Ruth 4:1-7 Boaz Acts to Fulfill His ResponsibilitiesMeanwhile, Boaz approached the city gate and sat down there. Just then, the very same related redeemer whom Boaz had mentioned came by, so Boaz called out to him, “Come over and sit down here, my friend!” So the man came over and sat down.

ISV⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ Boaz Acts to Fulfill His ResponsibilitiesMeanwhile, Boaz approached the city gate and sat down there. Just then, the very same related redeemer whom Boaz had mentioned came by, so Boaz called out to him, “Come over and sit down here, my friend!” So the man came over and sat down.
² Boaz selected ten of the town elders and spoke to them, “Sit down here.” So they sat down ³ and Boaz addressed the related redeemer directly: “A portion of a field belonging to our relative Elimelech is up for sale by Naomi, who recently returned from the country of Moab. ⁴ So I thought to myself I ought to tell you that you must make a public purchase of this before the town residents and the elders of my people. So if you intend to act as the related redeemer, then do so. But if not, let me know, because except for you—and I after you—there is no one to fulfill the duties of a related redeemer.”
The man responded, “I will act as related redeemer.”
⁵ A Complication Arises and is ResolvedBoaz continued, “On the very day you buy the field from Naomi, you’re also “buying” Ruth the Moabite woman, the wife of her dead husband, so the family name may be continued as an inheritance.”
⁶ At this, the nearer related redeemer replied, “Then I am unable to act as related redeemer, because that would complicate my own inheritance. You act instead as the related redeemer, because I cannot do so.”
⁷ During Israel’s earlier history, all things concerning redeeming or changing inheritances were confirmed by a man taking off his sandal and giving it to the other party, thereby creating a public record in Israel.