New International Version
Ruth 4:3
3Then 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.
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:
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)And Boaz said to the family redeemer, “You know Naomi, who came back from Moab. She is selling the land that belonged to our relative Elimelech.
Context of Ruth 4:3
1Meanwhile Boaz went up to the town gate and sat down there just as the guardian-redeemer he had mentioned came along. Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.” So he went over and sat down. 2Boaz took ten of the elders of the town and said, “Sit here,” and they did so. 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. 4I thought I should bring the matter to your attention and suggest that you buy it in the presence of these seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, do so. But if you will not, tell me, so I will know. For no one has the right to do it except you, and I am next in line.” “I will redeem it,” he said. 5Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the dead man’s widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property.”
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
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