Tree of Life Version
Ruth 4:4
4I thought I should inform you saying, ‘Buy it in the presence of the people sitting here, and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you want to redeem it, redeem it. But if it will not be redeemed, then tell me, so that I can know, because there is no one else in line to redeem it. I am after you.’” “I will redeem it,” he said.
Ruth 4:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.
- New International Version (NIV)I 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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)So I thought I would tell you of it and say, 'Buy it in the presence of those sitting here and in the presence of the elders of my people.' If you will redeem it, redeem it. But if you will not, tell me, that I may know, for there is no one besides you to redeem it, and I come after you." And he said, "I will redeem it."
- New King James Version (NKJV)And I thought to inform you, saying, ‘Buy it back in the presence of the inhabitants and 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 but you to redeem it, and I am next after you.’ ” And he said, “I will redeem it.”
Context of Ruth 4:4
2Then Boaz took ten of the town’s elders and said, “Sit down here,” so they sat down. 3Then he said to the goel, “Naomi, who has returned from the region of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belongs to our brother Elimelech. I thought I should inform you saying, ‘Buy it in the presence of the people sitting here, and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you want to redeem it, redeem it. But if it will not be redeemed, then tell me, so that I can know, because there is no one else in line to redeem it. I am after you.’” “I will redeem it,” he said. 5Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from Naomi’s hand, you will also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the deceased, in order to raise up the name of the deceased over his inheritance.” 6The kinsman said, “Then I cannot redeem it for myself, or else I might endanger my own inheritance. You, take my right of redemption for yourself, for I cannot redeem it.”
Read all of Ruth 4Ruth 4:4 word by word
וַאֲנִ֨י אָמַ֜רְתִּי אֶגְלֶ֧ה אָזְנְךָ֣ לֵאמֹ֗ר קְ֠נֵה נֶ֥גֶד הַֽיֹּשְׁבִים֮ וְנֶ֣גֶד זִקְנֵ֣י עַמִּי֒ אִם־תִּגְאַל֙ גְּאָ֔ל וְאִם־לֹ֨א יִגְאַ֜ל הַגִּ֣ידָה לִּ֗י וְאֵֽדְעָה֙ כִּ֣י אֵ֤ין זוּלָֽתְךָ֙ לִגְא֔וֹל וְאָנֹכִ֖י אַחֲרֶ֑יךָ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אָנֹכִ֥י אֶגְאָֽל׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And I thoughtאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- to advertiseאֹ֫זֶן'ôzen · ear: to earsH241
- to advertiseגָּלָהgâlâh · to reveal: revealH1540
- Buyקָנָהqânâh · to buyH7069
- before the inhabitantsיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
- and before the eldersזָקֵןzâqên · old: elderH2205
- of my peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
- If thou wilt redeemגָּאַלgâ'al · to redeem: redeemH1350
- tellנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
- me, that I may knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- besideזוּלָהzûlâh · exceptionH2108
- afterאַחַר'achar · afterH310
Cross-references for Ruth 4:4
- Jeremiah 32:7‘Hanamel, son of Shallum your uncle, will soon come to you saying: ‘Buy for yourself my field in Anathoth, for the right of redemption is yours to buy it.’”
- Romans 12:17Repay no one evil for evil; give thought to what is good in the eyes of all people.
- 2 Corinthians 8:21We have regard for what is honorable—not only before the Lord, but also before people.
- Philippians 4:8Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any virtue and if there is anything worthy of praise—dwell on these things.
- Genesis 23:18to Abraham as a purchased possession in the eyes of the sons of Heth, before all those who enter the gate of his city.
- Jeremiah 32:10I signed and sealed the deed, called in witnesses, and weighed the money on the scales.
- Leviticus 25:25“If your brother becomes poor and sells some of his property, then his nearest kinsman may come and redeem what his brother has sold.
Commentaries on Ruth 4:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4I thought to advertise thee - Both Dr. Kennicott and Father Houbigant have noticed several corruptions in the pronouns of this and the following verses; and their criticisms have been confirmed by a great number of MSS. since collated. The text corrected reads thus: "And I said I will reveal this to thy ear, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it; but if thou wilt not redeem it, tell…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4See the margin; a phrase explained by the act of removing the end of the turban, or the hair, in order to whisper in the ear (see 1 Samuel 9:15: 2 Samuel 7:27).Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4redeem it: The law required a close relative, known as the family redeemer, to buy land when a landowner needed to sell it (see Leviticus 25:23–34). This practice kept land within the family. The redeemer acted as a caretaker for the land until the struggling landowner could recover financially and buy it back. I will redeem it: The relative saw a great opportunity—there was no male heir and no sign there would be one. He could add the land to his own…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee--(See on De 25:5). The redemption of the land of course involved a marriage with Ruth, the widow of the former owner.Read the comment
Topics related to Ruth 4:4
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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