The Meaning of Ruth 4:4 Explained

Ruth 4:4

KJV: And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.

YLT: and I said, I uncover thine ear, saying, Buy before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people; if thou dost redeem -- redeem, and if none doth redeem -- declare to me, and I know, for there is none save thee to redeem, and I after thee.' And he saith, I redeem it.'

Darby: And I thought I would apprise thee of it and say, Buy it in the presence of the inhabitants, and in the presence of the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem; but if thou wilt not redeem, tell me, that I may know; for there is none to redeem besides thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.

ASV: And I thought to disclose it unto thee, saying, Buy it before them that sit here, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know; for there is none to redeem it besides thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And I thought  to advertise  thee, saying,  Buy  [it] before the inhabitants,  and before the elders  of my people.  If thou wilt redeem  [it], redeem  [it]: but if thou wilt not redeem  [it, then] tell  me, that I may know:  for [there is] none to redeem  [it] beside  thee; and I [am] after  thee. And he said,  I will redeem  [it]. 

What does Ruth 4:4 Mean?

Study Notes

redeem
Heb. "goel," Redemp. (Kinsman type).
Redeemer
Redemption: Kinsman type, summary. The goel, or Kinsman-Redeemer, is a beautiful type of Christ.
(1) The kinsman redemption was of persons, and an inheritance Leviticus 25:48 ; Leviticus 25:25 ; Galatians 4:5 ; Ephesians 1:7 ; Ephesians 1:11 ; Ephesians 1:14
(2) The Redeemer must be a kinsman Leviticus 25:48 ; Leviticus 25:49 ; Ruth 3:12 ; Ruth 3:13 ; Galatians 4:4 ; Hebrews 2:14 ; Hebrews 2:15 .
(3) The Redeemer must be able to redeem Ruth 4:4-6 ; Jeremiah 50:34 ; John 10:11 ; John 10:18
(4) Redemption is effected by the goel paying the just demand in full Leviticus 25:27 ; 1 Peter 1:18 ; 1 Peter 1:19 ; Galatians 3:13 . (See Scofield " Exodus 14:30 ") See Scofield " Romans 3:24 "
come to Zion
The time when the "Redeemer shall come to Zion" is fixed, relatively, by Romans 11:23-29 as following the completion of the Gentile Church. That is also the order of the great dispensational passage, Acts 15:14-17 .
In both, the return of the Lord to Zion follows the outcalling of the Church.
come to Zion
The time when the "Redeemer shall come to Zion" is fixed, relatively, by Romans 11:23-29 as following the completion of the Gentile Church. That is also the order of the great dispensational passage, Acts 15:14-17 .
In both, the return of the Lord to Zion follows the outcalling of the Church.

Context Summary

Rth 4:1-22 - In The Line Of David's Ancestry
We are admitted here to a graphic picture of the old world. Men's memories were longer and stronger than ours: and what was done publicly in the Gate, the place of public concourse, had the seal of permanence irrevocably attached to it. The transference of the shoe indicated the inferior position of woman, though she was honored in Israel more than in the neighboring nations.
What a happy ending! The gleaner need never again tread the fields, following the reaper's footsteps. All the broad acres were now hers, since she had become one with the owner. When we are one with Christ, we no longer work for redemption; but being redeemed, we bring forth fruit unto God, Romans 7:4. The curtain falls on a blessed group. The tiny babe lies on Naomi's bosom. The women who had gone together into the valley of the shadow of death stand together in the light of the mountain-top. God turns mourning into gladness, Psalms 30:11. And let us Gentiles learn that we too have a part in Christ. In Him is neither Jew nor Greek, Colossians 3:11 [source]

Chapter Summary: Rth 4

1  Boaz calls into judgment the next kinsman
6  He refuses the redemption according to the manner in Israel
9  Boaz buys the inheritance
11  He marries Ruth
13  She bears Obed, the grandfather of David
18  The generations of Pharez unto David

What do the individual words in Ruth 4:4 mean?

and I thought to inform you saying Buy [it] back in presence the of the inhabitants and the elders of my people If you will redeem [it] redeem [it] but if not you will redeem [it] [then] tell me - that I may know for [there is] no one but you to redeem [it] and I [am] next after you and he said I will redeem [it]
וַאֲנִ֨י אָמַ֜רְתִּי אֶגְלֶ֧ה אָזְנְךָ֣ לֵאמֹ֗ר קְ֠נֵה נֶ֥גֶד הַֽיֹּשְׁבִים֮ וְנֶ֣גֶד זִקְנֵ֣י עַמִּי֒ אִם־ תִּגְאַל֙ גְּאָ֔ל וְאִם־ לֹ֨א יִגְאַ֜ל הַגִּ֣ידָה לִּ֗י [ואדע] (וְאֵֽדְעָה֙) כִּ֣י אֵ֤ין זוּלָֽתְךָ֙ לִגְא֔וֹל וְאָנֹכִ֖י אַחֲרֶ֑יךָ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אָנֹכִ֥י אֶגְאָֽל

וַאֲנִ֨י  and  I 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אֲנִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
אָמַ֜רְתִּי  thought 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֶגְלֶ֧ה  to  inform 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: גָּלָה  
Sense: to uncover, remove.
לֵאמֹ֗ר  saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
קְ֠נֵה  Buy  [it]  back 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: קָנָה 
Sense: to get, acquire, create, buy, possess.
נֶ֥גֶד  in  presence  the 
Parse: Preposition
Root: נֶגֶד  
Sense: what is conspicuous, what is in front of adv.
הַֽיֹּשְׁבִים֮  of  the  inhabitants 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
זִקְנֵ֣י  the  elders 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural construct
Root: זָקֵן  
Sense: old.
עַמִּי֒  of  my  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
תִּגְאַל֙  you  will  redeem  [it] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: גְּאוּלִים 
Sense: to redeem, act as kinsman-redeemer, avenge, revenge, ransom, do the part of a kinsman.
גְּאָ֔ל  redeem  [it] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: גְּאוּלִים 
Sense: to redeem, act as kinsman-redeemer, avenge, revenge, ransom, do the part of a kinsman.
וְאִם־  but  if 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
יִגְאַ֜ל  you  will  redeem  [it] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: גְּאוּלִים 
Sense: to redeem, act as kinsman-redeemer, avenge, revenge, ransom, do the part of a kinsman.
הַגִּ֣ידָה  [then]  tell 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: נָגַד  
Sense: to be conspicuous, tell, make known.
לִּ֗י  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
[ואדע]  - 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual, first person common singular
(וְאֵֽדְעָה֙)  that  I  may  know 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative, first person common singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
אֵ֤ין  [there  is]  no  one 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
זוּלָֽתְךָ֙  but  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: זוּלָה  
Sense: a removal, a putting away prep.
לִגְא֔וֹל  to  redeem  [it] 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: גְּאוּלִים 
Sense: to redeem, act as kinsman-redeemer, avenge, revenge, ransom, do the part of a kinsman.
וְאָנֹכִ֖י  and  I  [am] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אָנׄכִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
אַחֲרֶ֑יךָ  next  after  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
וַיֹּ֖אמֶר  and  he  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֶגְאָֽל  will  redeem  [it] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: גְּאוּלִים 
Sense: to redeem, act as kinsman-redeemer, avenge, revenge, ransom, do the part of a kinsman.