Ruthchapter 4
22 verses · BSBRuth book hub →
Original Language
Ruth 4— Hebrew word study · with the Hebrew tradition
How to read a word below: the Hebrewword, then how it sounds, then what it means, then its number in Strong’s concordance, a widely used lookup this site follows (H for Hebrew and Aramaic, G for Greek). Square brackets hold a word the English supplies that the Hebrew does not, angle brackets mark the Hebrew’s own grammatical elements that English renders as separate words, and the mark ס or פ is where the Hebrew manuscripts end a paragraph.
The nearer kinsman and the loosened shoe1
Ruth 4:1· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וּבֹ֨עַזuvoazand BoazH1162עָלָ֣הʾalahhe went upH5927הַשַּׁעַר֮hashaarthe gateH8179וַיֵּ֣שֶׁבvaiyeshevand he sat downH3427שָׁם֒shamthereH8033וְהִנֵּ֨הvehinehand there!H2009הַגֹּאֵ֤לhagoelthe kinsman-redeemerH1350עֹבֵר֙ʾover[was] passing byH5674אֲשֶׁ֣רʾasherwhomH834דִּבֶּר־diber-he had spokenH1696בֹּ֔עַזboazBoazH1162וַיֹּ֛אמֶרvaiyomerand he saidH559ס֥וּרָהsurahturn aside !H5493שְׁבָה־shevah-sit !H3427פֹּ֖הpohhereH6311פְּלֹנִ֣יpelonia certain oneH6423אַלְמֹנִ֑יʾalmonia certain oneH492וַיָּ֖סַרvaiyasarand he turned asideH5493וַיֵּשֵֽׁב׃vaiyeshevand he sat downH3427
Rashi on Ruth 4:1
So-and-so. But his name was not written because he did not wish to redeem. 1 The person’s name was Tov (See above:13). His name is omitted because he did not discharge his duty as a kinsman. He therefore did not merit to be recorded as Tov [=good].
Read it in full at Sefaria · The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001
Ruth 4:2· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Ruth 4:3· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vaiyomerand he saidH559לַגֹּאֵ֔לlagoelto the kinsman redeemerH1350חֶלְקַת֙chelkat[the] portion ofH2513הַשָּׂדֶ֔הhasadehthe fieldH7704אֲשֶׁ֥רʾasherwhichH834לְאָחִ֖ינוּleachinu[belonged] to brother ourH251לֶאֱלִימֶ֑לֶךְleelimelekhto ElimelechH458מָכְרָ֣הmakherahshe has soldH4376נָעֳמִ֔יnoomiNaomiH5281הַשָּׁ֖בָהhashavahwho <she> returnedH7725מִשְּׂדֵ֥הmisedehfrom [the] region ofH7704מוֹאָֽב׃moavMoabH4124
Ruth 4:4· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וַאֲנִ֨יvaaniand IH589אָמַ֜רְתִּיʾamartiI saidH559אֶגְלֶ֧הʾeglehI will uncoverH1540אָזְנְךָ֣ʾazenekhaear yourH241לֵאמֹ֗רlemor<to> sayingH559קְ֠נֵהkenehacquire [it]H7069נֶ֥גֶדnegedbeforeH5048הַֽיֹּשְׁבִים֮haiyoshevimthe [ones] sittingH3427וְנֶ֣גֶדvenegedand beforeH5048זִקְנֵ֣יziknei[the] elders ofH2205עַמִּי֒ʾamipeople myH5971אִם־ʾim-ifH518תִּגְאַל֙tigalyou will redeemH1350גְּאָ֔לgealredeemH1350וְאִם־veim-and ifH518לֹ֨אlo'notH3808יִגְאַ֜לyigalhe will redeemH1350הַגִּ֣ידָהhagidahtell !H5046לִּ֗יlito <the> meוְאֵֽדְעָה֙veeda'so let me knowH3045כִּ֣יkithatH3588אֵ֤יןʾeinthere notH369זוּלָֽתְךָ֙zulatekhaexcept youH2108לִגְא֔וֹלligol[is] to redeemH1350וְאָנֹכִ֖יveanokhiand IH595אַחֲרֶ֑יךָʾachareikha[am] after youH310וַיֹּ֖אמֶרvaiyomerand he saidH559אָנֹכִ֥יʾanokhiIH595אֶגְאָֽל׃ʾegalI will redeemH1350
Ruth 4:5· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וַיֹּ֣אמֶרvaiyomerand he saidH559בֹּ֔עַזboazBoazH1162בְּיוֹם־beyom-on [the] dayH3117קְנוֹתְךָ֥kenotchaacquiring youH7069הַשָּׂדֶ֖הhasadehthe fieldH7704מִיַּ֣דmiyadfrom [the] hand ofH3027נָעֳמִ֑יnoomiNaomiH5281וּ֠מֵאֵתumeetand from withH854ר֣וּתrutRuthH7327הַמּוֹאֲבִיָּ֤הhamoaviyahthe Moabite [woman]H4125אֵֽשֶׁת־ʾeshet-[the] wife ofH802הַמֵּת֙hametthe dead [man]H4191קָנִ֔יתָהkanitiyou have acquiredH7069לְהָקִ֥יםlehakimto raise upH6965שֵׁם־shem-[the] name ofH8034הַמֵּ֖תhametthe dead [man]H4191עַל־ʾal-overH5921נַחֲלָתֽוֹ׃nachalatoinheritance hisH5159
Ruth 4:6· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וַיֹּ֣אמֶרvaiyomerand he saidH559הַגֹּאֵ֗לhagoelthe kinsman-redeemerH1350לֹ֤אlo'notH3808אוּכַל֙ʾukhalI am ableH3201לִגְאָלligol-to redeem [it]H1350לִ֔יlifor <the> myselfפֶּן־pen-lestH6435אַשְׁחִ֖יתʾashchitI should ruinH7843אֶת־ʾet-<obj.>H853נַחֲלָתִ֑יnachalatiown inheritance myH5159גְּאַל־geal-redeemH1350לְךָ֤lekhafor <the> yourselfאַתָּה֙ʾatahyouH859אֶת־ʾet-<obj.>H853גְּאֻלָּתִ֔יgeulatiright of redemption myH1353כִּ֥יkiforH3588לֹא־lo'-notH3808אוּכַ֖לʾukhalI am ableH3201לִגְאֹֽל׃ligolto redeem [it]H1350
Ruth 4:7· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וְזֹאת֩vezotand thisH2063לְפָנִ֨יםlefanim<to> beforeH6440בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֜לbeyisrael[was] in IsraelH3478עַל־ʾal-onH5921הַגְּאוּלָּ֤הhageulahthe redemptionH1353וְעַל־veal-and onH5921הַתְּמוּרָה֙hatemurahthe exchangeH8545לְקַיֵּ֣םlekaiyemto confirmH6965כָּל־kol-everyH3605דָּבָ֔רdavarmatterH1697שָׁלַ֥ףshalafhe took offH8025אִ֛ישׁʾishanyoneH376נַעֲל֖וֹnaalosandal hisH5275וְנָתַ֣ןvenatanand he gave [it]H5414לְרֵעֵ֑הוּlereehuto neighbor hisH7453וְזֹ֥אתvezotand thisH2063הַתְּעוּדָ֖הhateudah[was] the attestationH8584בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃beyisraelin IsraelH3478
Ruth 4:8· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Boaz buys the field and takes Ruth with it9
Ruth 4:9· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וַיֹּאמֶר֩vaiyomerand he saidH559בֹּ֨עַזboazBoazH1162לַזְּקֵנִ֜יםlazekenimto the eldersH2205וְכָל־vekholand allH3605הָעָ֗םhaamthe peopleH5971עֵדִ֤יםʾedim[are] witnessesH5707אַתֶּם֙ʾatemyouH859הַיּ֔וֹםhaiyomthis dayH3117כִּ֤יkithatH3588קָנִ֙יתִי֙kanitiI acquireH7069אֶת־ʾet-<obj.>H853כָּל־kol-allH3605אֲשֶׁ֣רʾasherthatH834לֶֽאֱלִימֶ֔לֶךְleelimelekh[belonged] to ElimelechH458וְאֵ֛תveetand <obj.>H853כָּל־kol-allH3605אֲשֶׁ֥רʾasherthatH834לְכִלְי֖וֹןlekhilyon[belonged] to KilionH3630וּמַחְל֑וֹןumachlonand MahlonH4248מִיַּ֖דmiyadfrom [the] hand ofH3027נָעֳמִֽי׃noomiNaomiH5281
Ruth 4:10· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וְגַ֣םvegamand alsoH1571אֶת־ʾet-<obj.>H853ר֣וּתrutRuthH7327הַמֹּאֲבִיָּה֩hamoaviyahthe Moabite [woman]H4125אֵ֨שֶׁתʾeshet[the] wife ofH802מַחְל֜וֹןmachlonMahlonH4248קָנִ֧יתִיkanitiI acquireH7069לִ֣יlifor <the> myselfלְאִשָּׁ֗הleishahto a wifeH802לְהָקִ֤יםlehakimto raise upH6965שֵׁם־shem-[the] name ofH8034הַמֵּת֙hametthe dead [man]H4191עַל־ʾal-overH5921נַ֣חֲלָת֔וֹnachalatoinheritance hisH5159וְלֹא־velo'-and notH3808יִכָּרֵ֧תyikaretit will be cut offH3772שֵׁם־shem-[the] name ofH8034הַמֵּ֛תhametthe dead [man]H4191מֵעִ֥םmeimfrom withH5973אֶחָ֖יוʾechavbrothers hisH251וּמִשַּׁ֣עַרumishaarand from [the] gate ofH8179מְקוֹמ֑וֹmekomoplace hisH4725עֵדִ֥יםʾedim[are] witnessesH5707אַתֶּ֖םʾatemyouH859הַיּֽוֹם׃haiyomthis dayH3117
Rashi on Ruth 4:10
To perpetuate the name of the deceased upon his inheritance: Since his wife goes and comes on the estate and brings in and takes out [items], people say, “This is Machlon’s wife,” and thereby his name is remembered upon it.
Read it in full at Sefaria · The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001
Ruth 4:11· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וַיֹּ֨אמְר֜וּvaiyomeruand they saidH559כָּל־kol-allH3605הָעָ֧םhaamthe peopleH5971אֲשֶׁר־ʾasher-whichH834בַּשַּׁ֛עַרbashaar[was] at the gateH8179וְהַזְּקֵנִ֖יםvehazekenimand the eldersH2205עֵדִ֑יםʾedim[we are] witnessesH5707יִתֵּן֩yitenmay he makeH5414יְהוָ֨הyahwehYahwehH3068אֶֽת־ʾet-<obj.>H853הָאִשָּׁ֜הhaishahthe womanH802הַבָּאָ֣הhabaahwho is about to comeH935אֶל־ʾel-intoH413בֵּיתֶ֗ךָbeitekhahouse yourH1004כְּרָחֵ֤ל׀kerachellike RachelH7354וּכְלֵאָה֙ukheleahand like LeahH3812אֲשֶׁ֨רʾasherwhoH834בָּנ֤וּbanuthey builtH1129שְׁתֵּיהֶם֙sheteihem[the] two of themH8147אֶת־ʾet-<obj.>H853בֵּ֣יתbeit[the] house ofH1004יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לyisraelIsraelH3478וַעֲשֵׂה־vaaseh-and makeH6213חַ֣יִלchayilwealthH2428בְּאֶפְרָ֔תָהbeefratahin EphrathahH672וּקְרָא־ukera'-and proclaimH7121שֵׁ֖םshema nameH8034בְּבֵ֥יתbeveitin Beth-H1035לָֽחֶם׃lachem-lehemH1035
Rashi on Ruth 4:11
Like Rachel and like Leah. Even though they were from the tribe of Yehudah and of the descendants of Leah, they conceded that Rachel was the mainstay of the household and they mentioned Rachel before Leah. 8 Alternatively, the blessing was for (Naomi)[Ruth] who was the daughter of idolaters.
Read it in full at Sefaria · The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001
Ruth 4:12· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וִיהִ֤יvihiso may it beH1961בֵֽיתְךָ֙veitekhahousehold yourH1004כְּבֵ֣יתkeveitlike [the] household ofH1004פֶּ֔רֶץperetzPerezH6557אֲשֶׁר־ʾasher-whomH834יָלְדָ֥הyaldahshe boreH3205תָמָ֖רtamarTamarH8559לִֽיהוּדָ֑הlihudahto JudahH3063מִן־min-fromH4480הַזֶּ֗רַעhazera'the offspringH2233אֲשֶׁ֨רʾasherwhichH834יִתֵּ֤ןyitenhe will giveH5414יְהוָה֙yahwehYahwehH3068לְךָ֔lekhato <the> youמִן־min-fromH4480הַֽנַּעֲרָ֖הhanaarahthe young womanH5291הַזֹּֽאת׃hazot<the> thisH2063
Rashi on Ruth 4:12
Like the house of Peretz. From whom they were descended. 9 Otherwise they should have blessed Bo’az to be like Ephrayim and Menashe.
Read it in full at Sefaria · The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001
A son laid in Naomi's lap, and the line down to David13
Ruth 4:13· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וַיִּקַּ֨חvaiyikachand he tookH3947בֹּ֤עַזboazBoazH1162אֶת־ʾet-<obj.>H853רוּת֙rutRuthH7327וַתְּהִי־vatehi-and she becameH1961ל֣וֹloof himלְאִשָּׁ֔הleishah<into> a wifeH802וַיָּבֹ֖אvaiyavo'and he wentH935אֵלֶ֑יהָʾeleihainto herH413וַיִּתֵּ֨ןvaiyitenand he gaveH5414יְהוָ֥הyahwehYahwehH3068לָ֛הּlahto <the> herהֵרָי֖וֹןherayonconceptionH2032וַתֵּ֥לֶדvateledand she boreH3205בֵּֽן׃bena sonH1121
Ruth 4:14· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וַתֹּאמַ֤רְנָהvatomarnahand they saidH559הַנָּשִׁים֙hanashimthe womenH802אֶֽל־ʾel-toH413נָעֳמִ֔יnoomiNaomiH5281בָּר֣וּךְbarukh[be] blessedH1288יְהוָ֔הyahwehYahwehH3068אֲ֠שֶׁרʾasherwhoH834לֹ֣אlo'notH3808הִשְׁבִּ֥יתhishbithe has caused to ceaseH7673לָ֛ךְlakhto <the> youגֹּאֵ֖לgoela kinsman-redeemerH1350הַיּ֑וֹםhaiyomthis dayH3117וְיִקָּרֵ֥אveyikare'and may it be proclaimedH7121שְׁמ֖וֹshemoname hisH8034בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃beyisraelin IsraelH3478
Ibn Ezra on Ruth 4:14
"That he will not leave to you an empty one as a redeemer." The reason being that the name of the deceased would be established upon his inheritance.
Read it in full at Sefaria · Sefaria Community Translation
Ruth 4:15· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וְהָ֤יָהvehayahand he will becomeH1961לָךְ֙lokhfor <the> youלְמֵשִׁ֣יבlemeshiv<into> [one who] restoresH7725נֶ֔פֶשׁnefeshlifeH5315וּלְכַלְכֵּ֖לulekhalkeland to sustainH3557אֶת־ʾet-<obj.>H853שֵׂיבָתֵ֑ךְseivatekhold age yourH7872כִּ֣יkiforH3588כַלָּתֵ֤ךְkhalatekhdaughter-in-law yourH3618אֲֽשֶׁר־ʾasher-whoH834אֲהֵבַ֙תֶךְ֙ʾahevatekhshe loves youH157יְלָדַ֔תּוּyeladatushe has given birth to himH3205אֲשֶׁר־ʾasher-whoH834הִיא֙hi'sheH1931ט֣וֹבָהtoah[is] goodH2896לָ֔ךְlakhto <the> youמִשִּׁבְעָ֖הmishivahmore than sevenH7651בָּנִֽים׃banimsonsH1121
Ruth 4:16· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וַתִּקַּ֨חvatikachand she tookH3947נָעֳמִ֤יnoomiNaomiH5281אֶת־ʾet-<obj.>H853הַיֶּ֙לֶד֙haiyeledthe childH3206וַתְּשִׁתֵ֣הוּvateshitehuand she placed himH7896בְחֵיקָ֔הּvecheikahon bosom herH2436וַתְּהִי־vatehi-and she becameH1961ל֖וֹloof himלְאֹמֶֽנֶת׃leomenet<into> a nurseH539
Ibn Ezra on Ruth 4:16
"And she nourished." It means to care for and sustain, as in the phrase "And Joseph nourished his father." Some also interpret it as "to provide," as in "And who will provide for the day of his coming."
Read it in full at Sefaria · Sefaria Community Translation
Ruth 4:17· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וַתִּקְרֶאנָה֩vatikrenahand they calledH7121ל֨וֹlo<to> <the> himהַשְּׁכֵנ֥וֹתhashekhenotthe [female] neighborsH7934שֵׁם֙shema nameH8034לֵאמֹ֔רlemor<to> sayingH559יֻלַּד־yulad-he has been bornH3205בֵּ֖ןbena sonH1121לְנָעֳמִ֑יlenoomito NaomiH5281וַתִּקְרֶ֤אנָֽהvatikrenahand they calledH7121שְׁמוֹ֙shemoname hisH8034עוֹבֵ֔דovedObedH5744ה֥וּאhu'heH1931אֲבִי־ʾavi-[was] [the] father ofH1יִשַׁ֖יyishaiJesseH3448אֲבִ֥יʾavi[the] father ofH1דָוִֽד׃ פdavidDavidH1732
Ruth 4:18· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Ruth 4:19· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Ruth 4:20· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Ruth 4:21· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible