Themes

The kinsman-redeemer

In Israel, the closest relative had a duty to rescue family members and family land. The Hebrew word is go’el, and the book of Ruth turns on it.

Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld- Ruth im Feld des Boaz — Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld. Public domain. Image credits

Key verse

The women said to Naomi, “Blessed be Yahweh, who has not left you today without a near kinsman. Let his name be famous in Israel.”

Ruth 4:14

World English Bible (public domain)

What a go’el did

A go’el was the close relative responsible for buying back family land that had been sold and for caring for a widow so the family line would not die out. The same family duty sits behind the “avenger of blood” in the law of the cities of refuge.

Boaz and the nearer relative

In Ruth 4 a nearer relative has the first right, but backs out when he learns that marrying Ruth could hurt his own inheritance. Boaz pays the cost freely.

A picture of Christ

Christian readers have long seen Boaz as a picture of Christ, the Redeemer who pays the price for people who cannot buy themselves back.

The culture behind the text

Kinsman-redeemer and the sandalA go'el (redeemer) was the close relative responsible for buying back family land and caring for a widow. The nearer relative backs out because marrying Ruth could hurt his own inheritance. Handing over a sandal sealed the deal, since walking the land showed ownership. Boaz pays the cost freely, a picture of Christ our Redeemer.Ruth 4:1-10; Leviticus 25:25; Deuteronomy 25:9

From Moab to DavidRuth ends with a genealogy to David, showing that Israel's great king had a Moabite great-grandmother. Matthew lists Ruth among the women in Jesus' family line, a sign that the gospel was always meant for the nations.Ruth 4:17-22; Matthew 1:5

Muzzling the ox and the levirate sandalLetting an ox eat while it threshed was basic fairness; Paul applies it to paying ministers. In the same chapter, a man who refused levirate duty had his sandal pulled off and was spat on in public. It was a shame ritual that connects to Ruth 4.Deuteronomy 25:4-10; 1 Corinthians 9:9

JubileeEvery fiftieth year, land returned to the original family and Israelite slaves went free. Land was God's; Israel only held it as tenants. Jesus' first sermon in Luke uses Jubilee language for his mission.Leviticus 25:10, 25:23; Luke 4:18-19

Study notes

Kinsman-redeemer · Ruth 2:20Go'el, a relative responsible for rescuing family members and land.Removing a sandal · Ruth 4:7Pulling off a sandal and handing it over confirmed a transfer of property rights in Israel.

Key passages

Leviticus 25:25The near kinsman redeems the land Deuteronomy 25:5-10The levirate duty and the sandal Ruth 4:1-10Boaz redeems at the gate

How the Bible connects it

Every cross-reference in Lampstead says why it’s linked. A few from this page:

Leviticus 25:25 → Ruth 2:20Why: Boaz acts as the near kinsman described hereNaomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by Yahweh, who has not abandoned his kindness to the living and to the dead.” Naomi said to her, “The man is a close relative to us, one of our near kinsmen.”Leviticus 25:25 → Jeremiah 32:7-8Why: Jeremiah redeems his cousin's field‘Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle will come to you, saying, “Buy my field that is in Anathoth; for the right of redemption is yours to buy it.”’” “So Hanamel my uncle’s son came to me in the court of the guard according to Yahweh’s word, and said to me, ‘Please buy my field that is in Anathoth, which is in the land of Benjamin; for the right of inheritance is yours, and the redemption is yours. Buy it for yourself.’ “Then I knew that this was Yahweh’s word.”Leviticus 25:25 → Ruth 3:12Why: Boaz notes a nearer kinsman, as this law providesNow it is true that I am a near kinsman. However, there is a kinsman nearer than I.Leviticus 25:25 → Ruth 3:9Why: Ruth asks Boaz to redeemHe said, “Who are you?” She answered, “I am Ruth your servant. Therefore spread the corner of your garment over your servant; for you are a near kinsman.”Ruth 4:4 → Leviticus 25:25-29Why: The nearest relative has the right to redeem a poor kinsman's land“‘If your brother becomes poor, and sells some of his possessions, then his kinsman who is next to him shall come, and redeem that which his brother has sold …Ruth 4:4 → Jeremiah 32:7-12Why: Jeremiah redeems a relative's field‘Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle will come to you, saying, “Buy my field that is in Anathoth; for the right of redemption is yours to buy it …

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Sources behind these notes: Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897), "Goel"; Keil & Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament (1866–91). Bible text: World English Bible (public domain).