BibleWord.ai› Bible› Ruth› Chapter 4› Verse 8

Ruth 4:8

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Ruth 4:8 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “So the near kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thyself. And he drew off his shoe.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

So the near kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thyself. And he drew off his shoe.
Ruth 4:8 — American Standard Version

Context — Ruth 4

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
5Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.
6And the near kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: take thou my right of redemption on thee; for I cannot redeem it.
7Now this was [the custom] in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning exchanging, to confirm all things: a man drew off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbor; and this was the [manner of] attestation in Israel.
8So the near kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thyself. And he drew off his shoe.
9And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech`s, and all that was Chilion`s and Mahlon`s, of the hand of Naomi.
10Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.
11And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. Jehovah make the woman that is come into thy house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephrathah, and be famous in Bethlehem:
← Ruth 4:7Ruth 4:9 →
← Full Chapter 4 Ruth Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, buy it for me, etc.] Which is repeated to show he gave his full consent to it, that he should make the purchase of it if he pleased, and which he confirmed by the following rite: so he drew off his shoe; thereby signifying that he relinquished his right to the purchase of the estate, and ceded it to him; the Targum has it, “and Boaz drew off the glove off his right hand, and bought it of him;” and so Aben Ezra, “and Boaz drew off his shoe, and gave it to his kinsman,” as if this was some acknowledgment for yielding his right unto him; and about this there is a great dissension among the Jewish writers f75; one says it was the shoe of Boaz that was…”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Read Ruth 4 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification