20 Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “(A)May he be blessed of the Lord who has not withdrawn his kindness to the living and to the dead.” Again Naomi said to her, “The man is [a]our relative, he is one of our [b]closest relatives.”

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Footnotes

  1. Ruth 2:20 Lit near to us
  2. Ruth 2:20 Lit redeemers

20 “The Lord bless him!(A)” Naomi said to her daughter-in-law.(B) “He has not stopped showing his kindness(C) to the living and the dead.” She added, “That man is our close relative;(D) he is one of our guardian-redeemers.[a](E)

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Footnotes

  1. Ruth 2:20 The Hebrew word for guardian-redeemer is a legal term for one who has the obligation to redeem a relative in serious difficulty (see Lev. 25:25-55).

So I thought to [a]inform you, saying, ‘(A)Buy it before those who are sitting here, and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if [b]not, tell me that I may know; for (B)there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am after you.’” And he said, “I will redeem it.”

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Footnotes

  1. Ruth 4:4 Lit uncover your ear
  2. Ruth 4:4 Lit no one will redeem

I thought I should bring the matter to your attention and suggest that you buy it in the presence of these seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, do so. But if you[a] will not, tell me, so I will know. For no one has the right to do it except you,(A) and I am next in line.”

“I will redeem it,” he said.

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Footnotes

  1. Ruth 4:4 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts he

(A)The [a]closest relative said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, because I would [b]jeopardize my own inheritance. Redeem it for yourself; you may have my right of redemption, for I cannot redeem it.”

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Footnotes

  1. Ruth 4:6 Lit redeemer
  2. Ruth 4:6 Lit ruin

At this, the guardian-redeemer said, “Then I cannot redeem(A) it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it.”(B)

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