Ruth 4:4 - Forerunner Commentary

Ruth 4:4

2 And he took ten men of ^athe elders of the city, and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down.

3 Then he said to the close relative, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, sold the piece of land ^awhich belonged to our brother Elimelech.

4 And I thought to inform you, saying, ^a‘Buy it back ^bin the presence of the inhabitants and the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if² you will not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know; ^cfor there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am next after you.’ ” And he said, “I will redeem it.”

5 Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also buy it from Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, ^ato perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance.”

6 ^aAnd the close relative said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I ruin my own inheritance. You redeem my right of redemption for yourself, for I cannot redeem it.”

7 ^aNow this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging, to confirm anything: one man took off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was a confirmation in Israel.

8 Therefore the close relative said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.” So he took off his sandal.

9 And Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, from the hand of Naomi.

10 Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, I have acquired as my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance, ^athat the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brethren and from¹ his position at the gate. You are witnesses this day.”

11 And all the people who were at the gate, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. ^aThe Lord make the woman who is coming to your house like Rachel and Leah, the two who ^bbuilt the house of Israel; and may you prosper in ^cEphrathah and be famous in ^dBethlehem.

12 May your house be like the house of ^aPerez, ^bwhom Tamar bore to Judah, because of ^cthe offspring which the Lord will give you from this young woman.”

Verse Comparison: Ruth 4:4

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American Standard Version
And I thought to disclose it unto thee, saying, Buy it before them that sit here, 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 besides thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.

Amplified® Bible
And I thought to let you hear of it, saying, Buy it in the presence of those sitting here and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if you will not redeem it, then say so, that I may know; for there is no one besides you to redeem it, and I am [next of kin] after you. And he said, I will redeem it.

Contemporary English Version
I am telling you about this, since you are his closest relative and have the right to buy the property. If you want it, you can buy it now. These ten men and the others standing here can be witnesses. But if you don't want the property, let me know, because I am next in line. The man replied, "I will buy it!"

Darby English Version
And I thought I would apprise thee of it and say, Buy [it] in the presence of the inhabitants, and in the presence of the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem [it], redeem; but if thou wilt not redeem, tell me, that I may know; for there is none to redeem besides thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem [it].

Good News Bible
and I think you ought to know about it. Now then, if you want it, buy it in the presence of these men sitting here. But if you don't want it, say so, because the right to buy it belongs first to you and then to me." The man said, "I will buy it."

King James Version
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.

New American Standard Bible
"So I thought to inform you, saying, `Buy {it} before those who are sitting {here,} and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem {it,} redeem {it;} but if not, tell me that I may know; for there is no one but you to redeem {it,} and I am after you.' And he said, "I will redeem {it.}""

New International Version
I thought I should bring the matter to your attention and suggest that you buy it in the presence of these seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, do so. But if you will not, tell me, so I will know. For no one has the right to do it except you, and I am next in line."
"I will redeem it," he said.

New King James Version
And I thought to inform you, saying, "Buy it back in the presence of the inhabitants and the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if you will not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know; for there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am next after you.""And he said, "I will redeem it."

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
"So I thought to inform you, saying, 'Buy it before those who sit here, and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if not, tell me that I may know; for no one but you can redeem it, and I come after you.'" And he said, "I will redeem it."

Revised Standard Version
So I thought I would tell you of it, and say, Buy it in the presence of those sitting here, and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if you will not, tell me, that I may know, for there is no one besides you to redeem it, and I come after you." And he said, "I will redeem it."

Young's Literal Translation
and I said, I uncover thine ear, saying, Buy before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people; if thou dost redeem -- redeem, and if none doth redeem -- declare to me, and I know, for there is none save thee to redeem, and I after thee.' And he saith, I redeem `it'.'

New English Translation
So I am legally informing you:¹ Acquire it before those sitting here and before the leaders of my people!² If you want to exercise your right to redeem it, then do so.³ But if not, then tell me⁴ so I will know.⁵ For you possess the first option to redeem it; I am next in line after you.”⁶ He replied, “I will redeem it.”

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