God’s Word Translation
Ruth 4:7
7(This is the way it used to be in Israel concerning buying back property and exchanging goods: In order to make every matter legal, a man would take off his sandal and give it to the other man. This was the way a contract was publicly approved in Israel.)
Ruth 4:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)(Now in earlier times in Israel, for the redemption and transfer of property to become final, one party took off his sandal and gave it to the other. This was the method of legalizing transactions in Israel.)
- English Standard Version (ESV)Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, the one drew off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was the manner of attesting in Israel.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging, to confirm anything: one man took off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was a confirmation in Israel.
Context of Ruth 4:7
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.” 6The man replied, “In that case I cannot assume responsibility for her. If I did, I would ruin my inheritance. Take all my rights to buy back the property for yourself, because I cannot assume that responsibility.” (This is the way it used to be in Israel concerning buying back property and exchanging goods: In order to make every matter legal, a man would take off his sandal and give it to the other man. This was the way a contract was publicly approved in Israel.) 8So when the man said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” he took off his sandal. 9Then Boaz said to the leaders and to all the people, “Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon.
Read all of Ruth 4Ruth 4:7 word by word
וְזֹאת֩ לְפָנִ֨ים בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל עַל־הַגְּאוּלָּ֤ה וְעַל־הַתְּמוּרָה֙ לְקַיֵּ֣ם כָּל־דָּבָ֔ר שָׁלַ֥ף אִ֛ישׁ נַעֲל֖וֹ וְנָתַ֣ן לְרֵעֵ֑הוּ וְזֹ֥את הַתְּעוּדָ֖ה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- in former timeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- in Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- concerning redeemingגְּאֻלָּהge'ûllâh · redemptionH1353
- and concerning changingתְּמוּרָהtemûrâh · exchangeH8545
- for to confirmקוּםqûm · to arise: establishH6965
- all thingsדָּבָרdâbâr · word: caseH1697
- a manאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
- plucked offשָׁלַףshâlaph · to drawH8025
- his shoeנַ֫עַלna‛al na‛ălâh · sandalH5275
- and gaveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- to his neighbourרֵעַrêa‛ rêya‛ · neighborH7453
- a testimonyתְּעוּדָהte‛ûdâh · testimonyH8584
Cross-references for Ruth 4:7
Commentaries on Ruth 4:7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7A man plucked off his shoe - The law of such a case is given at large in Deuteronomy 25:5-9. It was simply this: If a brother, who had married a wife, died without children, the eldest brother was to take the widow, and raise up a family to the brother deceased; and he had a right to redeem the inheritance, if it had been alienated. But if the person who had the right of redemption would not take the woman, she was to pull off his shoe and spit in his…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7In former time in Israel - Showing that the custom was obsolete in the writer‘s days. The letter of the law (see the marginal reference) was not strictly followed. It was thought sufficient for the man to pull off his own shoe and give it to the man to whom he ceded his right, in the presence of the elders of his city.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7in former times: The Book of Ruth was not written right after the events happened. By the time it was written, most people had forgotten the custom of removing a sandal and its meaning. The transfer of a sandal symbolized transferring the right to buy and redeem land. See also Deuteronomy 25:9 for a similar, but not identical, custom related to levirate marriage. In both cases, the sandal signified the right of redemption.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 7-87-8. a man plucked off his shoe--Where the kinsman refused to perform his duty to the family of his deceased relation, the widow was directed to pull off the shoe with some attendant circumstances of contemptuous disdain. But, as in this case, there was no refusal, the usual ignominy was spared; and the plucking off the shoe, the only ceremony observed, was a pledge of the transaction being completed.Read the comment
Topics related to Ruth 4:7
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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