What is the meaning of Ruth 4:3? And he said to the kinsman-redeemer • Boaz begins a formal, public conversation at the city gate, the place where legal matters were settled (Ruth 4:1). • Addressing the nearer relative first honors the law of redemption (Leviticus 25:25; cf. Deuteronomy 25:5-10). • Boaz’s direct speech shows his respect for God-given procedures—he will not bypass the rightful redeemer even though he desires to marry Ruth. Naomi • Mentioning Naomi highlights that the issue is more than land; it is about care for a vulnerable widow (Exodus 22:22-24; James 1:27). • Naomi’s family line is in jeopardy after the deaths of Elimelech and their sons (Ruth 1:3-5). • Boaz subtly reminds the kinsman that redeeming the land means responsibility for Naomi’s welfare. who has returned from the land of Moab • Naomi’s return completes the movement from famine to potential fullness (Ruth 1:1, 22). • Her journey back pictures repentance and renewed trust in the LORD (cf. Luke 15:18-20). • The phrase underscores God’s providence: the same God who disciplined Israel with famine now provides redemption through obedient kin. is selling the piece of land • Under the Mosaic law, land was tied to family inheritance; selling it was normally temporary until the Year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25:23-28). • For Naomi, immediate sale provides financial relief; yet restoration by a close relative keeps the inheritance inside the clan. • The kinsman-redeemer must weigh cost against covenant duty—redeeming land is costly (2 Samuel 24:24) but love values obedience over expense. that belonged to our brother Elimelech • Boaz calls Elimelech “our brother,” stressing family solidarity and shared responsibility (Proverbs 17:17). • Redeeming the land preserves Elimelech’s name and legacy, a principle later applied to Ruth through levirate marriage (Ruth 4:5, 10). • The verse foreshadows Christ, the ultimate Redeemer, who identifies with humanity as “brothers” (Hebrews 2:11-12) and secures our eternal inheritance (1 Peter 1:3-4). summary Ruth 4:3 records Boaz initiating lawful redemption. He honors God’s statutes, cares for Naomi, preserves Elimelech’s legacy, and foreshadows Christ’s sacrificial redemption. The verse teaches covenant faithfulness, compassionate responsibility, and the beauty of God’s providential plan to protect and provide for His people. |
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