So the near kinsman said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” then he took off his shoe.
Parallel translations
- KJV Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe.
- BSB So the kinsman-redeemer removed his sandal and said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.”
- NKJV Therefore the close relative said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.” So he took off his sandal.
- NASB So the redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.” And he removed his sandal.
- NLT So the other family redeemer drew off his sandal as he said to Boaz, “You buy the land.”
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
The nearer kinsman formally surrenders his right to redeem by removing his sandal, freeing Boaz to act. This legal gesture clears the way for the redemption of Naomi's family and Ruth's marriage to Boaz.
Overview
In response to Boaz's challenge, the closer relative declines to redeem and confirms it with the customary act of removing his sandal (cf. Deut. 25:7-10). This public, witnessed transaction transfers the right of redemption to Boaz. God's quiet providence works through ordinary legal custom to bring about His purposes, ultimately preparing the line through which Christ, the true Redeemer, would come.
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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 4:8 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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