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During Israel’s earlier history,[a] all things concerning redeeming or changing inheritances were confirmed by a man taking off his sandal and giving it to the other party,[b] thereby creating a public[c] record in Israel. So when the nearer related redeemer told Boaz, “Make the purchase yourself,” he then took off his sandal.

Boaz’s Public Commitment

At this, Boaz addressed the elders and all of the people: “You all are witnesses today that I hereby redeem everything from Naomi that belonged to Elimelech, including what belonged to Chilion and Mahlon,

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Footnotes

  1. Ruth 4:7 Or years
  2. Ruth 4:7 Or neighbor; cf. Deut 25:9
  3. Ruth 4:7 The Heb. lacks public

(Now in earlier times in Israel, for the redemption(A) and transfer of property to become final, one party took off his sandal(B) and gave it to the other. This was the method of legalizing transactions(C) in Israel.)(D)

So the guardian-redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it yourself.” And he removed his sandal.(E)

Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, “Today you are witnesses(F) that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelek, Kilion and Mahlon.

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