RUTH 4:7 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. וְ,זֹאת
2. 180993,180994
3. And this
4. -
5. 2063
6. S-C,Pdxfs
7. and,this
8. S
9. -
10. 125090
1. לְ,פָנִים
2. 180995,180996
3. formerly
4. -
5. 6440
6. S-R,Ncbpa
7. formerly,
8. -
9. -
10. 125091
1. בְּ,יִשְׂרָאֵל
2. 180997,180998
3. +was in Yisrāʼēl/(Israel)
4. -
5. 3478
6. S-R,Np
7. [was]_in,Israel
8. -
9. -
10. 125092
1. עַל
2. 180999
3. on
4. -
6. S-R
7. on
8. -
9. -
10. 125093
2. 181000
3. -
4. -
6. -x-maqqef
8. -
9. -
10. 125094
1. הַ,גְּאוּלָּה
2. 181001,181002
3. the redemption
4. -
5. 1353
6. S-Td,Ncfsa
7. the,redemption
8. -
9. -
10. 125095
1. וְ,עַל
2. 181003,181004
3. and on
4. -
6. S-C,R
7. and,on
8. -
9. -
10. 125096
2. 181005
3. -
4. -
6. -x-maqqef
8. -
9. -
10. 125097
1. הַ,תְּמוּרָה
2. 181006,181007
3. the exchanging
4. exchanging
5. 8545
6. S-Td,Ncfsa
7. the,exchanging
8. -
9. -
10. 125098
1. לְ,קַיֵּם
2. 181008,181009
3. to confirm
4. confirmed
6. SV-R,Vpc
7. to,confirm
8. -
9. -
10. 125099
1. כָּל
2. 181010
3. every of
4. -
5. 3605
6. O-Ncmsc
7. every_of
8. -
9. -
10. 125100
2. 181011
3. -
4. -
6. -x-maqqef
8. -
9. -
10. 125101
1. דָּבָר
2. 181012
3. matter
4. matters
5. 1697
6. O-Ncmsa
7. matter
8. -
9. -
10. 125102
1. שָׁלַף
2. 181013
3. he drew off
4. -
5. 8025
6. V-Vqp3ms
7. he_drew_off
8. -
9. -
10. 125103
1. אִישׁ
2. 181014
3. anyone
4. -
5. 376
6. S-Ncmsa
7. anyone
8. -
9. -
10. 125104
1. נַעֲל,וֹ
2. 181015,181016
3. sandal of his
4. sandals
5. 5275
6. O-Ncfsc,Sp3ms
7. sandal_of,his
8. -
9. -
10. 125105
1. וְ,נָתַן
2. 181017,181018
3. and he/it gave
4. and
5. 5414
6. SV-C,Vqq3ms
7. and=he/it_gave
8. -
9. -
10. 125106
1. לְ,רֵעֵ,הוּ
2. 181019,181020,181021
3. to neighbour of his
4. other
5. 7453
6. S-R,Ncmsc,Sp3ms
7. to,neighbor_of,his
8. -
9. -
10. 125107
1. וְ,זֹאת
2. 181022,181023
3. and this
4. -
5. 2063
6. S-C,Pdxfs
7. and,this
8. -
9. -
10. 125108
1. הַ,תְּעוּדָה
2. 181024,181025
3. +was the attestation
4. -
5. 8584
6. P-Td,Ncfsa
7. [was]_the,attestation
8. -
9. -
10. 125109
1. בְּ,יִשְׂרָאֵל
2. 181026,181027
3. in Yisrāʼēl/(Israel)
4. -
5. 3478
6. S-R,Np
7. in,Israel
8. -
9. -
10. 125110
2. 181028
3. -
4. -
6. -x-sof-pasuq
8. -
9. -
10. 125111

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 4:7–8

This paragraph describes the sandal ceremony that finalized the redemption of property.

4:7

This verse is background material. Use whatever way is appropriate in your language to indicate that this is background material and not part of the main story.

Apparently, at the time that the author wrote this story, the people of Israel were no longer practicing the same customs for legal matters, so he needed to explain it.

4:7a

Now in former times in Israel,

¶ (In the past in Israel,
¶ In Israel long ago,

Now: The Hebrew conjunction that the BSB translates as Now introduces background information about an old custom. It is not a time word here.

in former times in Israel: This phrase refers to a period of time in the past, long before the author wrote this book.Campbell (page 147) points out that the time period indicated by the Hebrew words can refer to anything from less than a generation to 700 years, but that here the shorter time period is more likely. NICOT (pages 247–249) suggests that “that the author wrote at some temporal distance from the events of his story.”

Here are some other ways to translate it:

in former times, it was the custom in Israel (NJB)

Long ago in Israel (NCV)

(This is the way it used to be in Israel (GW)

4:7b

concerning the redemption or exchange of property, to make any matter legally binding

people used to finalize/complete their purchase and exchange of items in this way:
there was a custom to show that people had completed buying or exchanging possessions.

concerning the redemption or exchange of property, to make any matter legally binding: The custom mentioned in 4:7c was followed:

when there was a redemption of property or possessions, and
when there was some exchange of property or other possessions.

redemption: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as redemption is the noun that refers to the responsibility of purchasing the land of a poor relative.

exchange: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as exchange refers to a transfer or exchange.

of property: The Hebrew phrase that the BSB translates as of property is literally “of all things.” It refers to any object or possession, not just to land.

to make any matter legally binding: The Hebrew phrase to make any matter legally binding means “to confirm,” “to establish,” or “to show that they had agreed.”

Here are other ways to translate this verse part:

to confirm a transaction in matters of redemption or inheritance (NJB)

when people traded or bought back something (NCV)

to settle a sale or an exchange of property (GNT)

4:7c

a man would remove his sandal and give it to the other party,

one man took off his sandal and handed it to the other man.
A man would take off his sandal and give it to the other man to show that the business action was complete.

a man would remove his sandal and give it to the other party: The Hebrew words that the BSB translates as a man…the other party refers to the two people involved in the matter. Probably only men took part in such legal transactions, so it is acceptable to use masculine words in your translation here.

one party took off his sandal and give it to the other (NIV)

for the seller to take off his sandal and give it to the buyer (GNT)

remove his sandal: The sandal referred to here was most likely the common footwear of that time. It probably had a hard leather sole, with straps or strips of leather crossing over the top of the foot. If you do not have a word meaning sandal in your language, there are at least two options for translating this term:

Use a general word that refers to footwear.
Use a specific word in your language that refers to something similar to a sandal. For example:
thong/flip-flop

4:7d

and this was a confirmation in Israel.

This was the way men publicly confirmed business exchanges in Israel.)
This was what a man used to do in Israel to show everyone that he agreed to sell a valuable property to someone else.

and this was a confirmation in Israel: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as a confirmation occurs in only three places.NICOT (pages 250–252) lists Ruth 4:7d, Isaiah 8:16, 20. It probably refers to the way that people in Israel confirmed their agreements at that time. For example:

This was the way a contract was publicly approved in Israel. (GW)

In this way the Israelites showed that the matter was settled. (GNT)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-background

וְ⁠זֹאת֩

and,this

The word Now marks what follows as background information that the writer wants the reader to know in order to understand the story. Use your language’s way of giving background information in a story. Alternate translation: [You need to know this:]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

וְ⁠זֹאת֩

and,this

Here some words are left out that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You could supply these words if it would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: [Now this was the custom]

Note 3 topic: writing-background

לְ⁠פָנִ֨ים

formerly,

The word formerly implies that this custom was no longer practiced when the book of Ruth was written. Use a word or phrase that has this meaning. Alternate translation: [in earlier times]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

לְ⁠רֵעֵ֑⁠הוּ

to,neighbor_of,his

The words to his friend refer to the person with whom a man was making the agreement. Alternate translation: [to the counterparty] or [to the man with whom he was making an agreement]

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 4:7

Hebrew word order