Ruth 4:17 — Meaning and Application

Ruth 4:1

"Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down."

Ruth 4:2

"And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down."

Ruth 4:3

"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:"

Ruth 4:4

"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}. {I thought...: Heb. I said, I will reveal in thine ear}"

Ruth 4:5

"Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy {it} also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance."

Ruth 4:6

"And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem {it} for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem {it}."