History · Chapter 4 of 4

Ruth 4

Boaz goes to the town gate to settle Ruth's redemption. The nearer kinsman is willing to buy the land until he learns he must also marry Ruth, so he yields his right. Boaz redeems the land and takes Ruth as his wife before witnesses. She bears a son, Obed, restoring Naomi's joy. The chapter ends with a genealogy running from Perez through Boaz and Obed to King David.

What happens in Ruth 4

Boaz goes up to the gate, the place of legal business, and calls the nearer kinsman to sit with ten elders as witnesses. He offers the man the chance to redeem Naomi's parcel of land, and the kinsman agrees. But Boaz adds that buying the field means also marrying Ruth the Moabite to raise up an heir in the dead man's name. At this the kinsman withdraws, fearing it would mar his own inheritance, and in the customary way he removes his sandal to transfer the right to Boaz.

Before all the people, Boaz declares that he has bought everything of Elimelech's line and taken Ruth to be his wife. The elders bless the union, invoking Rachel, Leah, and Tamar. Boaz and Ruth marry, and the LORD gives her a son. The women praise God, calling the child a restorer of Naomi's life, and Naomi cradles him. They name him Obed, father of Jesse, father of David.

Ruth 4 in context

This chapter resolves the book of Ruth. Set in Bethlehem during the era of the judges, it shows the legal process of redemption at the city gate, where transactions were witnessed and confirmed. A kinsman-redeemer had to be both willing and able to pay the cost and take on the obligations.

The closing genealogy lifts this humble family story onto the stage of Israel's history, connecting Ruth the Moabite to the royal line of David.

Main themes of Ruth 4

Ruth 4 (KJV)

1Then 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. 2And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down. 3And 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: 4And 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. 5Then 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. 6And 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. 7Now 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. 8Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe. 9And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi. 10Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day. 11And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem: 12And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman. 13So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son. 14And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. 15And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him. 16And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it. 17And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David. 18Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron, 19And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab, 20And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon, 21And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed, 22And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.

Verses to carry from Ruth 4

“Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.”Ruth 4:10

“And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.”Ruth 4:14

“And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.”Ruth 4:17

Reflection

Ruth's story assures us that no life is too small or too broken for God to redeem and use. He turned a foreign widow's grief into the lineage of the King of kings. Whatever emptiness you carry, trust the Redeemer who pays the full cost and writes forgotten people into His eternal purpose. Your story may matter more than you know.

A prayer from Ruth 4