What Does Ruth 4:5 Mean?
Ruth 4:5 describes Boaz explaining to the closer relative that buying Naomi’s land also means marrying Ruth, the widow of Naomi’s son, in order to carry on the family name. This was part of an ancient custom called the kinsman-redeemer, where a family member would step in to protect and provide for relatives in need (Leviticus 25:25, Deuteronomy 25:5-6). It shows how God works through loyalty and love to keep His promises.
Ruth 4:5
Then Boaz said, “The day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead, in order to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance.”
Key Facts
Book
Author
Traditionally attributed to Samuel
Genre
Narrative
Date
Approximately 11th - 10th century BC (time of the Judges)
Key People
- Boaz
- Ruth
- Naomi
- The closer relative
Key Themes
- Kinsman-redeemer
- Faithfulness
- Providence
- Redemption
- Inclusion of the outsider
Key Takeaways
- Redemption carries responsibility beyond personal gain.
- God honors faithfulness in unexpected people and places.
- Christ fulfills the kinsman-redeemer role with sacrificial love.
The Cost of Being a Kinsman-Redeemer
Boaz tells the closer relative that redeeming Naomi’s land is a financial transaction that also requires marrying Ruth to continue the family line.
Under the law in Deuteronomy 25:5-6, if a man died without a son, his brother or nearest male relative was to marry the widow so that the first son born would carry on the dead man’s name and inherit his property. Naomi had returned from Moab widowed and childless after the deaths of her husband and both sons (Ruth 1:3-5), so this custom protected her and her family’s inheritance. Boaz points out that buying the field means also taking Ruth, the widow of Naomi’s son, to fulfill this duty.
This moment shows that God’s people were called to honor family and faithfulness by preserving hope for the future through love and sacrifice, not merely by keeping property in the family.
The Weight of Redemption: Land, Lineage, and Legacy
Boaz’s offer to the closer relative linked the redemption of land to the duty of marriage, demonstrating the close connection among family, faith, and responsibility in Israel’s life.
Under the levirate custom (Deuteronomy 25:5-6), a man was expected to marry his brother’s widow if there was no son, so that the first son born would carry on the dead brother’s name and inherit his land. Boaz reminds the relative that buying Naomi’s field means also taking Ruth, the widow of her son, to fulfill this duty. This wasn’t optional for a faithful Israelite - it was part of honoring family and keeping God’s people rooted in their promises. The mention of Ruth as 'the Moabite' highlights how surprising her inclusion is, yet the law didn’t exclude her - God’s grace was already at work, welcoming the outsider. Still, the focus here isn’t on a dramatic shift in redemption history, but on how ordinary faithfulness fits into God’s larger plan.
This moment sets the stage for Boaz’s own choice to step forward, not because he has to, but because he’s willing - a quiet picture of love that points forward to a greater Redeemer who would one day do the same.
Ruth, Redemption, and the Line of David
This act of redemption, though rooted in family duty, quietly unfolds God’s larger plan to bring blessing through unexpected people and places.
Ruth, a Moabite woman, was not part of Israel by birth, yet her loyalty and faith secured her a place in the story of God’s people. Matthew 1:5-6 later reveals the significance of this moment by including Ruth in the genealogy of Jesus: 'and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David.' God’s grace extended beyond national lines, showing that faithfulness - not nationality - marks those whom God uses. The story isn’t just about land or lineage; it’s about how God providentially weaves mercy and inclusion into His promises.
In this way, Ruth’s quiet faith becomes part of the foundation for the coming of Christ, pointing forward to a Redeemer who welcomes all who draw near.
Ruth and the Line of the Coming King
Though Ruth 4:5 isn’t a dramatic turning point like the Exodus or the Abrahamic covenant, it quietly advances God’s promise to bring blessing to all nations through a coming King.
Ruth, a foreign woman from Moab, is included in the lineage of David and, ultimately, Jesus, as Matthew 1:5-6 confirms: 'and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David.' This shows that God’s redemptive plan was never limited to Israel alone, but always intended to welcome outsiders through faithfulness and grace.
Boaz’s willingness to step in as a kinsman-redeemer foreshadows how Jesus, our ultimate Redeemer, would one day willingly take us - once outsiders - into His family, not because we deserved it, but because of His love.
Application
How This Changes Everything: Real Life Impact
Imagine feeling like you don’t belong - maybe because of your past, your background, or mistakes you’ve made. Ruth was a widow from Moab, a nation often at odds with Israel, yet Boaz stepped in not out of duty alone, but with kindness that opened a door she never expected. This mirrors how God sees us as people worth redeeming, not as outsiders or failures, just as He did through Ruth. When we realize that God values faithfulness over perfection, it lifts the weight of trying to earn our place. We begin to live with purpose, not because we have to prove ourselves, but because we’ve already been welcomed by grace.
Personal Reflection
- Where in my life am I holding back from showing kindness because it might cost me something - time, comfort, or reputation?
- How can I reflect God’s welcome to someone who feels like an outsider, just as Ruth was once seen?
- What would it look like for me to act faithfully, even when no one else steps forward?
A Challenge For You
This week, find one practical way to include someone who might feel on the margins - invite them into conversation, share a meal, or listen. Then, take a moment to thank God for the way He included you, not because you earned it, but because of His love.
A Prayer of Response
God, thank you that you welcome people like Ruth - and people like me - into your story. Help me to live with courage and kindness, as Boaz did. Show me how to extend your grace to others, especially those who feel left out. And remind me daily that I am not an outsider, because you have already redeemed me through Jesus.
Related Scriptures & Concepts
Immediate Context
Ruth 4:4
Boaz approaches the closer relative about redeeming Naomi’s land, setting up the condition revealed in verse 5.
Ruth 4:6
The relative declines due to cost, allowing Boaz to step forward as the willing redeemer.
Connections Across Scripture
Genesis 38:8
Illustrates the levirate custom with Judah and Tamar, showing how family continuity shaped redemption practices.
Isaiah 59:20
Prophesies a Redeemer for Zion, foreshadowing Christ as the ultimate Kinsman-Redeemer who rescues His people.
Galatians 3:28-29
Declares unity in Christ beyond ethnicity, echoing how Ruth the Moabite became part of God’s promised lineage.