Then Boaz took ten of the elders of the city and said, “Sit here,” and they did so.
Parallel translations
- WEB He took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, “Sit down here,” and they sat down.
- KJV And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.
- NKJV And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down.
- NASB Then he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down.
- NLT Then Boaz called ten leaders from the town and asked them to sit as witnesses.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Boaz gathers ten elders as official witnesses to the transaction. He ensures the redemption is legally valid and publicly confirmed.
Overview
By seating ten elders, Boaz convenes a proper legal quorum to witness and ratify the proceedings. His careful adherence to lawful process underscores his integrity and the legitimacy of what follows. The public setting guarantees that the redemption of Naomi's land and the marriage to Ruth will be fully recognized.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Prov 31:23Her husband is known at the city gate, where he sits among the elders of the land.
- 1 Kgs 21:8Then Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city.
- Acts 6:12So they stirred up the people, elders, and scribes and confronted Stephen. They seized him and brought him before the Sanhedrin,
- Lam 5:14The elders have left the city gate; the young men have stopped their music.
- Exod 21:8If she is displeasing in the eyes of her master who had designated her for himself, he must allow her to be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, since he has broken faith with her.
- Deut 31:28Assemble before me all the elders of your tribes and all your officers so that I may speak these words in their hearing and call heaven and earth to witness against them.
- Exod 18:21–22Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
- Deut 29:10All of you are standing today before the LORD your God—you leaders of tribes, elders, officials, and all the men of Israel,
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Christ at the center
Boaz the kinsman-redeemer who buys back the destitute and takes a bride foreshadows Christ, our Redeemer who pays the price to make a people his own; and from Ruth's line comes David, and David's greater Son.
How Ruth 4:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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