Ruth 4:6

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.

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.

KJV

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The near kinsman said, “I can’t redeem it for myself, lest I endanger my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption for yourself; for I can’t redeem it.”

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.

And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar my own inheritance: redeem you my right to yourself; for I cannot redeem it.

4:7 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.

What does Ruth 4:6 mean?

Ruth 4:6 is a verse in the book of Ruth, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include גָּאַל (gâʼal), אָמַר (ʼâmar), יָכֹל (yâkôl). It connects to 2 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

And

the

kinsmanגָּאַלgâʼal/gaw-al'/H1350to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relative's property, marry his widow, etc.)

said,אָמַרʼâmar/aw-mar'/H559to say (used with great latitude)

cannotיָכֹלyâkôl/yaw-kole'/H3201to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might)

redeemגָּאַלgâʼal/gaw-al'/H1350to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relative's property, marry his widow, etc.)

for

myself,

lest

marשָׁחַתshâchath/shaw-khath'/H7843to decay, i.e. (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively)

mine

own

inheritance:נַחֲלָהnachălâh/nakh-al-aw'/H5159properly, something inherited, i.e. (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom; generally an estate, patrimony or portion

redeemגָּאַלgâʼal/gaw-al'/H1350to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relative's property, marry his widow, etc.)

thou

rightגְּאֻלָּהgᵉʼullâh/gheh-ool-law'/H1353redemption (including the right and the object); by implication, relationship

thyself;

for

cannotיָכֹלyâkôl/yaw-kole'/H3201to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might)

redeemגָּאַלgâʼal/gaw-al'/H1350to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relative's property, marry his widow, etc.)

it.

Commentary on Ruth 4:6

HENRY_FULL · Ruth 4:6

The three remaining chapters of this book contain a most tragical story of the wickedness of the men of Gibeah, patronised by the tribe of Benjamin, for which that tribe was severely chastised and almost entirely cut off by the rest of the tribes. This seems to have been done not long after the death of Joshua, for it was when there was no king, no judge, in Israel ( ver. 1 , and ch. xxi. 25 ), and Phinehas was then high priest, ch. xx. 28 . These particular iniquities, the Danites' idolatry, and the Benjamites' immorality, let in that general apostasy, ch. iii. 7 . The abuse of the Levite's concubine is here very particularly related. I. Her adulterous elopement from him, ver. 1, 2 . II. His reconciliation to her, and the journey he took to fetch her home, ver. 3 . III. Her father's kind entertainment of him, ver. 4-9 . IV. The abuse he met with at Gibeah, where, being benighted, he was forced to stop. 1. He was neglected by the men of Gibeah ( ver. 10-15 ) and entertained by an Ephraimite that sojourned among them, ver. 16-21 . 2. They set upon him in his quarters, as the Sodomites did on Lot's quests, ver. 22-24 . 3. They villainously forced his concubine to death, ver. 25-28 . V. The course he took to send notice of this to all the tribes of Israel, ver. 29, 30 . Elopement of the Levite's Concubine; The Levite Reconciled to His C

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Deuteronomy 22:21

Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father's house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you.

Ezekiel 16:28

Thou hast played the whore also with the Assyrians, because thou wast unsatiable; yea, thou hast played the harlot with them, and yet couldest not be satisfied.

Topics

Dowry Government Heir Land Marriage Redemption Witness

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Ruth 4:6.

Deuteronomy 9:26

I prayed therefore unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, destroy not thy people and thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed through thy greatness, which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand.

Genesis 6:13

And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. with the earth: or, from the earth

Leviticus 25:48

After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him:

Frequently asked questions

What does Ruth 4:6 say?

Ruth 4:6 (King James Version) reads: "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."

Is Ruth 4:6 in the Old or New Testament?

Ruth 4:6 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Ruth.

Reflect

As you read Ruth 4:6, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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