Bible Strands
Ruth 4:10
Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, to raise up the name of the deceased through his inheritance, so that his name will not disappear from among his brothers or from the gate of his home. You are witnesses today.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Boaz addresses the elders and all the people at the city gate, declaring his acquisition of Ruth as his wife immediately after listing the property he is purchasing from Naomi.
The words — קָנִיתִי (qaniti) literally means "I acquire" or "I buy," and לְ/אִשָּׁ֗ה (le-ishshah) translates to "to a wife," grounding the marital union in formal legal and familial terminology.
The thread — This announcement directly fulfills the provision in Deuteronomy 25:6, which commands that a brother’s firstborn son carry on the dead brother’s name so it will not be blotted out from Israel.
Why it lands — It requires the reader to see that covenantal continuity depends on concrete legal acts and public witness rather than private emotion.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 25:6 The first son she bears will carry on the name of the dead brother, so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel.
- Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her
- Genesis 29:18 Since Jacob loved Rachel, he answered, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”
- Genesis 29:27 Finish this week’s celebration, and we will give you the younger one in return for another seven years of work.”
- Joshua 7:9 When the Canaanites and all who live in the land hear about this, they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. Then what will You do for Your great name?”
- Psalms 34:16 But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to wipe out all memory of them from the earth.
- Psalms 109:15 May their sins always remain before the LORD, that He may cut off their memory from the earth.
- Proverbs 18:22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.
- Proverbs 19:14 Houses and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
- Proverbs 31:10 A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.