Chapter 4

Drafted by Grok 4.7 on 8 October 2026. First draft. Not independently reviewed. Hebrew. The continuous copy is the Leningrad Codex, through the Open Scriptures diplomatic text. Dead Sea fragments of Ruth were not used to replace any line, because they do not supply a continuous earlier text for this draft.

1Boaz went up to the gate and sat there. The redeemer he had spoken about came by. Boaz said, “Turn aside and sit here, So-and-so.” He turned aside and sat.

Notes (1)

Translation
Peloni almoni is a formula that withholds the man’s name. “So-and-so” is the English. The story never gives him a name.

2He took ten men from the elders of the town and said, “Sit here.” They sat.

3He said to the redeemer, “Naomi, who came back from the countryside of Moab, is selling the piece of field that belonged to our brother Elimelech.

Notes (1)

Translation
Makherah can be “is selling” or “has sold.” The scene is an offer of redemption now, so “is selling” is printed. “Has sold” is the live alternative.

4I thought I should tell you plainly: buy it, in front of the people sitting here and in front of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it. If he will not redeem it, tell me, so that I know. There is no one to redeem it except you, and I am next after you.” He said, “I will redeem it.”

Notes (2)

Translation
“Tell you plainly” is the idiom “uncover your ear.” The idiom is not printed in the line.
Text
The written verb is third person, “if he will not redeem.” The man is being spoken to, so a second person would be smoother. This open copy does not mark a reading “if you will not.” The third person is printed. A small written form “and I will know” is read by the Masoretes as “and let me know.” “So that I know” covers both.

5Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from Naomi’s hand, I acquire Ruth the Moabite, the dead man’s wife, in order to raise up the dead man’s name over his inheritance.”

Notes (1)

Text
Leningrad writes qaniti, “I acquire.” The Masoretic reading is qanita, “you acquire.” The written “I” is printed. The reading tradition would put the duty on the nearer redeemer: when he buys the field, he also acquires Ruth. No Dead Sea copy of this verse was available to replace either form. The departure is not made. The next verses show the nearer man refusing, and Boaz acquiring both the field and Ruth.

6The redeemer said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, or I will damage my own inheritance. You take my right of redemption. I cannot redeem it.”

Notes (1)

Translation
The verse says he would damage his inheritance. It does not say how. No explanation is added. A spelling difference on “to redeem” does not change the sense.

7This is how it used to be done in Israel, in cases of redemption and exchange, to settle any matter: a man would pull off his sandal and give it to the other person. That was the confirmation in Israel.

8The redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it yourself.” And he pulled off his sandal.

Notes (1)

Text
The Hebrew does not name whose hand pulled the sandal. The previous verse’s custom is that a man gives his own sandal to the other party. The nearest subject is the redeemer.

9Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I have bought from Naomi’s hand everything that belonged to Elimelech, and everything that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon.

10And I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, Mahlon’s wife, as my wife, to raise up the dead man’s name over his inheritance, so that the dead man’s name is not cut off from among his brothers or from the gate of his place. You are witnesses today.”

Notes (1)

Text
This is the first verse that says Mahlon, not Chilion, was Ruth’s husband. The earlier chapters do not assign her to one brother. The English does not add that assignment before this verse.

11All the people at the gate, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. May Yahweh make the woman who is coming into your house like Rachel and Leah, the two who built up the house of Israel. May you gain standing in Ephrathah, and make a name in Bethlehem.

Notes (1)

Translation
“Gain standing” is hayil again, the word used of Boaz and of Ruth. Ephrathah is the older name tied to Bethlehem.

12And may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, through the children Yahweh gives you from this young woman.”

13Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. He slept with her. Yahweh gave her a pregnancy, and she gave birth to a son.

Notes (1)

Translation
“He slept with her” is wayyabo eleha, “he came to her,” the ordinary Hebrew way of saying they had sex.

14The women said to Naomi, “Blessed be Yahweh, who has not left you without a redeemer today. May his name be spoken in Israel.

Notes (1)

Translation
The redeemer in this blessing can be the child, or Boaz. The verse does not say which. The next verse talks about the child. No choice is forced into the line.

15He will bring your life back and look after you in your old age, because your daughter-in-law, who loves you, has borne him. What she is for you is more than seven sons would be.”

16Naomi took the child, held him to her chest, and became his caregiver.

Notes (1)

Translation
Omenet is a woman who supports and looks after a child, a nurse or guardian. “Caregiver” is printed. The verse does not say she nursed him at the breast.

17The neighbor women gave him a name. They said, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

18These are the generations of Perez. Perez fathered Hezron.

19Hezron fathered Ram, and Ram fathered Amminadab.

20Amminadab fathered Nahshon, and Nahshon fathered Salmah.

Notes (1)

Text
Verse 20 writes Salmah. Verse 21 writes Salmon. The English keeps both spellings. They are the same man in the list. No harmonized spelling is chosen.

21Salmon fathered Boaz, and Boaz fathered Obed.

22Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.

Chapter 4

1Boaz went up to the gate and sat there. The redeemer he had spoken about came by. Boaz said, “Turn aside and sit here, So-and-so.” He turned aside and sat.

Notes (1)

Translation
Peloni almoni is a formula that withholds the man’s name. “So-and-so” is the English. The story never gives him a name.

2He took ten men from the elders of the town and said, “Sit here.” They sat.

3He said to the redeemer, “Naomi, who came back from the countryside of Moab, is selling the piece of field that belonged to our brother Elimelech.

Notes (1)

Translation
Makherah can be “is selling” or “has sold.” The scene is an offer of redemption now, so “is selling” is printed. “Has sold” is the live alternative.

Notes (2)

Translation
“Tell you plainly” is the idiom “uncover your ear.” The idiom is not printed in the line.
Text
The written verb is third person, “if he will not redeem.” The man is being spoken to, so a second person would be smoother. This open copy does not mark a reading “if you will not.” The third person is printed. A small written form “and I will know” is read by the Masoretes as “and let me know.” “So that I know” covers both.

5Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from Naomi’s hand, I acquire Ruth the Moabite, the dead man’s wife, in order to raise up the dead man’s name over his inheritance.”

Notes (1)

Text
Leningrad writes qaniti, “I acquire.” The Masoretic reading is qanita, “you acquire.” The written “I” is printed. The reading tradition would put the duty on the nearer redeemer: when he buys the field, he also acquires Ruth. No Dead Sea copy of this verse was available to replace either form. The departure is not made. The next verses show the nearer man refusing, and Boaz acquiring both the field and Ruth.

6The redeemer said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, or I will damage my own inheritance. You take my right of redemption. I cannot redeem it.”

Notes (1)

Translation
The verse says he would damage his inheritance. It does not say how. No explanation is added. A spelling difference on “to redeem” does not change the sense.

8The redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it yourself.” And he pulled off his sandal.

Notes (1)

Text
The Hebrew does not name whose hand pulled the sandal. The previous verse’s custom is that a man gives his own sandal to the other party. The nearest subject is the redeemer.

Notes (1)

Text
This is the first verse that says Mahlon, not Chilion, was Ruth’s husband. The earlier chapters do not assign her to one brother. The English does not add that assignment before this verse.

Notes (1)

Translation
“Gain standing” is hayil again, the word used of Boaz and of Ruth. Ephrathah is the older name tied to Bethlehem.

12And may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, through the children Yahweh gives you from this young woman.”

13Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. He slept with her. Yahweh gave her a pregnancy, and she gave birth to a son.

Notes (1)

Translation
“He slept with her” is wayyabo eleha, “he came to her,” the ordinary Hebrew way of saying they had sex.

14The women said to Naomi, “Blessed be Yahweh, who has not left you without a redeemer today. May his name be spoken in Israel.

Notes (1)

Translation
The redeemer in this blessing can be the child, or Boaz. The verse does not say which. The next verse talks about the child. No choice is forced into the line.

15He will bring your life back and look after you in your old age, because your daughter-in-law, who loves you, has borne him. What she is for you is more than seven sons would be.”

16Naomi took the child, held him to her chest, and became his caregiver.

Notes (1)

Translation
Omenet is a woman who supports and looks after a child, a nurse or guardian. “Caregiver” is printed. The verse does not say she nursed him at the breast.

17The neighbor women gave him a name. They said, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

18These are the generations of Perez. Perez fathered Hezron.

19Hezron fathered Ram, and Ram fathered Amminadab.

20Amminadab fathered Nahshon, and Nahshon fathered Salmah.

Notes (1)

Text
Verse 20 writes Salmah. Verse 21 writes Salmon. The English keeps both spellings. They are the same man in the list. No harmonized spelling is chosen.

21Salmon fathered Boaz, and Boaz fathered Obed.

22Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.