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Ruth 4:3 — Word Study

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WLCוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לַגֹּאֵ֔ל חֶלְקַת֙ הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר לְאָחִ֖ינוּ לֶאֱלִימֶ֑לֶךְ מָכְרָ֣ה נָעֳמִ֔י הַשָּׁ֖בָה מִשְּׂדֵ֥ה מוֹאָֽב׃

BSAAnd he saidʼâmar to the kinsman-redeemergâʼal [near relative, family guardian] NaomiNoʻŏmîy [faithful, pleasant one] who has returnedshûwb [come back, turned away] from the landsâdeh [region, territory] of MoabMôwʼâb [a land east of the Jordan] is sellingmâkar [giving up, transferring ownership] the piecechelqâh of landsâdeh [plot, parcel] thatʼăsher belonged to our brotherʼâch [relative, kin] ElimelechʼĔlîymelek [my God is king]

Word
Listen & take awayRuth 4
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 3 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (mo.'Av) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Ruth 4:3quick helps
In a sentenceBoaz informs the kinsman-redeemer about Naomi's sale of her deceased husband's land.
Who is speakingBoaz, addressing the kinsman-redeemer.
Where we areThe scene involves a legal transaction regarding property rights.
The hard wordגָּאַל, ga'al
Take awayNaomi is selling land that belonged to her late husband, Elimelech.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbאָמַר The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — Ruth 4:3

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — The Redemption of Naomi's Landgenerated

2Then Boaz took ten of the elders of the city and said, “Sit here,” and they did so.
3And he said to the kinsman-redeemer, “Naomi, who has returned from the land of Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our brother Elimelech.
4I thought I should inform you that you may buy it back in the presence of those seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you want to redeem it, do so. But if you will not redeem it, tell me so I may know, because there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am next after you.” “I will redeem it,” he replied.
5Then 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.”

Ruth 4:3 describes Boaz speaking to the kinsman-redeemer about Naomi's situation. Naomi, who has returned from Moab, is selling the land that belonged to her deceased husband, Elimelech. This transaction highlights the customs surrounding family and property rights in ancient Israel, reflecting the importance of redemption within the family unit.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 112:5It is well with the man who is generous and lends freely, whose affairs are guided by justice.
2Proverbs 13:10Arrogance leads only to strife, but wisdom is with the well-advised.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word גָּאַל, la.go.'Elgenerated

The verb גָּאַל (ga'al) means to redeem, particularly in the context of a kinsman-redeemer. It encompasses actions like buying back property or marrying a relative's widow, which are vital for preserving family lineage and inheritance.

This term is significant in the story of Ruth, as Boaz takes on the role of the kinsman-redeemer, demonstrating loyalty and responsibility toward Naomi and her family. The parsing indicates that it is a participle, emphasizing an ongoing action or state.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb of the sentence is יֹּ֨אמֶר֙, he said, which governs the entire clause. It introduces the statement made to the kinsman-redeemer, outlining the context of Naomi's actions regarding her land.

The sentence structure includes a prepositional phrase indicating to whom Boaz is speaking, followed by a noun phrase detailing the land and its previous owner. The order emphasizes the importance of the land and the familial connection.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates גָּאַל as ἀγξιστεῖ, which conveys the concept of redeeming or buying back. This choice reflects the cultural practice of redemption in ancient Israel.

The translation shows a continuity of meaning from Hebrew to Greek, maintaining the focus on the act of redemption, which is central to the narrative.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Ruth 4:3 shows Boaz telling the kinsman-redeemer that Naomi is selling her late husband's land. This moment is crucial in the story, as it involves family responsibilities and the practice of redemption.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean for a kinsman-redeemer to redeem land?

A kinsman-redeemer is responsible for buying back land that belongs to a relative who is in financial trouble, ensuring that the family inheritance remains within the family.

Why is Naomi selling the land?

Naomi is selling the land because she has returned to Israel from Moab and needs to secure her livelihood after the loss of her husband.

What is the significance of Elimelech's name?

Elimelech's name means 'my God is king,' reflecting a connection to faith and heritage within the context of the narrative.

How does this verse connect to the broader themes of the Book of Ruth?

This verse highlights themes of loyalty, redemption, and the importance of family ties, which are central to the story of Ruth and Boaz.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What responsibilities do I have toward my family and community, similar to Boaz's role as a kinsman-redeemer?
  2. How can I support those who are in need, reflecting the principles of redemption in my own life?
  3. In what ways does my understanding of family and heritage influence my decisions?
  4. How does the story of Ruth inspire me to act with loyalty and kindness toward others?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Ruth 4:3 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And he said unto the kinsman,.... That is, Boaz said to the kinsman he called to, and who sat down by him before the ten elders that were present: Naomi, that is come again out of the land of Moab,

Read John Gill on Ruth 4 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's: Naomi ... selleth a parcel - i:e., entertains the idea of selling.

Read Robert Jamieson on Ruth 4 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Both Naomi and Ruth had an interest in this land during their lives, but he mentions only Naomi, partly because all was done by her direction, to which Ruth wholly submitted herself; and partly lest the mention of Ruth should raise a suspicion of the necessity of his marrying Ruth, before he had given his answer to the first proposition. Selleth a parcel of land; which she might do because of her poverty, .

Read Matthew Poole on Ruth 4 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Rth 4:3 And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which [was] our brother Elimelech’ s:Ver. 3. And he said unto the kinsman.] Without a pleader, without preface or passion, in few and fit words he propounds the cause and brings it to an issue. Men should not go lightly to law, or spin out their suits to that length they do. Naomi, that is come again, … selleth a parcel of land.] Boaz, having to do with a wily worldling, dealeth warily with him for prevention of further strife; telling him first of the land, and then of the wife that must go along with it. How forcible are right words!

Read John Trapp on Ruth 4 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(3) Naomi selleth . . .—Rather, the portion of land, which belonged to our brother Elimelech. has Naomi sold. The present tense of the English Version seems to suggest that the sale is taking place at this particular time, but the meaning clearly is that Naomi, as the representative of the dead Elimelech had, so far as it was possible for an Israelite to part with a family estate, sold the land to obtain in some sort the means of living. In the year of Jubilee, the property would return to the family, on which it was, so to speak, settled, but Boaz proposes to the Goel that he should redeem the property at once. We might perhaps compare this to the owner of a freehold buying from a…

Read Charles John Ellicott on Ruth 4 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 3. Naomi - selleth a parcel of land] She was reduced to want; the immediate inheritors were extinct, and it was now open for the next heir to purchase the land, and thus preserve the inheritance in the family according to the custom of Israel.

Read AdamClarke on Ruth 4 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

3. selleth] The tense is perfect, and implies is resolved to sell; the sale does not take place till Rth 4:9. Cf. Genesis 23:11; Genesis 23:13, for the same idiomatic use of the perfect. Naomi came into possession of her husband’s property after his death, see Rth 4:9 n.; this was not in accordance with Pentateuchal law, which says nothing about the inheritance of widows. our brother] in the wider sense of member of a family or race; cf. Exodus 2:11, Leviticus 19:17, Judges 14:3 etc.

Read Cambridge on Ruth 4 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

According to the law Leviticus 25:25-28, if any Israelite, through poverty, would sell his possession, the next of kin (the גאל gā'al) had a right to redeem it by paying the value of the number of

Read Albert Barnes on Ruth 4 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

And he said to the kinsman-redeemer, “Naomi, who has returned from the land of Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our brother Elimelech.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

He said to the near kinsman, “Naomi, who has come back out of the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech’s.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

And he said to the kinsman-redeemer, “Naomi, who has returned from the land of Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our brother Elimelech.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Then Boaz said to the guardian, “Naomi, who has returned from the region of Moab, is selling the portion of land that belongs to our relative Elimelech.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech’s:

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And he said unto the near kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth the parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech’s:

RVARevised Version, American1894

And he said unto the near kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth the parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech’s:

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And he said to the kinsman, Naomi, that has come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's:

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And he said vnto ye kinsman, Naomi, that is come againe out of ye countrey of Moab, wil sell a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelechs.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And he said to him that had the right of redemption: Naomi, who is come back out of the country of Moab, sells the allotment that was our brother Elimelech's.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And he saith to the redeemer, 'A portion of the field which [is] to our brother, to Elimelech, hath Naomi sold, who hath come back from the fields of Moab;

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And he says to the redeemer, “A portion of the field which [is] to our brother, to Elimelech, has Naomi sold, who has come back from the fields of Moab;

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And he said unto the kinsman, Na'omi, that is returned out of the field of Moab, hath to sell a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Boaz said to the near kinsman, “Naomi, who has returned from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that was our brother Elimelek's.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

They sat down, and he spoke to the kinsman: Noemi, who is returned from the country of Moab, will sell a parcel of land that belonged to our brother Elimelech.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Boaz said to the family redeemer, “Naomi who has returned from the country of Moab is selling the piece of land that belonged to Elimelech, our relative.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Then he said to the near relation, Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is offering for a price that bit of land which was our brother Elimelech's:

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

וַandclauseverbיֹּ֨אמֶר֙he.saidprepositional phrase · prepositionalלַtonoun phrasethe.kinsmanגֹּאֵ֔לredeemerclausenoun phrase · objectnoun phraseחֶלְקַת֙the.portionnoun phraseהַofשָּׂדֶ֔הthe.fieldrelpאֲשֶׁ֥רwhichclauseprepositional phrase · predicateprepositional phraseלְ[belonged].tonoun phraseאָחִ֖יbrotherנוּourprepositional phraseלֶtoאֱלִימֶ֑לֶךְElimelechverbמָכְרָ֣הshe.has.soldnoun phrase · subjectנָעֳמִ֔יNaominoun phraseהַwhonoun phraseclauseverbשָּׁ֖בָהshe.returnedprepositional phrase · prepositionalמִfromnoun phraseשְּׂדֵ֥הthe.regionמוֹאָֽבof.Moab

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree, with 11 out of 12 words matching directly. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain partial restorations, indicating some textual damage but also affirming the core elements of the verse.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לַגֹּאֵ֔ל חֶלְקַת֙ הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר לְאָחִ֖ינוּ לֶאֱלִימֶ֑לֶךְ מָכְרָ֣ה נָעֳמִ֔י הַשָּׁ֖בָה מִשְּׂדֵ֥ה מוֹאָֽב׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙εἶπενלַגֹּאֵ֔לἀγξιστεῖחֶלְקַת֙μερίδαהַשָּׂדֶ֔הἀγροῦלְאָחִ֖ינוּἡμῶνלֶאֱלִימֶ֑לֶךְαβιμελεξמָכְרָ֣הδέδοταιנָעֳמִ֔יνωεμινהַשָּׁ֖בָהἐπιστρεφούσῃמִשְּׂדֵ֥הἀγροῦמוֹאָֽב׃μωαβ

11 of the 12 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 2Q16a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[ויאמר] [לגאל] [חלקת] [השדה] [אשר] [לאחי׳נו] [לאלימלך] מכרה [נעמי] [השבה] [משדה] [מואב]

nothing on the leather here — 1 partly restored, 11 supplied entire by an editor.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Ruth 4:3אָמַרand he saidand he saidאָמַרגָּאַלto the kinsto the kinsman גָּאַלחֶלְקָה[the] porti[the] portion oחֶלְקָהשָׂדַיthe fieldthe fieldשָׂדַיאֲשֶׁרwhichwhichאֲשֶׁראָח[belonged] [belonged] to bאָחאֱלִימֶ֫לֶךְto Elimelecto Elimelechאֱלִימֶ֫לֶךְמָכַרshe has solshe has soldמָכַרנָעֳמִיNaomiNaomiנָעֳמִישׁוּבwho returnewho returnedשׁוּבשָׂדַיfrom [the] from [the] regiשָׂדַימוֹאָבMoabMoabמוֹאָבאָבfatherfatherאָבאֵלgodgodאֵלנֹ֫עַםpleasantnepleasantnessנֹ֫עַםחֵ֫לֶקportionportionחֵ֫לֶקעֵ֫שֶׂבvegetationvegetationעֵ֫שֶׂבכֶּרֶםvineyardvineyardכֶּרֶםכֹּהthusthusכֹּהיהוהYHWH/GodYHWH/Godיהוהרָצַחto murderto murderרָצַחמָטַרto rainto rainמָטַרצָוָהto commandto commandצָוָהעֵשָׂו(Mount) Es(Mount) EsauעֵשָׂויוֹסֵףJosephJosephיוֹסֵףנָעֳמִיNaomiNaomiנָעֳמִיבֹּ֫עַזBoazBoazבֹּ֫עַזקָנָהto buyto buyקָנָהאֱלִימֶ֫לֶךְElimelechElimelechאֱלִימֶ֫לֶךְרוּתRuthRuthרוּת
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Ruth 4:3

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

and he said to the kinsman redeemer [the] portion of the field which [belonged] to brother our to Elimelech she has sold Naomi who returned from [the] region of Moab
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.mer and he said H559 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
5,309× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Tyndale gloss
to say
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say

Qal

Say

Say in the heart (= think)

Promise

Command (esp. late)

Niph. be said, told

Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

Hithp. act proudly, boast

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say

. Say in the heart (= think)

. Promise

. Command (esp. late)

. be said, told

. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

. act proudly, boast

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

559 'amar aw-mar'

a primitive root; to say (used with great

latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,

certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),

commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X

expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,

publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X

suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),

utter, X verily, X yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.

1) to say, speak, utter

1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend

1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called

1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly

1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch

Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he said to the kinsman redeemer [the] portion of the field which [belonged] to brother our to Elimelech she has sold Naomi who returned from [the] region of Moab
לַגֹּאֵ֔לla.go.'El to the kinsman redeemer H1350 Preposition · verb qal participle (active) masculine singular
104× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means redemption, describing the act of a kinsman buying back a relative's property or marrying their widow, as seen in the story of Boaz in Ruth.
Amplified meaning
near relative, family guardian
Tyndale gloss
to redeem: redeem
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גָּאַל (ga'al) is a Hebrew verb meaning to redeem, often in the context of acting as a kinsman-redeemer. It encompasses various forms of redemption, including buying back property, marrying a relative's widow, and delivering individuals or Israel from bondage or exile. The related noun גְּאוּלַי (geulai) signifies the concept of redemption itself.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גָּאַל vb. redeem, act as kinsman

Qal

act as kinsman, do the part of next of kin

redeem, by payment of value assessed

redeem, with God as subj. implying personal relationship

Niph

refl. redeem oneself

pass. be redeemed

base

גְּאוּלַי Is 63:4, n. abstr. redemption

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1350a גָּאַל redeem, act as kinsman .. act as kinsman, do the part of next of kin

. redeem, by payment of value assessed

. redeem, with God as subj. implying personal relationship

.. refl. redeem oneself

. pass. be redeemed

H1350b גְּאוּלַי n. abstr. redemption

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1350 ga'al gaw-al'

a primitive root, to redeem (according to the Oriental law of

kinship), i.e. to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back

a relative's property, marry his widow, etc.):--X in any wise,

X at all, avenger, deliver, (do, perform the part of near,

next) kinsfolk(-man), purchase, ransom, redeem(-er), revenger.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גָּאַל (ga.al) — to redeem: redeem.

: redeem

1) to redeem, act as kinsman-redeemer, avenge, revenge, ransom, do the part of a kinsman

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to act as kinsman, do the part of next of kin, act as kinsman-redeemer

1a1a) by marrying brother's widow to beget a child for him, to redeem from slavery, to redeem land, to exact vengeance

1a2) to redeem (by payment)

1a3) to redeem (with God as subject)

1a3a) individuals from death

1a3b) Israel from Egyptian bondage

1a3c) Israel from exile

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to redeem oneself

1b2) to be redeemed

גְּאוּלַי (ge.u.lay) — redemption.

redemption

גָּאַל (ga.al) — to redeem: avenge.

: avenge

1) to redeem, act as kinsman-redeemer, avenge, revenge, ransom, do the part of a kinsman

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to act as kinsman, do the part of next of kin, act as kinsman-redeemer

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | V-Qal — Preposition · verb qal participle (active) masculine singular
HRd/Vqrmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Redeemer

Heb. goel; i.e., one charged with the duty of restoring the rights of another and avenging his wrongs (Lev. 25:48, 49; Num. 5:8; Ruth 4:1; Job 19:25; Ps. 19:14; 78:35, etc.). This title is peculiarly applied to Christ. He redeems us from all evil by the payment of a ransom (q.v.). (See REDEMPTION.)

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A name given to Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world, because he redeems mankind from the bondage and guilt of their sins, by dying in their place, and thus paying their ransom, Mt 20:28 Ga 3:13 Eph 1:7 1Ti 2:6 Tit 2:14 1Pe 1:18,19 Re 5:9. In the law of Moses, Le 25:25,48, this title is given to one who has the right of redemption in an inheritance, especially to a near kinsman, who may redeem it from a stranger or any Jew who had bought it. Such was Boaz, who…

and he said to the kinsman redeemer [the] portion of the field which [belonged] to brother our to Elimelech she has sold Naomi who returned from [the] region of Moab
חֶלְקַת֙chel.Kat [the] portion of H2513 Noun common · feminine singular construct
29× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to smoothness, but can also imply flattery or slippery behavior. In some cases, it describes a plot of land or a portion of ground. The Bible uses this word to warn against smooth talk and deceitful actions.
Tyndale gloss
portion
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חֶלְקָה (chelqah) primarily means a portion or parcel of ground, but it also refers to smoothness and can imply flattery. The word is built from the concept of smoothness, which can extend to slippery places. It encompasses both literal and figurative meanings, highlighting its versatility in describing land and characteristics like flattery.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חֶלְקָה n.f. portion of ground

base

[חֶלְקָה] n.f. smooth part, smoothness, flattery

smoothness, smooth part

pl. slippery places

smoothness = flattery

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2513a חֶלְקָה portion of ground H2513b חֶלְקָה smooth part, smoothness, flattery

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2513 chelqah khel-kaw'

feminine of 2506; properly, smoothness; figuratively,

flattery; also an allotment:--field, flattering(-ry), ground,

parcel, part, piece of land (ground), plat, portion, slippery

place, smooth (thing).

see HEBREW for 02506

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חֶלְקָה (chel.qah) — portion.

1) portion, parcel

1a) of ground

חֶלְקָה (chel.qah) — smoothness.

1) smooth part, smoothness, flattery

1a) smoothness, smooth part

1b) slippery places

1c) smoothness, flattery

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular construct
HNcfsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

and he said to the kinsman redeemer [the] portion of the field which [belonged] to brother our to Elimelech she has sold Naomi who returned from [the] region of Moab
הַשָּׂדֶ֔הha.sa.Deh the field H7704 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
334× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A field or land is what this word represents, often referring to a flat area of land used for cultivation or as a habitat for wild animals, as described in the book of Genesis. It can also mean a plain or a country, as opposed to a mountain or sea. This term is used in the story of Ruth and Boaz.
Amplified meaning
region, territory
Tyndale gloss
field
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׂדַי (saday) and שָׂדֶה (sadeh) both refer to a field or land, encompassing cultivated areas, open fields, and regions opposed to mountains or seas. The terms can denote specific portions of ground and are associated with wildlife habitats. They derive from a root meaning to spread out, indicating flat, expansive areas.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׂדַי n.m. field, land

cultivated field

home of wild beasts

plain, opp. mt.

land, opp. sea

base

שָׂדֶה 819 n.m. id. [u.ak.ab]

(ordinary contr. form)open field, country

definite portion of ground, field, land

land, opp. sea

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7704a שָׂדַי field, land . cultivated field

. home of wild beasts

. plain, opp. mt.

. land, opp. sea

H7704b שָׂדֶה id. [7704a] . open field, country

. definite portion of ground, field, land

. land, opp. sea

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7704 sadeh saw-deh'

or saday {saw-dah'-ee}; from an unused root meaning to spread

out; a field (as flat):--country, field, ground, land, soil,

X wild.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׂדַי (sa.day) — Sirion.

This name means field, land, plain

Another spelling of cher.mon (חֶרְמוֹן "(Mount )Hermon" H2768)

שָׂדֶה (sa.deh) — land: soil.

: soil

1) field, land

1a) open field, country

1b) definite portion of ground, field, land

1c) land (opposed to sea)

שָׂדֶה (sa.deh) — land: country.

: country/field

1) field, land

1a) open field, country

1b) definite portion of ground, field, land

1c) land (opposed to sea)

שָׂדֶה (sa.deh) — Field (of the Launderer).

Combined with ka.vas (כָּבַס "Washer's" H3526)

This name means field, land

שָׂדֶה (sa.deh) — land: wildlife.

: wild(animals/plants)

1) field, land

1a) open field, country

1b) definite portion of ground, field, land

1c) land (opposed to sea)

שָׂדַי (sa.day) — field.

1) field, land

1a) cultivated field

1b) of home of wild beasts

1c) plain (opposed to mountain)

1d) land (opposed to sea)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

feld.

See AGRICULTURE.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Field

(Heb. sadeh), a cultivated field, but unenclosed. It is applied to any cultivated ground or pasture (Gen. 29:2; 31:4; 34:7), or tillage (Gen. 37:7; 47:24). It is also applied to woodland (Ps. 132:6) or mountain top (Judg. 9:32, 36; 2 Sam. 1:21). It denotes sometimes a cultivated region as opposed to the wilderness (Gen. 33:19; 36:35). Unwalled villages or scattered houses are spoken of as “in the fields” (Deut. 28:3, 16; Lev. 25:31;

The Hebrew sadeh is applied to any cultivated ground, and in some instances in marked opposition to the neighboring wilderness. On the other hand the sadeh is frequently contrasted with what is enclosed, whether a vineyard, a garden or a walled town. In many passages the term implies what is remote from a house, (Genesis 4:8; 24:63; 22:25) or settled habitation, as in the case of Esau. (Genesis 25:27) The separate plots of ground were marked off by stones, which might easily be removed, (19:14; 27:17) cf. Job 24:2; Prov 22:28; 23:10 The absence of fences rendered the fields liable to damage from straying cattle, (Exodus…

and he said to the kinsman redeemer [the] portion of the field which [belonged] to brother our to Elimelech she has sold Naomi who returned from [the] region of Moab
אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.Sher which H834 Particle
5,500× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is a conjunction that connects ideas and events in the Bible, like in the book of Genesis, where it's used to describe the relationship between God and His creation.
Tyndale gloss
which
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֲשֶׁר (*asher*) is a relative pronoun that can mean 'who,' 'which,' or 'that.' It serves various grammatical functions, including as an adverb or conjunction, indicating relationships between clauses, places, or conditions. Variants like בַאֲשֶׁר (*ba-asher*), מֵאֲשֶׁר (*me-asher*), and כַּאֲשֶׁר (*ka-asher*) expand its usage to specific contexts such as location, causation, and time.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause.

base

בַאֲשֶׁר

in (that) which

adv. in (the place) where

conj. in that, inasmuch as

on account of whom?

base

מֵאֲשֶׁר

from (or than) that which

adv. from (the place) where

conj. from (the fact) that …, since

base

כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when

according to that which, according as, as

with a causal force, in so far as, since

with a temporal force, when

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H834a אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause. H834b בַאֲשֶׁר . in (that) which

. adv. in (the place) where

. conj. in that, inasmuch as

. on account of whom?

H834c מֵאֲשֶׁר . from (or than) that which

. adv. from (the place) where

. conj. from (the fact) that …, since

H834d כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when . according to that which, according as, as

. with a causal force, in so far as, since

. with a temporal force, when

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

834 'aher ash-er'

a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number);

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction)

when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.:--X after, X

alike, as (soon as), because, X every, for, + forasmuch, +

from whence, + how(-soever), X if, (so) that ((thing) which,

wherein), X though, + until, + whatsoever, when, where

(+ -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, +

whither(- soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is

indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun

expletively, used to show the connection.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֲשֶׁר (a.sher) — which.

A: 1) (relative part.)

1a) which, who

1b) that which

2) (conj)

2a) that (in obj clause)

2b) when

2c) since

2d) as

2e) conditional if

B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which

2) (adv)

2a) where

3) (conj)

3a) in that, inasmuch as

3b) on account of

C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which

2) from (the place) where

3) from (the fact) that, since

D: Kaph+

1) (conj.), according as, as, when

1a) according to that which, according as, as

1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since

1c) with a temporal force: when

בַאֲשֶׁר (ba.a.sher) — in which.

1) in (that) which

2) (adv)

2a) where

3) (conj)

3a) in that, inasmuch as

3b) on account of

מֵאֲשֶׁר (me.a.sher) — whence.

1) from (or than) that which

2) from (the place) where

3) from (the fact) that, since

כַּאֲשֶׁר (ka.a.sher) — as which.

conj

1) according as, as, when

1a) according to that which, according as, as

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Rel — Particle
HTr
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he said to the kinsman redeemer [the] portion of the field which [belonged] to brother our to Elimelech she has sold Naomi who returned from [the] region of Moab
לְאָחִ֖ינוּle.'a.Chi.nu [belonged] to brother our H251 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
630× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means a brother or male sibling, but it can also refer to a close relative, friend, or someone with a similar relationship. It is used to describe the bond between brothers, like the relationship between Cain and Abel in Genesis.
Amplified meaning
relative, kin
Tyndale gloss
brother: male-sibling
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָח (ach) means 'brother' and encompasses a broad range of relationships, including literal siblings, half-brothers, and metaphorical kinship. It can refer to any male relative or compatriot, and it may also imply resemblance or reciprocal relationships. The term is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, highlighting both familial and figurative connections.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָח 630 n.m. brother

brother, born of same mother (& father)

indef. = relative

fig. of resemblance

in phr. one … another

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H251 אָח brother

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

251 'ach awkh

a primitive word; a brother (used in the widest sense of

literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance

(like 1)):--another, brother(-ly); kindred, like, other.

Compare also the proper names beginning with "Ah-" or "Ahi-".

see HEBREW for 01

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָח (ach) — brother: male-sibling.

: male-sibling

1) brother

1a) brother of same parents

1b) half-brother (same father)

1c) relative, kinship, same tribe

1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship)

1e) (fig.) of resemblance

אָח (ach) — brother: male-relative.

: male-relative

1) brother

1a) brother of same parents

1b) half-brother (same father)

1c) relative, kinship, same tribe

1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship)

1e) (fig.) of resemblance

אָח (ach) — brother: compatriot.

: compatriot

1) brother

1a) brother of same parents

1b) half-brother (same father)

1c) relative, kinship, same tribe

1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship)

1e) (fig.) of resemblance

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HR/Ncmsc/Sp1bp
and he said to the kinsman redeemer [the] portion of the field which [belonged] to brother our to Elimelech she has sold Naomi who returned from [the] region of Moab
לֶאֱלִימֶ֑לֶךְle.'e.li.Me.lekh to Elimelech H458 Preposition · noun proper masculine
6× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Elimelech was an Israelite whose name means my God is king, husband of Naomi and father of Mahlon and Chilion in the book of Ruth.
Amplified meaning
my God is king
Tyndale gloss
Elimelech
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֱלִימֶ֫לֶךְ (Eliymelek) means "God is king" and refers to a man mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically as Naomi's husband. The name is derived from the Hebrew words for God and king. He is noted in the Book of Ruth, where he is the father of Mahlon and Chilion.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֱלִימֶ֫לֶךְ n.pr.m. (God is king) husband of Naomi

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H458 אֱלִימֶ֫לֶךְ (God is king) husband of Naomi

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

458 'Eliymelek el-ee-meh'-lek

from 410 and 4428; God of (the) king; Elimelek, an

Israelite:--Elimelech.

see HEBREW for 0410

see HEBREW for 04428

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֱלִימֶ֫לֶךְ (e.li.me.lekh) — Elimelech.

A man living before Israel's Monarchy, first mentioned at Rut.1.2; married to Naomi (H5281);

father of: Mahlon (H4248), Chilion (H3630)

§ Elimelech = "my God is king"

Naomi's husband

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun proper masculine
HR/Npm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

e-lim'-e-lek ('elimelekh, "my God is king"; Abeimelech, Alimelek):

Elimelech was a member of the tribe of Judah, a native of Bethlehem Judah, a man of wealth and probably head of a family or clan (Ru 1:2,3; 2:1,3). He lived during the period of the Judges, had a hereditary possession near Bethlehem, and is chiefly known as the husband of Naomi, the mother-in-law of Ru and ancestress of David the king. Because of a severe famine in Judea, he emigrated to the land of Moab with his wife and his sons, Mahlon and Chilion. Not long afterward he died, and his two sons married Moabite women, Ru and Orpah. Ten years in all were spent in Moab, when the two sons died, and the three widows were left. Soon afterward Naomi decided to return to Judah, and the sequel is told in the Book of Ruth.

See RUTH; NAOMI.

J. J. Reeve

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Elimelech

God his king, a man of the tribe of Judah, of the family of the Hezronites, and kinsman of Boaz, who dwelt in Bethlehem in the days of the judges. In consequence of a great dearth he, with his wife Naomi and his two sons, went to dwell in the land of Moab. There he and his sons died (Ruth 1:2,3; 2:1,3; 4:3,9). Naomi afterwards returned to Palestine with her daughter Ruth.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(my God is king), a man of the tribe of Judah and of the family of the Hezronites, who dwelt in Bethlehem-Ephratah in the days of the Judges. (B.C. 1312.) In consequence of a great death in the land he went with his wife, Naomi, and his two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, to dwell in Moab, where he and his sons died without posterity. (Ruth 1:2,3) etc.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A Bethlehemite, husband of Naomi, Ru 1:2.

and he said to the kinsman redeemer [the] portion of the field which [belonged] to brother our to Elimelech she has sold Naomi who returned from [the] region of Moab
מָכְרָ֣הma.khe.Rah she has sold H4376 Verb · Qal · perfect third person feminine singular
80× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to sell something or someone, like a merchant selling goods or a father selling his daughter into marriage. It appears in books like Genesis and Exodus. The word can also mean to surrender or give something up.
Amplified meaning
giving up, transferring ownership
Tyndale gloss
to sell
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָכַר (makar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to sell.' It encompasses various forms, including selling merchandise, giving a daughter in marriage, or even selling oneself into slavery. The word appears in different grammatical forms, such as Qal (to sell), Niphal (to be sold), and Hithpael (to sell oneself). It reflects both literal and figurative senses of selling.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָכַר vb. sell

Qal sell

Niph. be sold

Hithp. sell oneself as slave

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4376 מָכַר sell

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4376 makar maw-kar'

a primitive root; to sell, literally (as merchandise, a

daughter in marriage, into slavery), or figuratively (to

surrender):--X at all, sell (away, -er, self).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָכַר (ma.khar) — to sell.

1) to sell

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to sell

1a2) seller (participle)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be sold

1b2) to sell oneself

1b3) to be given over to death

1c) (Hithpael) to sell oneself

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3fs — Verb · Qal · perfect third person feminine singular
HVqp3fs
and he said to the kinsman redeemer [the] portion of the field which [belonged] to brother our to Elimelech she has sold Naomi who returned from [the] region of Moab
נָעֳמִ֔יno.'o.Mi Naomi H5281 Noun proper feminine
21× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Naomi was an Israelite woman who lived before the monarchy. She was the wife of Elimelech and mother of Mahlon and Chilion, and is also known as Mara. Naomi means 'my delight'.
Amplified meaning
faithful, pleasant one
Tyndale gloss
Naomi
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָעֳמִי (No`omiy) refers to Naomi, the mother-in-law of Ruth. The name is derived from a root meaning 'pleasant.' Naomi is a significant figure in the Book of Ruth, where she is described as the wife of Elimelech and mother of Mahlon and Chilion. She is also known as Mara, meaning 'bitter,' in Ruth 1:20.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נָעֳמִי n.pr.f. mother-in-law of Ruth

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5281 נָעֳמִי mother-in-law of Ruth

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5281 No`omiy no-om-ee'

from 5278; pleasant; Noomi, an Israelitess:--Naomi.

see HEBREW for 05278

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נׇעֳמִי (no.o.mi) — Naomi.

A woman living before Israel's Monarchy, first mentioned at Rut.1.2; married to Elimelech (H0458);

mother of: Mahlon (H4248) and Chilion (H3630); also called Mara at Rut.1.20;

Also named: ma.ra (מָרָא "Mara" H4755)

§ Naomi = "my delight"

wife of Elimelech, mother of Mahlon and Chilion, and mother-in-law of Ruth and Orpah

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper feminine
HNpf
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

na'-o-mi, na-o'-mi, na-o'-mi (no`omi, probably equals "pleasantness"; Septuagint. Codex Vaticanus Noemein; Codex Alexandrinus Noemmei(n)): Wife of Elimelech and mother-in-law of Ru (Ru 1:2-4:17). She went with her husband to the land of Moab, and after his death returned to Bethlehem. When greeted on her return, she told the women of the town to call her, not no`omi ("pleasantness"), but marah ("bitterness"), "for," she said, "the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me." She advised Ru in her dealings with Boaz, and afterward nursed their child.ith Anaitis (equalsAnahita), the Asian Artemis. She was the Venus, but sometimes the Diana, of the Romans. There are many variants of the name: Anaea (Strabo xvi.738), Aneitis (Plut. Artax. xxvii), Tanais (Clement of Alexandria, loc. cit.), also Tanath, sometimes in Phoenician inscriptions…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Naomi

The lovable; my delight, the wife of Elimelech, and mother of Mahlon and Chilion, and mother-in-law of Ruth (1:2, 20, 21; 2:1). Elimelech and his wife left the district of Bethlehem-Judah, and found a new home in the uplands of Moab. In course of time he died, as also his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, who had married women of Moab, and three widows were left mourning the loss of their husbands. Naomi longs to return now to her own land, to Bethlehem. One of her widowed daughters-in-law, Ruth, accompanies her, and is at length married to Boaz (q.v.).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

or Nao’mi (my delight), the wife of Elimelech and mother-in-law of Ruth. (Ruth 1:2) etc.; Ruth 2:1 etc.; Ruth 3:1; 4:3 etc. (B.C. 1363.) The name is derived from a root signifying sweetness or pleasantness. Naomi left Judea with her husband and two sons, in a time of famine and went to the land of Moab. Here her husband and sons died; and on her return to Bethlehem she wished to be known as Mara, bitterness , instead of Naomi, sweetness.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Wife of Elimelech, and mother-in-law of Ruth. See RUTH.

and he said to the kinsman redeemer [the] portion of the field which [belonged] to brother our to Elimelech she has sold Naomi who returned from [the] region of Moab
הַשָּׁ֖בָהha.Sha.vah who returned H7725 Particle · verb qal perfect third person feminine singular
1,057× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to return or turn back, and can be used literally or figuratively. It is often used to describe someone returning to God or repenting from sin, as seen in the book of Psalms and the prophets.
Amplified meaning
come back, turned away
Tyndale gloss
to return: return
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שׁוּב (shuwb) means to turn back or return, covering a wide range of contexts including physical, spiritual, and relational. It can denote returning to a previous state, repenting, or even apostatizing. The entries describe various forms and uses, including bringing back, restoring, and refreshing. Notably, it can also imply a change in course of action.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שׁוּב 1056 vb. turn back, return

Qal 683;—turn back, return:

turn back

return, come or go back

esp. return unto

of dying

of revival from death

fig. of human relations:

return to leader, king

= change so as to appoach (in purpose, desire)

turn, i.e. resort to

return to a physical condition

abs. = change course of action

fig., specif. of spiritual relations:

turn back from God = apostatize

of י׳, turn away

turn back to God (= seek penitently)

abs. repent

turn back from evil

of י׳

of י׳, return (to shew favour)

of inanimate things (sts. personified, or treated as things of life):

denoting repetition, etc.

trans.

Pō‛l.

bring back

fig. restore, refresh

restore, repair

lead away (enticingly)

shew turning = apostatize

Hiph. 353 cause to return, bring back

bring back into bondage

put back

= draw back

= give back, restore

= relinguish

= give in payment, requital

bring one back (from dead)

bring back heart

= refresh

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Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7725 שׁוּב turn back, return .—turn back, return: . turn back

. return, come or go back

. esp. return unto

. . of dying

. of revival from death

. fig. of human relations: . return to leader, king

. = change so as to appoach (in purpose, desire)

. turn, i.e. resort to

. return to a physical condition

. abs. = change course of action

. fig., specif. of spiritual relations: . turn back from God = apostatize

. of י׳, turn away

. turn back to God (= seek penitently)

. abs. repent

. turn back from evil

. of י׳

. of י׳, return (to shew favour)

. of inanimate things (sts. personified, or treated as things of life):

. denoting repetition, etc.

. trans.

. . bring back

. . fig. restore, refresh

. restore, repair

. lead away (enticingly)

. shew turning = apostatize

. cause to return, bring back . . bring back into bondage

. put back

. = draw back

. = give back, restore

. = relinguish

. = give in payment, requital

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Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7725 shuwb shoob

a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or

intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily

with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to

retreat; often adverbial, again:--((break, build, circumcise,

dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge,

make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) X again, (cause to) answer

(+ again), X in any case (wise), X at all, averse, bring

(again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back),

cease, X certainly, come again (back), X consider, +

continually, convert, deliver (again), + deny, draw back,

fetch home again, X fro, get (oneself) (back) again, X give

(again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see)

more, X needs, be past, X pay, pervert, pull in again, put

(again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh,

relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve,

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Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שׁוּב (shuv) — to return: return.

: return

1) to return, turn back

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to turn back, return

1a1a) to turn back

1a1b) to return, come or go back

1a1c) to return unto, go back, come back

1a1d) of dying

1a1e) of human relations (fig)

1a1f) of spiritual relations (fig)

1a1f1) to turn back (from God), apostatise

1a1f2) to turn away (of God)

1a1f3) to turn back (to God), repent

1a1f4) turn back (from evil)

1a1g) of inanimate things

1a1h) in repetition

1b) (Polel)

1b1) to bring back

1b2) to restore, refresh, repair (fig)

1b3) to lead away (enticingly)

1b4) to show turning, apostatise

1c) (Pual) restored (participle)

1d) (Hiphil) to cause to return, bring back

1d1) to bring back, allow to return, put back, draw back, give back, restore, relinquish, give in payment

1d2) to bring back, refresh, restore

1d3) to bring back, report to, answer

1d4) to bring back, make requital, pay (as recompense)

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Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | V-Qal-Perf-3fs — Particle · verb qal perfect third person feminine singular
HTd/Vqp3fs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he said to the kinsman redeemer [the] portion of the field which [belonged] to brother our to Elimelech she has sold Naomi who returned from [the] region of Moab
מִשְּׂדֵ֥הmi.se.Deh from [the] region of H7704 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
334× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A field or land is what this word represents, often referring to a flat area of land used for cultivation or as a habitat for wild animals, as described in the book of Genesis. It can also mean a plain or a country, as opposed to a mountain or sea. This term is used in the story of Ruth and Boaz.
Amplified meaning
plot, parcel
Tyndale gloss
field
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׂדַי (saday) and שָׂדֶה (sadeh) both refer to a field or land, encompassing cultivated areas, open fields, and regions opposed to mountains or seas. The terms can denote specific portions of ground and are associated with wildlife habitats. They derive from a root meaning to spread out, indicating flat, expansive areas.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׂדַי n.m. field, land

cultivated field

home of wild beasts

plain, opp. mt.

land, opp. sea

base

שָׂדֶה 819 n.m. id. [u.ak.ab]

(ordinary contr. form)open field, country

definite portion of ground, field, land

land, opp. sea

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7704a שָׂדַי field, land . cultivated field

. home of wild beasts

. plain, opp. mt.

. land, opp. sea

H7704b שָׂדֶה id. [7704a] . open field, country

. definite portion of ground, field, land

. land, opp. sea

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7704 sadeh saw-deh'

or saday {saw-dah'-ee}; from an unused root meaning to spread

out; a field (as flat):--country, field, ground, land, soil,

X wild.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׂדַי (sa.day) — Sirion.

This name means field, land, plain

Another spelling of cher.mon (חֶרְמוֹן "(Mount )Hermon" H2768)

שָׂדֶה (sa.deh) — land: soil.

: soil

1) field, land

1a) open field, country

1b) definite portion of ground, field, land

1c) land (opposed to sea)

שָׂדֶה (sa.deh) — land: country.

: country/field

1) field, land

1a) open field, country

1b) definite portion of ground, field, land

1c) land (opposed to sea)

שָׂדֶה (sa.deh) — Field (of the Launderer).

Combined with ka.vas (כָּבַס "Washer's" H3526)

This name means field, land

שָׂדֶה (sa.deh) — land: wildlife.

: wild(animals/plants)

1) field, land

1a) open field, country

1b) definite portion of ground, field, land

1c) land (opposed to sea)

שָׂדַי (sa.day) — field.

1) field, land

1a) cultivated field

1b) of home of wild beasts

1c) plain (opposed to mountain)

1d) land (opposed to sea)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
HR/Ncmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

and he said to the kinsman redeemer [the] portion of the field which [belonged] to brother our to Elimelech she has sold Naomi who returned from [the] region of Moab
מוֹאָֽב׃mo.'Av Moab H4124 Noun proper
181× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Moab refers to the land and descendants of the son of Lot, who was born out of an incestuous relationship. The land of Moab is mentioned in the book of Numbers and the book of Ruth.
Amplified meaning
a land east of the Jordan
Tyndale gloss
(Plains of) Moab
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מוֹאָב (Moab) refers to both a person and a territory. It denotes Moab, the son of Lot by his eldest daughter, and the nation and land descended from him. The name means 'of his father,' highlighting the incestuous origins of Moab. The term appears in various contexts in the Old Testament, including references to the Moabites and their territory.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מוֹאָב, מֹאָב 180 n.pr.gent. et terr. Moab

Moab as son of Lot by his elder daughter

Moab:

= nation of which Lot’s son is represented as ancestor

= territory of Moab

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4124 מוֹאָב, מֹאָב Moab

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4124 Mow'ab mo-awb

from a prolonged form of the prepositional prefix m- and 1;

from (her (the mother's)) father; Moab, an incestuous son of

Lot; also his territory and descendants:--Moab.

see HEBREW for 01

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מוֹאָב (mo.av) — Moab.

Moab = "of his father"

the nation descended from the son of Lot

Also named: mo.a.vi (מוֹאָבִי "Moab" H4125)

מוֹאָב (mo.av) — Moab.

A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.19.37;

son of: Lot (H3876) and his first daughter (H3876H);

half-brother of Ben-ammi (H1151);

§ Moab = "of his father"

1) a son of Lot by his eldest daughter

2) the nation descended from the son of Lot

3) the land inhabited by the descendants of the son of Lot

מוֹאָב (mo.av) — (Plains of) Moab.

Combined with a.ra.vah (עֲרָבָה " Plains" H6160I)

§ Moab = "of his father"

the land inhabited by the descendants of the son of Lot

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpl
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Moab

The seed of the father, or, according to others, the desirable land, the eldest son of Lot (Gen. 19:37), of incestuous birth.

(2.) Used to denote the people of Moab (Num. 22:3-14; Judg. 3:30; 2 Sam. 8:2; Jer. 48:11, 13).

(3.) The land of Moab (Jer. 48:24), called also the “country of Moab” (Ruth 1:2, 6; 2:6), on the east of Jordan and the Dead Sea, and south of the Arnon (Num. 21:13, 26). In a wider sense it included the whole region that had been occupied by…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(of his father), Mo’abites. Moab was the son of the Lot’s eldest daughter, the progenitor of the Moabites. Zoar was the cradle of the race of Lot. From this centre the brother tribes spread themselves. The Moabites first inhabited the rich highlands which crown the eastern side of the chasm of the Dead Sea, extending as far north as the mountain of Gilead, from which country they expelled the Emims, the original inhabitants, (2:11) but they themselves were afterward driven southward by the warlike Amorites, who had crossed the Jordan, and were confined to the country south of the river Arnon, which formed their northern boundary. (Numbers 21:13; Judges 11:18) The territory occupied by Moab at the period of its greatest extent, before the invasion of the Amorites, divided itself…

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

of his father

Nave's Topical Bible

1. Son of Lot Ge 19:37

2. Plains of

Israelites come in De 2:17,18

Military forces numbered in Nu 26:3,63

The law rehearsed in, by Moses Nu 35; 36; De 29; 30; 31; 32; 33

The Israelites renew their covenant in De 29:1

The land of promise allotted in Jos 13:32

Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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