Bible Strands
Ruth 4:2
Then Boaz took ten of the elders of the city and said, “Sit here,” and they did so.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Boaz gathers ten elders at the city gate and commands them to sit down, occurring immediately after he invites the kinsman-redeemer to take his place.
The words — The text records Boaz taking (קַח, qach) the elders and issuing the imperative sit (שְׁבוּ, shvu) at this location (פֹּה, poh).
The thread — This formal civic gathering mirrors the legal assemblies at the gates described in Proverbs 31:23 and 1 Kings 21:8, where elders convene to witness or adjudicate community matters.
Why it lands — The passage requires a reader to note that Boaz is securing official witnesses before initiating a binding transaction, establishing that the subsequent legal proceedings carry civic authority.
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
And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 31:23 Her husband is known at the city gates, where he sits among the elders of the land.
- 1 Kings 21:8 Then Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city.
- Exodus 21:8 If she is displeasing in the eyes of her master who had designated her for himself, he must allow her to be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, since he has broken faith with her.
- Lamentations 5:14 The elders have left the city gate; the young men have stopped their music.
- Acts 6:12 So they stirred up the people, elders, and scribes and confronted Stephen. They seized him and brought him before the Sanhedrin,
- Exodus 18:21 Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
- Deuteronomy 29:10 All of you are standing today before the LORD your God—you leaders of tribes, elders, officials, and all the men of Israel,
- Deuteronomy 31:28 Assemble before me all the elders of your tribes and all your officers so that I may speak these words in their hearing and call heaven and earth to witness against them.