Ruth 4:7 - Now this was the custom in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning exchanging, to confirm all things: a man took off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbor; and this was the way of formalizing transactions in Israel.
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What does "Ruth 4:7" mean?
This verse in Ruth 4:7 explains an ancient custom in Israel used to finalize business transactions, particularly regarding redemption (buying back property) and exchanging goods. Let's break down what it means:
"Now this was the custom in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning exchanging...": This establishes that the practice described was not necessarily current at the time the book of Ruth was written but was an established tradition from the past. It applied to deals involving the redemption of property (e.g., when someone sold their land due to hardship and a relative bought it back for them) and other types of exchanges or agreements.
"...to confirm all things...": The shoe removal ritual served as a symbolic way to make the agreement legally binding and publicly recognized. It was a formal act signifying the completion and agreement to the terms of the transaction.
"...a man took off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbor...": This is the core of the custom. The act of taking off a shoe and handing it to the other party was a physical symbol of relinquishing a right or transferring ownership. The exact symbolism is debated, but possibilities include:
Relinquishing a right to walk on the land: By removing the shoe, the person was symbolically giving up their right to claim or possess the property in question.
Transferring ownership: The shoe may have represented the ground one stood on, and giving it away symbolized transferring the right to possess the land.
Symbol of authority/responsibility: The shoe (or sandal) could have been seen as a symbol of one's authority or ability to manage property. By handing it over, the individual was passing on the responsibility or right.
"...and this was the way of formalizing transactions in Israel.": This reiterates the purpose of the custom: it was the accepted, legal method of making an agreement official and binding in ancient Israel.
In context of Ruth 4:
In Ruth 4, Boaz is in the process of redeeming Naomi's kinsman's land and also marrying Ruth. The nearer kinsman is initially willing to redeem the land, but when he realizes this would also entail marrying Ruth (and potentially jeopardizing his own inheritance), he declines. This verse (Ruth 4:7) provides the background to the shoe-removal ceremony in verse 8.
Ruth 4:8: "So the kinsman said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.” And he took off his sandal." Here, the kinsman removes his sandal to signify that he is relinquishing his right of redemption to Boaz.
In Summary:
The verse in Ruth 4:7 explains a custom from ancient Israel where removing a shoe and handing it to the other party was a legally binding act used to finalize transactions, especially those involving redeeming property. It was a symbolic gesture that signified the relinquishing of rights or the transfer of ownership. In the context of the Book of Ruth, this custom plays a vital role in Boaz acquiring the right to marry Ruth and redeem her family's land.
Ruth 4:7 - Now this was the custom in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning exchanging, to confirm all things: a man took off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbor; and this was the way of formalizing transactions in Israel.
What does "Ruth 4:7" mean?
This verse in Ruth 4:7 explains an ancient custom in Israel used to finalize business transactions, particularly regarding redemption (buying back property) and exchanging goods. Let's break down what it means:
"Now this was the custom in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning exchanging...": This establishes that the practice described was not necessarily current at the time the book of Ruth was written but was an established tradition from the past. It applied to deals involving the redemption of property (e.g., when someone sold their land due to hardship and a relative bought it back for them) and other types of exchanges or agreements.
"...to confirm all things...": The shoe removal ritual served as a symbolic way to make the agreement legally binding and publicly recognized. It was a formal act signifying the completion and agreement to the terms of the transaction.
"...a man took off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbor...": This is the core of the custom. The act of taking off a shoe and handing it to the other party was a physical symbol of relinquishing a right or transferring ownership. The exact symbolism is debated, but possibilities include:
Relinquishing a right to walk on the land: By removing the shoe, the person was symbolically giving up their right to claim or possess the property in question.
Transferring ownership: The shoe may have represented the ground one stood on, and giving it away symbolized transferring the right to possess the land.
Symbol of authority/responsibility: The shoe (or sandal) could have been seen as a symbol of one's authority or ability to manage property. By handing it over, the individual was passing on the responsibility or right.
"...and this was the way of formalizing transactions in Israel.": This reiterates the purpose of the custom: it was the accepted, legal method of making an agreement official and binding in ancient Israel.
In context of Ruth 4:
In Ruth 4, Boaz is in the process of redeeming Naomi's kinsman's land and also marrying Ruth. The nearer kinsman is initially willing to redeem the land, but when he realizes this would also entail marrying Ruth (and potentially jeopardizing his own inheritance), he declines. This verse (Ruth 4:7) provides the background to the shoe-removal ceremony in verse 8.
Ruth 4:8: "So the kinsman said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.” And he took off his sandal." Here, the kinsman removes his sandal to signify that he is relinquishing his right of redemption to Boaz.
In Summary:
The verse in Ruth 4:7 explains a custom from ancient Israel where removing a shoe and handing it to the other party was a legally binding act used to finalize transactions, especially those involving redeeming property. It was a symbolic gesture that signified the relinquishing of rights or the transfer of ownership. In the context of the Book of Ruth, this custom plays a vital role in Boaz acquiring the right to marry Ruth and redeem her family's land.