RUTH 4:8 Interlinear View

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.

4:8

After the author explained the custom in 4:7, he continued the main story in 4:8.

4:8a

So the kinsman-redeemer removed his sandal

Therefore, the closer relative pulled off his sandal
So the closer relative took off his own sandal

So: This word introduces the result of the custom. You can also translate it as “Then.”

the kinsman-redeemer removed his sandal: There is a textual difference here:

The Hebrew text ends with the word sandal: For example:
he took off his sandal (NRSV) (BSB, ESV, GW, KJV, NABRE, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV NJB, NJPS, NLT, NRSV)
The Greek translation (LXX/Septuagint) has the additional words “and gave it to Boaz.” For example:
he took off one of his sandals and handed it to Boaz (CEV)
he drew off his sandal and handed it over (REB) (CEV, GNT, REB)

The Notes will follow interpretation (1). The words “and handed it to Boaz" were not in the original text of Ruth but were added later. However, 4:7c specifies that one man handed the sandal to the other. So if it is clearer in your language to complete the action, you may follow one of the versions listed under interpretation (2).UBS (page 69).

4:8b

and said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.”

and said to Boaz, “You should buy it for yourself.”
and told Boaz to buy it himself.

Here are some other ways to introduce this verse:

So when the man said to Boaz (GNT)

Then the man said…

and said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.”: The command Buy it for yourself has almost the same meaning as “Take my right of redemption” in 4:6c. But here the more general word Buy is used.

The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as Buy is a command. However, the other redeemer was giving Boaz permission to buy it rather than saying that he must buy it. So in many languages, it may be better to use a more polite expression. For example:

You may buy it yourself.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-newevent

וַ⁠יֹּ֧אמֶר הַ⁠גֹּאֵ֛ל לְ⁠בֹ֖עַז קְנֵה־לָ֑⁠ךְ וַ⁠יִּשְׁלֹ֖ף נַעֲלֽ⁠וֹ

and=he/it_said the,kinsman-redeemer to,Boaz buy to/for=you(fs) and,he_drew_off sandal_of,his

The events of the story start again here after the background information of verse 7. Use your language’s way of starting to tell the events of the story again.

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

וַ⁠יֹּ֧אמֶר הַ⁠גֹּאֵ֛ל לְ⁠בֹ֖עַז קְנֵה־לָ֑⁠ךְ וַ⁠יִּשְׁלֹ֖ף נַעֲלֽ⁠וֹ

and=he/it_said the,kinsman-redeemer to,Boaz buy to/for=you(fs) and,he_drew_off sandal_of,his

The word So at the beginning of this verse indicates that this event happened because of the custom described in the previous verse. If it would be clearer in your language, you could reverse the order of these phrases. Alternate translation: [So the kinsman-redeemer took off his sandal and said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself”]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

וַ⁠יִּשְׁלֹ֖ף נַעֲלֽ⁠וֹ

and,he_drew_off sandal_of,his

The writer assumes that his readers will understand that the kinsman-redeemer gave the sandal to Boaz. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. See the UST.

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 4:8

Hebrew word order

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

Paragraph 4:7–8

4:8

4:8a

4:8b

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