Ruth 4:8 — Word Study
WLCוַיֹּ֧אמֶר הַגֹּאֵ֛ל לְבֹ֖עַז קְנֵה־ לָ֑ךְ וַיִּשְׁלֹ֖ף נַעֲלֽוֹ׃
BSASo the kinsman-redeemergâʼal [family redeemer, near relative] removedshâlaph▸ his sandalnaʻal [shoe] and saidʼâmar▸ to BoazBôʻaz [the ancestor of King David] Buy [it]qânâh [acquire, redeem]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיֹּ֧אמֶר | and he said | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| הַגֹּאֵ֛ל | the kinsman-redeemer | Particle, verb qal participle (active) masculine singular |
| לְבֹ֖עַז | to Boaz | Preposition, noun proper masculine |
| קְנֵה־ | acquire [it] | Verb, Qal, imperative second person masculine singular |
| לָ֑ךְ | for yourself | Preposition, suffix |
| וַיִּשְׁלֹ֖ף | and he took off | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| נַעֲלֽוֹ׃ | sandal his | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | So the kinsman-redeemer removed his sandal and said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.” |
| KJV | Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe. |
| ASV | So the near kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thyself. And he drew off his shoe. |
| YLT | And the redeemer saith to Boaz, 'Buy [it] for thyself,' and draweth off his sandal. |
| WEB | So the near kinsman said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” then he took off his sandal. |
| BBE | So the near relation said to Boaz, Take it for yourself. And he took off his shoe. |
Where they part company is גָּאַל — see How Translations Differ.
The main action is the removal of the sandal, with the speech act following it, emphasizing the legal significance of the gesture.
4 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them ›
clause
verbאָמַר
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
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 4:8
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 Process in Ruthgenerated
Ruth 4:8 describes a significant moment in the redemption process, where the kinsman-redeemer formally agrees to acquire property and marry Ruth, ensuring the continuation of her deceased husband's lineage. This act is rooted in the customs of Israel, where the removal of a sandal signifies the transfer of rights and responsibilities, as noted in the preceding verse.
Cross References
The Key Word — גָּאַל, ha.go.'Elgenerated
The Hebrew verb גָּאַל (ga'al) means to redeem, particularly in the context of familial obligations. It encompasses the act of buying back property or marrying a relative's widow, ensuring the preservation of family lines and inheritance.
This word emphasizes the importance of kinship and the responsibilities that come with it. In this verse, it highlights the kinsman-redeemer's role in fulfilling these obligations, as he commits to acquiring the land and marrying Ruth.
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 יֹּ֧אמֶר, he said, governs the entire sentence, with two actions following: the removal of the sandal and the command to Boaz. This structure emphasizes the kinsman-redeemer's declaration and his subsequent action.
The order of the Hebrew words places the emphasis on the kinsman-redeemer's actions, highlighting the significance of his verbal commitment followed by the physical act of removing his sandal.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the kinsman-redeemer is rendered as ἀγξιστεὺς, which carries the meaning of a redeemer or one who acts on behalf of another, aligning with the Hebrew concept of גָּאַל.
The choice of κτῆσαι for the act of acquiring suggests a broader interpretation of ownership and possession, emphasizing the significance of the transaction in a legal context.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Ruth 4:8 describes how the kinsman-redeemer removes his sandal to signify the transfer of property rights to Boaz. This act is a formal part of the redemption process, ensuring that Ruth's deceased husband’s lineage continues.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Removing the sandal symbolizes the formal agreement to transfer property rights, a customary practice in ancient Israel.
The kinsman-redeemer plays a crucial role in preserving family lineage and property, ensuring that relatives are cared for in times of need.
Boaz was a relative of Ruth's deceased husband and acted as her kinsman-redeemer, agreeing to marry her and redeem her late husband's property.
This verse illustrates the concept of redemption as a means of restoring relationships and property, a theme that resonates throughout the biblical narrative.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does the act of redemption mean in my own life and relationships?
- How can I support others in their times of need, similar to how Boaz supported Ruth?
- What responsibilities do I have towards my family and community, and how can I fulfill them?
- In what ways can I reflect the principles of redemption in my daily actions?
Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Ruth 4:8 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, buy it for me,.... Which is repeated to show he gave his full consent to it, that he should make the purchase of it if he pleased, and which he confirmed by
Read John Gill on Ruth 4 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryTherefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe. No JFB commentary on this verse.
Read Robert Jamieson on Ruth 4 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsRth 4:8 Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy [it] for thee. So he drew off his shoe.Ver. 8. So he drew off his shoe.] See Rth 4:7. Answerable hereunto is that custom amongst us, of giving possession by turf and twig, by taking up a piece of earth and laying it upon the deed or writing, &c.
Read John Trapp on Ruth 4 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(8) Drew.—The same word in the Hebrew as plucked in Rth 4:7.
Read Charles John Ellicott 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
So the kinsman-redeemer removed his sandal and said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.”
So the near kinsman said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” then he took off his sandal.
So the kinsman-redeemer removed his sandal and said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.”
So the guardian said to Boaz, “You may acquire it,” and he removed his sandal.
Tyndale line
Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe.
So the near kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thyself. And he drew off his shoe.
So the near kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thyself. And he drew off his shoe.
Therefore the kinsman said to Boaz, Buy it for thyself. So he drew off his shoe.
Therefore the kinsman sayd to Boas, Buy it for thee: and he drew off his shooe.
Strictly literal
And he that had the right of redemption said to Boaz, Buy for thyself; and he drew off his sandal.
And the redeemer saith to Boaz, 'Buy [it] for thyself,' and draweth off his sandal.
And the redeemer says to Boaz, “Buy [it] for yourself,” and draws off his sandal.
Thereupon said the kinsman unto Bo'az, Buy it for thee. And he pulled off his shoe.
So the near kinsman said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” and he took off his sandal.
From the Latin
So Booz said to his kinsman: Put off thy shoe. And immediately he took it off from his foot.
Simplified
So the family redeemer took off his sandal and told Boaz, “You buy it.”
So the near relation said to Boaz, Take it for yourself. And he took off his shoe.
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.
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 agree on the wording of this verse, with all seven words matched. This consistency underscores the importance of the kinsman-redeemer's role and the legal customs of property redemption in ancient Israel.
וַיֹּ֧אמֶר הַגֹּאֵ֛ל לְבֹ֖עַז קְנֵה־ לָ֑ךְ וַיִּשְׁלֹ֖ף נַעֲלֽוֹ׃
7 of the 7 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.
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.
Lexicons — every word in Ruth 4:8
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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)
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqw3ms
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.
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
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
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.
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
Art | V-Qal — Particle · verb qal participle (active) masculine singularHTd/Vqrmsa
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.)
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…
בֹּ֫עַז (Boaz) refers to a man from the tribe of Judah, known as the kinsman-redeemer of Ruth, and is also the name of a pillar in Solomon's temple. The word may imply 'quickness,' though its exact meaning is uncertain. Boaz is first mentioned in the Book of Ruth and is noted as an ancestor of David.
בֹּ֫עַז n.pr.m. (quickness?)—kinsman of Naomi, who married Ruth
name of the left hand of two pillars set up before temple
base
H1162 בֹּ֫עַז (quickness?) . kinsman of Naomi, who married Ruth
. name of the left hand of two pillars set up before temple
1162 Bo`az bo'-az
from an unused root of uncertain meaning; Boaz, the ancestor
of David; also the name of a pillar in front of the
temple:--Boaz.
בֹּ֫עַז (bo.az) — Boaz.
A man of the tribe of Judah living before Israel's Monarchy, first mentioned at Rut.2.1;
son of: Salmon (H8007) and Rahab (H7343); married to Ruth (H7327);
father of: Obed (H5744)
Also named: Booz (Βοόζ "Boaz" G1003)
§ Boaz = "fleetness"
1) ancestor of David, kinsman-redeemer to Ruth, daughter-in-law of Naomi
2) name of the left of two brazen pillars, 18 cubits high, erected in the porch of Solomon's temple
בֹּ֫עַז (bo.az) — Boaz.
§ Boaz = "fleetness"
name of the left of two brazen pillars, 18 cubits high, erected in the porch of Solomon's temple
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun proper masculineHR/Npm
bo'-az (bo`az; Booz; "quickness" (?) Ru 2-4; 1Ch 2:11,12; Mt 1:5; Lu 3:32):
(1) A resident of Bethlehem and kinsman of Elimelech, Naomi's husband. In Ru 2:1 he is described as a gibbor chayil, a phrase which can mean either "a mighty man of valor" or else "a man of position and wealth." The latter is probably the sense in which the phrase is applied to Boaz (compare 1Sa 9:1). He had fields outside the town, and to them Ru went to glean. Boaz noticed her and extended special kindness and protection to her, bidding her remain with his female workers, and charging the men not to illtreat her, and also giving her of the reapers'…
Boaz
Alacrity. (1.) The husband of Ruth, a wealthy Bethlehemite. By the “levirate law” the duty devolved on him of marrying Ruth the Moabitess (Ruth 4:1-13). He was a kinsman of Mahlon, her first husband.
(2.) The name given (for what reason is unknown) to one of the two (the other was called Jachin) brazen pillars which Solomon erected in the court of the temple (1 Kings 7:21; 2 Chr. 3:17). These pillars were broken up and carried to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar.
(fleetness). A wealthy Bethlehemite kinsman to Elimelech the husband of Naomi. He married Ruth, and redeemed the estates of her deceased husband Mahlon. (Ruth 4:1) Boaz is mentioned in the genealogy of Christ, (Matthew 1:5) (B.C. 1250, but there is great difficulty in assigning his date.) The name of one of Solomon’s brazen pillars erected in the temple porch. [JACHIN] It stood on the left, and was eighteen cubits high. (1 Kings 7:15; 21; 2 Chronicles 3:15; Jeremiah 52:21)
Ru 2:1, a wealthy Bethlehemite, a descendant of Judah, through whom is traced the regular succession of Jewish kings, Mt 1:5. His conduct in the case of Ruth proves him to have been a man of fine spirit and of strict integrity. He admitted the claim which Ruth had upon him as a near kinsman: under the obligations of the Levitical law, he married the poor gleaner, and thus became one of the ancestors of David, and also of David’s Son and Lord. He was the father of Obed, Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse of David. The whole narrative is a beautiful picture of the simplicity of the age, when artificial courtesies had not usurped the place of natural and sincere expressions of love.
The Hebrew word קָנָה (*qanah*) primarily means to get, acquire, or buy. It can also imply creating or procuring something, often in a poetic context. The entries indicate various usages, including God acquiring His people and Eve acquiring knowledge. There is an Aramaic equivalent, קְנָא (*qe.na*), which also means 'to buy.'
קָנָה 84 vb. get, acquire
Qal 81
get, acquire (all poet.)
elsewhere buy
Niph. be bought
Hiph. caused (one) to purchase me, i.e. made me a bondman
base
H7069 קָנָה get, acquire .. get, acquire (all poet.)
. elsewhere buy
. be bought
. caused (one) to purchase me, i.e. made me a bondman
7069 qanah kaw-naw'
a primitive root; to erect, i.e. create; by extension, to
procure, especially by purchase (causatively, sell); by
implication to own:--attain, buy(-er), teach to keep cattle,
get, provoke to jealousy, possess(-or), purchase, recover,
redeem, X surely, X verily.
קָנָה (qa.nah) — to buy.
1) to get, acquire, create, buy, possess
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to get, acquire, obtain
1a1a) of God originating, creating, redeeming His people
1a1a1) possessor
1a1b) of Eve acquiring
1a1c) of acquiring knowledge, wisdom
1a2) to buy
1b) (Niphal) to be bought
1c) (Hiphil) to cause to possess
Aramaic equivalent: qe.na (קְנָא "to buy" H7066)
V-Qal-Impv-2ms — Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine singularHVqv2ms
ךְ (kh) — you.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 2nd person feminine singular
HRd/Sp2ms — Preposition · suffixHRd/Sp2ms
The Hebrew word שָׁלַף (*shalaph*) is a primitive root meaning to draw out, off, or to pull up. It encompasses actions such as drawing off or plucking, and can also refer to growth, like a blade of grass shooting up. The entries consistently highlight these meanings without significant disagreement.
שָׁלַף vb. draw out, off
base
H8025 שָׁלַף draw out, off
8025 shalaph saw-laf'
a primitive root; to pull out, up or off:--draw (off), grow
up, pluck off.
שָׁלַף (sha.laph) — to draw.
1) to draw out or off, take off
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to draw out
1a2) to draw off
1a3) to shoot up, draw out (of blade of grass on roof)
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqw3ms
נַ֫עַל (na`al) refers to a sandal or shoe, derived from a root meaning related to a sandal tongue. The term can also symbolize occupancy, a refusal to marry, or something of little value. It appears in contexts discussing footwear, as noted in the Brown-Driver-Briggs and Strong's entries.
נַ֫עַל n.f. sandal, shoe
base
H5275 נַ֫עַל sandal, shoe
5275 na`al nah'-al
or (feminine) na;alah {nah-al-aw'}; from 5274; properly, a
sandal tongue; by extens. a sandal or slipper (sometimes as a
symbol of occupancy, a refusal to marry, or of something
valueless):--dryshod, (pair of) shoe((-latchet), -s).
see HEBREW for 05274
נַ֫עַל (na.al) — sandal.
sandal, shoe
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp3ms