RUTH 4:1 Interlinear View

1. Hebrew word
2. Hebrew lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. Gloss
8. CAPS codes
9. OET tags
10. OET word #
1. וּ,בֹעַז
2. 180805,180806
3. And Boˊaz
4. So
5. 1162
6. S-C,Np
7. and,Boaz
8. S
9. Person=Boaz
10. 124960
1. עָלָה
2. 180807
3. he went up
4. went
5. 5927
6. V-Vqp3ms
7. he_went_up
8. -
9. -
10. 124961
1. הַ,שַּׁעַר
2. 180808,180809
3. the gate
4. gate
5. 8179
6. S-Td,Ncmsa
7. the,gate
8. -
9. -
10. 124962
1. וַ,יֵּשֶׁב
2. 180810,180811
3. and he/it sat down//remained//lived
4. -
5. 3427
6. SV-C,Vqw3ms
7. and=he/it_sat_down//remained//lived
8. -
9. -
10. 124963
1. שָׁם
2. 180812
3. there
4. there
5. 8033
6. S-D
7. there
8. -
9. -
10. 124964
1. וְ,הִנֵּה
2. 180813,180814
3. and see/lo/see
4. -
5. 2009
6. S-C,Tm
7. and=see/lo/see!
8. -
9. -
10. 124965
1. הַ,גֹּאֵל
2. 180815,180816
3. the kinsman-redeemer
4. -
6. S-Td,Vqrmsa
7. the,kinsman-redeemer
8. -
9. -
10. 124966
1. עֹבֵר
2. 180817
3. +was passing by
4. -
6. V-Vqrmsa
7. [was]_passing_by
8. -
9. -
10. 124967
1. אֲשֶׁר
2. 180818
3. whom
4. -
6. S-Tr
7. whom
8. -
9. -
10. 124968
1. דִּבֶּר
2. 180819
3. he had spoken
4. -
5. 1696
6. V-Vpp3ms
7. he_had_spoken
8. -
9. -
10. 124969
2. 180820
3. -
4. -
6. -x-maqqef
8. -
9. -
10. 124970
1. בֹּעַז
2. 180821
3. Boˊaz
4. -
5. 1162
6. S-Np
7. Boaz
8. -
9. Person=Boaz
10. 124971
1. וַ,יֹּאמֶר
2. 180822,180823
3. and he/it said
4. said
5. 559
6. SV-C,Vqw3ms
7. and=he/it_said
8. -
9. -
10. 124972
1. סוּרָ,ה
2. 180824,180825
3. turn aside
4. -
5. 5493
6. V-Vqv2ms,Sh
7. turn,aside
8. -
9. -
10. 124973
1. שְׁבָ,ה
2. 180826,180827
3. sit
4. -
5. 3427
6. V-Vqv2ms,Sh
7. sit,
8. -
9. -
10. 124974
2. 180828
3. -
4. -
6. -x-maqqef
8. -
9. -
10. 124975
1. פֹּה
2. 180829
3. here
4. -
5. 6311
6. S-D
7. here
8. -
9. -
10. 124976
1. פְּלֹנִי
2. 180830
3. a certain one
4. -
5. 6423
6. S-Pf
7. a_certain_one
8. -
9. -
10. 124977
1. אַלְמֹנִי
2. 180831
3. a certain one
4. -
5. 492
6. S-Aabsa
7. a_certain_one
8. -
9. -
10. 124978
1. וַ,יָּסַר
2. 180832,180833
3. and he turned aside
4. -
5. 5493
6. SV-C,Vqw3ms
7. and,he_turned_aside
8. -
9. -
10. 124979
1. וַ,יֵּשֵׁב
2. 180834,180835
3. and he sat down
4. -
5. 3427
6. SV-C,Vqw3ms
7. and,he_sat_down
8. -
9. -
10. 124980
2. 180836
3. -
4. -
6. -x-sof-pasuq
8. -
9. -
10. 124981

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 4:1–12: Boaz assumed responsibility for Ruth

In this final chapter of the book, Ruth received the reward for her loyalty to Naomi.

Boaz is in focus in the first twelve verses. He met with the other close relative in the presence of many witnesses to discuss the entire situation. The other relative did not want to buy Elimelech’s property that Naomi was selling, if the arrangement also meant that he had to marry Ruth. So Boaz said that he would act as the redeemer himself.

In section 4:13–17, Boaz and Ruth were married, and the LORD soon gave them a son. The women in Bethlehem named the son Obed and rejoiced that Naomi now had a “son” to carry on her family line and care for her in her old age. So both Naomi and Ruth were going to be cared for, and the women went from “emptiness” to “fullness.”

Section 4:18–22 concludes the book with a genealogy that lists of the family line of Perez, who was a son of Judah and grandson of Jacob (who is also called Israel). The family line is listed from Perez through Obed to King David.

Here are some other examples of section headings for 4:1–12:

Boaz Redeems Ruth (ESV)

Boaz Settles the Matter (NET)

Structure:

Some commentaries divide this section into four scenes:NICOT, Sakenfield, Cornerstone, and Sakenfield. These divide the scenes in at least two different ways.

4:1–2 Introduction: Boaz Convenes a Legal Assembly
4:3–8 Boaz Obtains the Rights of Redemption
4:9–10 Boaz Formalizes the Agreement
4:11–12 Witnessing and Blessing

One commentary divides this section into three scenes.Block (pages 203–204).

4:1–2 setting the stage for the legal drama
4:3–8 report of the legal drama
4:9–12 significance of legal drama

You may divide the paragraphs in these scenes in whatever way best fits the structure of your language.

Paragraph 4:1–2

This paragraph describes how Boaz convened a legal assembly at the town gate prior to the actual legal proceedings.

4:1a

Meanwhile, Boaz went to the gate and sat down there.

¶ Meanwhile Boaz went to the meeting place inside the gate of the town. As he was sitting there,
¶ During this time, Boaz had gone to the place where the leaders met in the town gate area, and he had sat down there to wait.

Meanwhile, Boaz went to the gate: The Hebrew conjunction that connects this to the previous verse does not indicate when this action took place in relation to the events that occurred at the end of chapter 3. The BSB uses Meanwhile to begin the sentence, since it seems quite probable that Boaz went up to the gate area of the city and sat down there to wait during the same time that Ruth was returning home to Naomi and talking with her (3:16–18).

Here is another way to translate Meanwhile:

Before the close relative arrived

to the gate: Here the phrase to the gate is probably an idiom that means “went to court.” At that time it was normal for the town meeting place to be just inside the town gate.UBS (pages 61–63). Block (pages 203–204) defines the city gate here as equivalent to a town court. That is where Boaz went. He did not go to the gate itself.

Here are some other ways to translate this verse part:

Boaz went to the meeting place at the town gate (GNT)

Boaz went to the place where leaders met to decide important things/cases

If people in your culture are not familiar with towns that have walls and gates, it may be necessary to explain in a footnote that towns had walls and gates in OT times.

and sat down there: The Hebrew verb that the BSB translates as sat down is the same verb translated as “wait” in 3:18a. Boaz may have expected that he would have to wait for a while. Apparently, the relative he wanted to see was not there when he arrived. So he sat down to wait for him.

4:1b

Soon the kinsman-redeemer of whom he had spoken came along,

right then Elimelech’s closest relative came by. He is the one Boaz had mentioned.
At that very time, the one who was responsible to care for the family was walking past. He is the one Boaz had told Ruth about.

In Hebrew, this part of the verse includes the word hinneh, which is often translated as “Behold” or “Look.” See how you translated it in 3:8b.

This word calls the readers’ attention to what happened. Use whatever special words, word order, or other method your language uses to focus attention on someone or some event.

Soon the kinsman-redeemer of whom he had spoken came along: This refers to the man whom Boaz had mentioned to Ruth. This man had the right and duty to redeem Naomi’s land and to marry Ruth. Here are some other ways to translate kinsman-redeemer:

nearest relative (GNT)

the one who was responsible to care for the family

the relative with the duty to help the family

See how your translated “kinsman-redeemer” in 2:20c and 3:9d.

came along: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as came along indicates that the man was in the process of “passing by” or “going through” the gate area when Boaz saw him.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

was passing by (NASB)

came past (REB)

4:1c

and Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.”

Boaz called out, “My brother/friend, please come over here and sit down.”
Then Boaz called to him and asked him to come and sit down.

and Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.”: Boaz called out to the man and asked him to Come over to where Boaz was sitting. The man was apparently going somewhere else, but Boaz asked him to stop and take care of this business first.

my friend: Boaz was looking for this particular man, and he certainly knew his name. But the author of the book of Ruth did not know the name or did not wish to provide it.

There are two ways to translate what Boaz said:

Use a direct quotation, but leave the form of address general. For example:
“My friend/brother, come over here…
Use an indirect quotation. For example:
Boaz invited the man to come over.

4:1d

So he went over and sat down.

So he approached and sat down.
So the man walked over to Boaz and sat down.

So: The same Hebrew conjunction that was used in 4:1a, in this verse part indicates result. The other relative came over to Boaz, because Boaz had called him.

he went over and sat down: The important status that Boaz had in the community is clearly seen here and in 4:2b. When Boaz asked the relative and the elders of the town to do something, they promptly did exactly what he asked.

Here are some other ways to translate this verse part:

So the man came over and sat down. (GW)

So Boaz invited him to come over and sit down, and he did. (CEV)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-newevent

וּ⁠בֹ֨עַז עָלָ֣ה הַ⁠שַּׁעַר֮

and,Boaz gone_up the,gate

The writer is using this clause to introduce the next part of the story, in which Boaz takes the leading role as kinsman-redeemer and marries Ruth. Use a word, phrase, or other method in your language that is natural for introducing a new event. Alternate translation: [As for Boaz, he went up to the town gate]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

הַ⁠שַּׁעַר֮

the,gate

The original readers knew that the gate was the place inside the entrance to the town where community business was publicly conducted. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [to the gathering place inside the gateway of the town]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וְ⁠הִנֵּ֨ה

and=see/lo/see!

The writer is using the term behold to focus our attention on the important event of Boaz seeing the exact person whom he wanted to see walking by. Your language may have a comparable expression that you could use in your translation. Alternate translation: [And amazingly] or [To his delight]

Note 4 topic: translate-kinship

הַ⁠גֹּאֵ֤ל

the,kinsman-redeemer

The term kinsman-redeemer specifically refers to the closest living male relative to Elimelek. If your language has a specific word for such a person, it would be appropriate to use it here. See how you translated kinsman-redeemer in [2:20](../02/20/zu5f).

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / quotations

וַ⁠יֹּ֛אמֶר ס֥וּרָ⁠ה שְׁבָ⁠ה־פֹּ֖ה פְּלֹנִ֣י אַלְמֹנִ֑י

and=he/it_said turn,aside sit, here friend אַלְמֹנִי

In many languages, a certain person is an awkward and unnatural way for someone to address another person. A way to make this more natural could be to turn this into an indirect quotation. A combination of indirect and direct quotation is also possible, as in the UST. Alternate translation: [Boaz called to this certain person and asked him to turn aside and sit down there]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

פְּלֹנִ֣י אַלְמֹנִ֑י

friend אַלְמֹנִי

Boaz did not actually say a certain person; instead, he called the kinsman-redeemer by his name. This is an idiom that means a specific person, but the name is not given. The narrator has substituted this general term for the person’s name either because he did not want to give the specific name or because the man’s name had been forgotten. If your language has an idiom to refer to a specific person without using his name, use that here. Alternate translation: [so-and-so] or [such a one]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The Hebrew text, lemmas, and morphology are all thanks to the OSHB and some of the glosses are from Macula Hebrew.

OET interlinear RUTH 4:1