Ruth 4:5

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Then 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.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Then Bo'az said, "The same day you buy the field from Na'omi, you must also buy Rut the woman from Mo'av, the wife of the deceased [son], in order to raise up in the name of the deceased an heir for his property."

Berean Standard Bible:

Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi and also from Ruth the Moabitess, you must also acquire the widow of the deceased in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance.”

American Standard Version:

Then 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.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Then said^{H559} Boaz^{H1162}, What day^{H3117} thou buyest^{H7069} the field^{H7704} of the hand^{H3027} of Naomi^{H5281}, thou must buy^{H7069} it also of Ruth^{H7327} the Moabitess^{H4125}, the wife^{H802} of the dead^{H4191}, to raise up^{H6965} the name^{H8034} of the dead^{H4191} upon his inheritance^{H5159}.

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Commentary for Ruth 4:5

Ruth 4:5 is a pivotal verse in the Book of Ruth, which is set during the period of the Judges in ancient Israel, around the 12th century BCE. The verse captures a moment in a legal transaction concerning land redemption and levirate marriage, which are significant both for the characters involved and for the broader themes of the narrative.

In the verse, Boaz, a wealthy and righteous landowner, is addressing a nearer kinsman who has the first right to redeem Naomi's land. Boaz stipulates that the purchase of the land must also include the responsibility to marry Ruth, a Moabite widow and Naomi's daughter-in-law. This condition is rooted in the levirate custom, where a brother or close relative of a deceased man was to marry the widow to produce an heir who would inherit the deceased's property and perpetuate his name.

The themes present in this verse include redemption, loyalty, and the preservation of family lineage. Boaz's action reflects his commitment to the laws and customs of Israel, as well as his personal sense of duty and compassion towards Ruth and Naomi. The verse also touches on issues of inheritance and the importance of maintaining the social fabric by ensuring that property remains within the family. Additionally, it highlights the inclusive nature of God's redemptive plan, as Ruth, a foreigner, is grafted into the lineage of Israel, which ultimately leads to the birth of King David and, many generations later, to Jesus Christ.

In summary, Ruth 4:5 is a legal and moral fulcrum in the story, demonstrating the interplay of law, custom, and compassion within the context of ancient Israelite society. It underscores the values of family, faithfulness, and redemption, which are central to the Book of Ruth and resonate with broader biblical themes of God's provision and the incorporation of the outsider into the community of faith.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
2. Strong's Number: H1162
   There are 22 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֹּעַז
   Transliteration: Bôʻaz
   Pronunciation: bo'-az
   Description: from an unused root of uncertain meaning; Boaz, the ancestor of David; also the name of a pillar in front of the temple; Boaz.
   
3. Strong's Number: H3117
   There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יוֹם
   Transliteration: yôwm
   Pronunciation: yome
   Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger.
   
4. Strong's Number: H7069
   There are 76 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קָנָה
   Transliteration: qânâh
   Pronunciation: kaw-naw'
   Description: a primitive root; to erect, i.e. create; by extension, to procure, especially by purchase (causatively, sell); by implication to own; attain, buy(-er), teach to keep cattle, get, provoke to jealousy, possess(-or), purchase, recover, redeem, [idiom] surely, [idiom] verily.
   
5. Strong's Number: H7704
   There are 309 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׂדֶה
   Transliteration: sâdeh
   Pronunciation: saw-deh'
   Description: or שָׂדַי; from an unused root meaning to spread out; a field (as flat); country, field, ground, land, soil, [idiom] wild.
   
6. Strong's Number: H3027
   There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָד
   Transliteration: yâd
   Pronunciation: yawd
   Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.
   
7. Strong's Number: H5281
   There are 20 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נׇעֳמִי
   Transliteration: Noʻŏmîy
   Pronunciation: no-om-ee'
   Description: from נֹעַם; pleasant; Noomi, an Israelitess; Naomi.
   
8. Strong's Number: H7327
   There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רוּת
   Transliteration: Rûwth
   Pronunciation: rooth
   Description: probably for רְעוּת; friend; Ruth, a Moabitess; Ruth.
   
9. Strong's Number: H4125
   There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מוֹאָבִי
   Transliteration: Môwʼâbîy
   Pronunciation: mo-aw-bee'
   Description: feminine מוֹאָבִיָּה; or מוֹאָבִיתxlit Môwâbîyth corrected to Môwʼâbîyth; patronymical from מוֹאָב; a Moabite or Moabitess, i.e. a descendant from Moab; (woman) of Moab, Moabite(-ish, -ss).
   
10. Strong's Number: H802
    There are 729 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אִשָּׁה
    Transliteration: ʼishshâh
    Pronunciation: ish-shaw'
    Description: feminine of אִישׁ or אֱנוֹשׁ; irregular plural, נָשִׁים;(used in the same wide sense as אֱנוֹשׁ); a woman; (adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English.
    
11. Strong's Number: H4191
    There are 694 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מוּת
    Transliteration: mûwth
    Pronunciation: mooth
    Description: a primitive root; to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill; [idiom] at all, [idiom] crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), [idiom] must needs, slay, [idiom] surely, [idiom] very suddenly, [idiom] in (no) wise.
    
12. Strong's Number: H6965
    There are 596 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: קוּם
    Transliteration: qûwm
    Pronunciation: koom
    Description: a primitive root; to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative); abide, accomplish, [idiom] be clearer, confirm, continue, decree, [idiom] be dim, endure, [idiom] enemy, enjoin, get up, make good, help, hold, (help to) lift up (again), make, [idiom] but newly, ordain, perform, pitch, raise (up), rear (up), remain, (a-) rise (up) (again, against), rouse up, set (up), (e-) stablish, (make to) stand (up), stir up, strengthen, succeed, (as-, make) sure(-ly), (be) up(-hold, -rising).
    
13. Strong's Number: H8034
    There are 771 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שֵׁם
    Transliteration: shêm
    Pronunciation: shame
    Description: a primitive word (perhaps rather from through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; compare שָׁמַיִם); an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character; [phrase] base, (in-) fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.
    
14. Strong's Number: H5159
    There are 191 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נַחֲלָה
    Transliteration: nachălâh
    Pronunciation: nakh-al-aw'
    Description: from נָחַל (in its usual sense); properly, something inherited, i.e. (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom; generally an estate, patrimony or portion; heritage, to inherit, inheritance, possession. Compare נַחַל.