God’s Word Translation
Ruth 4:3
3Boaz said to the man, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the field that belonged to our relative Elimelech.
Ruth 4:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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:
- New International Version (NIV)Then he said to the guardian-redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our relative Elimelek.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then he said to the redeemer, "Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our relative Elimelech.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then he said to the close relative, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, sold the piece of land which belonged to our brother Elimelech.
Context of Ruth 4:3
1Boaz went to the city gate and sat there. Just then, the relative about whom he had spoken was passing by. Boaz said, “Please come over here and sit, my friend.” So the man came over and sat down. 2Then Boaz chose ten men who were leaders of that city and said, “Sit here.” So they also sat down. Boaz said to the man, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the field that belonged to our relative Elimelech. 4So I said that I would inform you. Buy it in the presence of these men sitting here and in the presence of the leaders of our people. If you wish to buy back the property, you can buy back the property. But if you do not wish to buy back the property, tell me. Then I will know that I am next in line because there is no other relative except me.” The man said, “I’ll buy back the property.” 5Boaz continued, “When you buy the field from Naomi, you will also assume responsibility for the Moabite Ruth, the dead man’s widow. This keeps the inheritance in the dead man’s name.”
Read all of Ruth 4Ruth 4:3 word by word
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לַגֹּאֵ֔ל חֶלְקַת֙ הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר לְאָחִ֖ינוּ לֶאֱלִימֶ֑לֶךְ מָכְרָ֣ה נָעֳמִ֔י הַשָּׁ֖בָה מִשְּׂדֵ֥ה מוֹאָֽב׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto the kinsmanגָּאַלgâ'al · to redeem: redeemH1350
- Naomiנׇעֳמִיno‛ŏmîy · NaomiH5281
- that is come againשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
- out of the countryשָׂדֶהώâdeh ώâday · land: countryH7704
- of Moabמוֹאָבmô'âb · MoabH4124
- sellethמָכַרmâkar · to sellH4376
- a parcelחֶלְקָהchelqâh · portionH2513
- our brotherאָח'âch · brother: male-relativeH251
- Elimelech’sאֱלִימֶ֫לֶךְ'ĕlîymelek · ElimelechH458
Cross-references for Ruth 4:3
Commentaries on Ruth 4:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Naomi - selleth a parcel of land - She was reduced to want; the immediate inheritors were extinct, and it was now open for the next heir to purchase the land, and thus preserve the inheritance in the family according to the custom of Israel.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3According to the law Leviticus 25:25-28, if any Israelite, through poverty, would sell his possession, the next of kin (the גאל gā'al ) had a right to redeem it by paying the value of the number of years remaining until the jubilee (see the marginal reference). This right Boaz advertises the גאל gā'al of, so as to give him the option which the law secured to him of redeeming “our brother Elimelech‘s” land, i. e. our kinsman‘s, according to the common…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3Naomi...is selling the piece of land: Naomi likely did not control Elimelech’s ancestral land, but she had legal ownership. She was selling the right to redeem, or buy back, the land from its current user.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. Naomi ... selleth a parcel of land--that is, entertains the idea of selling. In her circumstances she was at liberty to part with it (Le 25:25). Both Naomi and Ruth had an interest in the land during their lives; but Naomi alone was mentioned, not only because she directed all the negotiations, but because the introduction of Ruth's name would awaken a suspicion of the necessity of marrying her, before the first proposition was answered.Read the comment
Topics related to Ruth 4:3
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ruth 4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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