The Meaning of Goel: God’s Covenant Faithfulness

What is goel?

In biblical law, *goel* refers to a close relative who acts as a kinsman-redeemer, fulfilling duties to protect family rights and restore justice.

The *goel*’s responsibilities included redeeming property, marrying a childless widow to preserve a family line, and avenging wrongs. This role was central to Israel’s covenantal structure, ensuring communal stability. In Ruth 4:5, Boaz declares his intent to redeem Naomi’s property, stating, ‘Take off one of your sandals’ - a symbolic act of legal transfer, fulfilling the *goel*’s obligations under Mosaic law.

Ruth 4:5 illustrates how the *goel* system intertwined familial duty with divine providence. By acting as a redeemer, Boaz not only upholds justice but also becomes an ancestor of David, foreshadowing God’s ultimate role as Israel’s Redeemer.

The Role of Goel in Ruth 4:5

In Ruth 4:5, Boaz embodies the duties of a *goel* by initiating the legal process to redeem Naomi’s property and secure Ruth’s future.

A *goel* was obligated to act on behalf of a impoverished or vulnerable relative, including purchasing land to prevent family loss (Leviticus 25:25) and marrying a childless widow to preserve the deceased husband’s lineage (Deuteronomy 25:5-10). In Ruth 4:5, Boaz tells the nearer kinsman, “Take off one of your sandals,” a symbolic act of transferring the right to redeem Naomi’s land - a duty the kinsman refuses. By stepping forward, Boaz not only fulfills the legal requirement of land redemption but also agrees to marry Ruth, ensuring the continuation of Elimelech’s family line. This dual action reflects the *goel*’s ethical commitment to both material and relational restoration.

Boaz’s actions in Ruth 4:5 illustrate how the *goel* system intertwined covenantal responsibility with divine providence, setting the stage for God’s broader redemptive purposes in Scripture.

Theological Implications of Goel

The Old Testament concept of *goel* shows important theological truths about God's redemptive character and His covenant with Israel.

In Ruth 4:5, Boaz’s role as a kinsman-redeemer exemplifies God’s justice and mercy: by redeeming Naomi’s land and marrying Ruth, he restores familial dignity and secures a future for a vulnerable widow. This mirrors God’s covenantal faithfulness, as seen in Leviticus 25:25, where the law mandates land redemption to prevent permanent loss of inheritance - a principle reflecting God’s commitment to preserving His people’s covenantal identity. The *goel* system thus becomes a microcosm of God’s broader redemptive work.

The *goel* also underscores themes of divine mercy and justice. Deuteronomy 25:5-10 requires a man to marry his deceased brother’s widow to perpetuate the family line, ensuring no Israelite is left without a legacy - a duty fulfilled by Boaz in Ruth 4:5. This legal framework, rooted in communal responsibility, prefigures God’s role as Israel’s ultimate Redeemer, who avenges injustice (Deuteronomy 32:36) and rescues the oppressed (Psalm 144:9). By embodying the *goel*’s duties, Boaz becomes a type of Christ, whose redemptive work transcends human limitations to fulfill God’s covenantal promises.

Through the *goel* narrative, Scripture links human acts of restoration to divine providence. Boaz’s redemption of Ruth and Naomi not only preserves their lineage but also foreshadows God’s plan to redeem humanity through Jesus, the ‘kinsman-redeemer’ who purchases eternal life (Hebrews 2:14-15). This theological continuity suggests that the *goel* concept is a legal custom that also serves as a prophetic symbol of God's unchanging commitment to justice, mercy, and covenantal faithfulness, culminating in Christ's redemptive work.

Christ as the Ultimate Goel

The New Testament reveals Jesus Christ as the ultimate fulfillment of the goel, redeeming humanity from spiritual bondage and upholding God’s covenantal promises.

In Galatians 3:13, Paul declares that Christ ‘redeemed us from the curse of the law’ by becoming a curse for us - a kinsman-redeemer who bears the penalty of sin to secure our freedom. Similarly, Hebrews 9:15 describes Jesus as the ‘mediator of a better covenant,’ whose death effects the eternal redemption of those under the old covenant’s limitations.

As the perfect goel, Jesus transcends the temporal duties of earthly kinsman-redeemers by purchasing an eternal inheritance for believers (Hebrews 9:15). His sacrifice on the cross fulfills the dual role of avenging God’s justice and protecting His people, as seen in Boaz’s actions in Ruth, but with infinite scope and power. Through Christ, the goel motif reaches its divine culmination, uniting humanity to God in a covenant of unbreakable grace.

For believers, this means Christ’s redemptive work guarantees both spiritual restoration and eternal security. As the ultimate goel, He not only rescues but also renews, making believers heirs of God’s promises and heirs of salvation (Hebrews 1:14).

Why Goel Matters Today

Understanding goel deepens our grasp of God’s redemptive mission in both history and individual lives.

The concept remains meaningful because it reflects God’s commitment to justice, mercy, and covenantal faithfulness - qualities that shape our trust in His care. In Ruth 4:5, Boaz’s redemptive actions mirror Christ’s selfless love, reminding believers that God actively intervenes to restore what sin and suffering have broken. By embracing this framework, we recognize our own call to embody goel-like compassion, advocating for the vulnerable and pursuing reconciliation in our communities.

As the ultimate kinsman-redeemer, Christ’s sacrifice (Galatians 3:13) redefines our understanding of redemption, inspiring a faith that prioritizes both personal repentance and collective restoration.

Going Deeper

For those interested in exploring the concept of *goel* further, examining its roots in Old Testament law and its fulfillment in Christ offers rich insights into God’s redemptive plan.

Readers might begin by studying Leviticus 25:25-34 and Deuteronomy 25:5-10 to understand the legal foundations of *goel*, then trace its Christological fulfillment in Galatians 3:13 and Hebrews 9:15. Engaging with commentaries on Ruth or systematic theology texts on redemption can deepen this exploration.