What is the meaning of Ruth 4:5? Then Boaz said Boaz addresses the nearer kinsman before the elders at the gate (Ruth 4:1–2; Deuteronomy 16:18). By speaking first, he shows his readiness to act as a lawful redeemer, setting the tone for a public, legally binding discussion. On the day you buy the land The obligation is immediate. Redemption of property was a same-day transaction (Leviticus 25:25-28). Boaz makes clear that the responsibilities tied to the purchase take effect the moment the land changes hands. From Naomi The field belonged to Elimelech, Naomi’s late husband (Ruth 4:3). Naomi, returning empty from Moab (Ruth 1:21), must sell her rights for survival. God’s law calls His people to protect widows (Exodus 22:22; James 1:27), and this sale triggers that safeguard. And also from Ruth the Moabitess Boaz names Ruth and notes her foreign background. Though Moabites were once outsiders (Deuteronomy 23:3), Ruth has sought refuge under Israel’s God (Ruth 2:12). Boaz links her inseparably to the land, insisting she is part of the redemption package. You must also acquire “Acquire” means “take as wife,” echoing the levirate command (Deuteronomy 25:5-6). Property, person, and posterity are bundled together; a redeemer cannot seize the field and ignore the family. The widow of the deceased Ruth is the widow of Mahlon (Ruth 4:10). Scripture calls God the defender of widows (Psalm 68:5). The nearer kinsman must step into Mahlon’s place, providing for Ruth and safeguarding her future (Isaiah 1:17). In order to raise up the name of the deceased Levirate marriage aimed to produce a son who would “carry on the name of his dead brother” (Deuteronomy 25:6). The redeemer’s self-sacrifice keeps Mahlon’s line alive—a picture of Christ, who gives us His name (Revelation 3:12). On his inheritance Any son born to Ruth would inherit Mahlon’s property, keeping the land within the clan (Numbers 36:7-9). The redeemer invests in an estate that will bear another man’s name, modeling covenant loyalty over personal gain (Philippians 2:4). This faithfulness places Boaz and Ruth in the ancestry of David and the Messiah (Ruth 4:17; Matthew 1:5-6). summary Ruth 4:5 teaches that true redemption unites land, lineage, and love. Buying Naomi’s field obligates the redeemer to marry Ruth so a son can inherit in Mahlon’s name. God’s law defends the vulnerable and demands sacrificial integrity—ultimately foreshadowing the costly, covenantal redemption accomplished by our Kinsman-Redeemer, Jesus Christ. |
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