is a decisive act of acquisition, distinct from the kinsman-redeemer’s earlier refusal. While linked to ga'al (redeem), qanah specifically refers to the commercial transaction.
  • from the hand of Naomi (מִיַּד נָעֳמִי, miyad Naomi): The phrase miyad ("from the hand of") signifies legal ownership and control. Although the property belonged to Elimelech's deceased line, Naomi, as the direct heir in effect, held the authority or right to oversee its sale and the subsequent redemption process. It confirms her integral role in initiating and authorizing this transfer.
• all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and to Mahlon.”
  • all that belonged to (אֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר לֶאֱלִימֶלֶךְ וְאֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר לְכִלְיוֹן וְאֶת מַחְלוֹן, et kol asher le'elimelekh v'et kol asher lekhilyon v'et mahlon): This precise and comprehensive phrasing clarifies the full extent of the acquisition. It includes all inherited assets, whether land or other possessions, tied to the family patriarch Elimelech and his two sons, Chilion and Mahlon, who died without heirs. Boaz is ensuring no future claims or disputes over what he has legally purchased. This covers the family legacy comprehensively.

Ruth 4 9 Bonus section

The seemingly simple act of "buying" the land, as declared by Boaz in Ruth 4:9, carries profound implications beyond a mere commercial transaction. In Hebrew law, while property could be bought and sold, the ultimate ownership belonged to the Lord (Lev 25:23), and there was an expectation that land should, whenever possible, remain within the original tribal and family inheritance. Boaz's act, therefore, isn't just buying property; it's participating in the divine system of restoration and preserving the tribal patrimony, ensuring that the legacy of Elimelech's family would not vanish.

Furthermore, the declaration in Ruth 4:9 lays the legal groundwork for Boaz's marriage to Ruth in the subsequent verse (Ruth 4:10). The acquisition of the land and the obligation to raise up an heir are legally inseparable aspects of the kinsman-redeemer's duty. The land was barren in a sense without a male heir to continue the name and receive its produce; Ruth was a childless widow. By publicly acquiring the property rights from Naomi, Boaz also legally establishes his right to take Ruth as his wife to fulfill the associated levirate duty, a fact he explicitly states in the following verse. This highlights how intricate and purposeful God's covenant plan was, utilizing even the minutiae of legal customs to achieve His overarching redemptive narrative.

Ruth 4 9 Commentary

Ruth 4:9 is the pivotal declaration by Boaz, cementing his legal action and public commitment as the kinsman-redeemer. By announcing to the elders and the populace gathered at the city gate, he established undeniable witnesses to his acquisition of the Elimelech family's inheritance. This was not merely a transaction for land; it was deeply intertwined with the sacred Israelite principle of preserving a deceased family's name and lineage.

Boaz's explicit statement, "You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and to Mahlon," underscores several key themes. First, it highlights the importance of transparency and communal validation in ancient legal practices. Second, the careful detailing of what he has "bought" demonstrates his commitment to fully restoring the entire inheritance, encompassing all rights and obligations that come with it. Third, the emphasis on Naomi's "hand" confirms her legal standing in orchestrating the land's redemption, even though it originally belonged to the men of her household. This passage beautifully illustrates faithful adherence to divine laws and customs regarding inheritance and kinsman redemption, ultimately setting the stage for the lineage that would lead to King David and, ultimately, to the Messiah, Jesus Christ. This specific transaction, validated publicly, becomes the legal foundation for Ruth's subsequent marriage to Boaz, guaranteeing the continuation of the family name and paving the way for the grander story of God's redemptive plan.