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Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there. And behold, the redeemer of whom Boaz had spoken was passing by. Then Boaz said, “Come over here, my brother, and sit down here.” So he came over and sat down.
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Then he took ten men from the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down.
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Then he said to the redeemer, “Naomi, who has returned from the land of Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our brother Elimelech.
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So I thought I should tell you of it, saying, ‘Buy it in the presence of those sitting here and in the presence of the elders of our people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if you will not redeem it, tell me, that I may know, for there is no one to redeem it except you, and after you, I am next.’” Then he said, “I will redeem it.”
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But Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from Naomi’s hand, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the wife of the dead man, to raise up the name of the dead man upon his inheritance.”
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Then the redeemer said, “Then I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I ruin my own inheritance. Redeem for yourself what I should redeem, for I cannot redeem it.”
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Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm any matter, one man would take off his sandal and give it to the other. This was the way of confirming a matter in Israel.
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So the redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.” And he took off his sandal.
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Then Boaz said to the elders and to all the people there, “You are witnesses today that I have bought from Naomi’s hand all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon;
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also Ruth the Moabite, the wife of Mahlon, I have acquired as my wife, to raise up the name of the dead man upon his inheritance, so that the name of the dead man may not be cut off from among his brothers and from the gate of his city. You are witnesses today.”
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And all the people who were at the gate, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is coming into your house like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built up the house of Israel. May you prosper in Ephrathah and be renowned in Bethlehem,
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and may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring that the LORD will give you by this young woman!”
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Then Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife; and he went in to her. And by the grace of the LORD the woman conceived, and bore a son.
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Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a redeemer; may his name be renowned in Israel.
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And he shall be to you a restorer of life and a sustainer of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, has borne him, she who is more to you than seven sons.”
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And Naomi took the child and laid him in her lap, and she cared for him.
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And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi”; and they called his name Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
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Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron,
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Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab,
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Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon,
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Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed,
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Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.
🕊️💍👑 Summary of Ruth 4 – Boaz Redeems Ruth and the Birth of the Royal Line
This chapter shows a real act of love and redemption: Boaz takes legal responsibility to redeem Ruth, and the result is not only a marriage — but the birth of the royal line of David and, ultimately, Jesus Christ.
📌 1. Boaz Meets the Nearer Redeemer (verses 1–8)
- Boaz went to the city gate, the place where legal matters were settled.
- He called the nearer redeemer, along with ten elders as witnesses.
- He explained that the land belonging to Elimelech must be redeemed, and whoever redeemed that land must also take Ruth, the widow of Mahlon.
- The redeemer refused, fearing harm to his own family inheritance.
- So he gave up his right, and Boaz formally took up the right of redemption.
🎯 Boaz was willing to bear the risk for love — a perfect picture of Christ.
📌 2. Boaz Marries Ruth (verses 9–12)
- Boaz declared to all the people:
“I have bought from Naomi’s hand all that belonged to Elimelech… and also Ruth… to be my wife.”
- The people blessed Boaz and Ruth with prophetic words:
“May the Lord make this woman like Rachel and Leah…”
- Their prayer: may their descendants become great and renowned in Ephrathah and Bethlehem.
🎯 Holy love brings blessing to the community — and opens the way for a new history.
📌 3. Obed Is Born: David’s Grandfather (verses 13–17)
- The Lord gave a son to Ruth, named Obed.
- The people said to Naomi:
“A son has been born to Naomi!”
- Obed would later become the father of Jesse, the grandfather of David.
🎯 Naomi, once “bitter” (Mara), is now filled with joy and restoration — because God’s redemption is made real.
📌 4. The Genealogy from Perez to David (verses 18–22)
- The chapter closes with the genealogy from Perez to David:
Perez → Hezron → Ram → Amminadab → Nahshon → Salmon → Boaz → Obed → Jesse → David
🎯 Ruth, a foreign woman and poor widow, became part of the line of the Messiah.
📖 Main Lessons
- True love is shown in action, not only in intention.
- God values integrity and obedience to His law.
- Ruth, a foreigner and widow, was used by the Lord to become an ancestor of the Messiah — proof that grace crosses the boundaries of nations.
- Boaz is a beautiful picture of Jesus: our lawful, willing, and loving Redeemer.
- God’s plan often begins with small and simple things, yet has an eternal impact.
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
“Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab, Boaz fathered Obed by Ruth…”
“God sent His Son… to redeem those who were under the law…”
“You were redeemed… not with gold or silver, but with the blood of Christ…”
🎯 Jesus, like Boaz, redeems us not because of obligation, but because of sacrificial love.
“I have bought… and also Ruth the Moabite has become my wife.” – Ruth 4:10
“A son has been born to Naomi… and she named him Obed.” – Ruth 4:17
“Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.” – Ruth 4:22
