Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.
RUTH 4:5KJVWhat does Ruth 4:5 mean?
Ruth 4:5 means that Boaz tells the other relative that buying Naomi’s land also includes taking Ruth, the Moabite widow, as a wife in order to carry on her late husband’s family line and inheritance. This was part of the custom to make sure the name and property of the deceased would not disappear from Israel.
In this scene, Boaz is speaking to a closer relative at the town gate, where legal matters were settled. Boaz explains that redeeming (buying back) Naomi’s land comes with the responsibility to marry Ruth, “the Moabitess,” so that her deceased husband’s name would continue. This makes clear that the transaction is not just about property, but about preserving family heritage and caring for both Naomi and Ruth.
The Hebrew behind Ruth 4:5
- "buyest" (קָנָה, qanah): This word means to acquire or purchase. Boaz uses it to show that redeeming the land is a legal act, not just a casual favor.
- "raise up" (קוּם, qum): This word means to establish or set up. Here, it refers to continuing the deceased man’s family line through Ruth, highlighting the duty to preserve his name.
- "name" (שֵׁם, shem): In Hebrew culture, a person’s name represented their identity and legacy. Boaz stresses that the goal is to keep the deceased’s name alive within his inheritance.
Why Ruth 4:5 matters
- Ruth 4:5 clarifies that redeeming the land is inseparable from marrying Ruth, which might not have been obvious to the other relative or to readers unfamiliar with Israelite customs.
- The verse emphasizes the importance of family loyalty and the lengths to which the community would go to protect a family’s name and inheritance.
- Ruth 4:5 connects the story to the wider biblical theme of redemption, showing how personal sacrifice and responsibility were woven into Israel’s laws and traditions.