Ruth 4:5 — Meaning and Application

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:

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}

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.

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}.

Now this {was the manner} in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave {it} to his neighbour: and this {was} a testimony in Israel.