And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Boaz’s admission isn’t just about a legal technicality; it reveals a deep-seated honor code. He acknowledges his role as kinsman but immediately defers to a "nearer" one, demonstrating that right is not merely about proximity of blood but also about the established order of responsibility, even if that means setting aside his own potential claim.
And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Boaz has just revealed his honorable intentions to Ruth, promising to act as her kinsman-redeemer. However, he immediately clarifies that there's a closer relative who has the primary legal right to redeem her and her deceased husband's land. This sets up a crucial negotiation where Boaz must approach this nearer kinsman according to the customs of their society.
Boaz has to break some news to Ruth. It's not about what he wants, but about what the law requires.
When Boaz tells Ruth, "I am a near kinsman... yet there is a kinsman nearer than I," he’s speaking as a man bound by ancient Israelite law. This wasn't just a social custom; it was a legal and moral obligation rooted in preserving family lines and property.
The Kinsman-Redeemer Role
The role of the 'kinsman-redeemer' (called 'goel' in Hebrew) was crucial. This person had the right and responsibility to:
Boaz acknowledges his status as a redeemer, but immediately points out a higher claim. His personal feelings for Ruth, while evident, had to yield to the established legal order. This shows his deep integrity; he wouldn’t overstep his bounds.
Boaz could have easily taken advantage of the situation, but his character shines through his restraint.
Boaz's response is a masterclass in integrity. Even though he clearly has feelings for Ruth and she has boldly presented herself to him, he doesn't seize the moment for himself.
Integrity Over Opportunity
He prioritizes:
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This isn't just about following rules; it’s about a deep-seated character that values justice and the rights of others above personal gain. It's a powerful example of how true honor means respecting boundaries, especially when others are involved.
Understand the original words
go'el · Hebrew Noun
A kinsman who has the legal right and responsibility to restore the inheritance or freedom of a relative who has become impoverished or enslaved, often associated with the Levite law regarding land and family preservation.
This verse highlights the ancient Israelite custom of the kinsman-redeemer (go'el), a legal and social obligation to protect the inheritance and lineage of a deceased relative. Boaz, while willing, must respect the prior claim of a nearer kinsman.
c. 11th century BC
Elimelech's Family Moves to Moab
Due to famine in Bethlehem, Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and their two sons Mahlon and Chilion relocate to the foreign land of Moab.
c. 11th century BC
Deaths of Elimelech and Sons
Elimelech dies in Moab. Later, his sons Mahlon and Chilion marry Moabite women, Ruth and Orpah, and then they too die, leaving Naomi a widow with two foreign daughters-in-law.
c. 11th century BC
Naomi and Ruth Return to Bethlehem
Naomi decides to return to her ancestral home in Bethlehem. Ruth, showing remarkable loyalty, insists on accompanying her, while Orpah stays behind.
c. 11th century BC
Ruth Gleans in Boaz's Field
Upon their arrival in Bethlehem, Ruth goes out to glean in the fields to support herself and Naomi. She happens upon the field of Boaz, a wealthy kinsman of Elimelech.
c. 11th century BC
Boaz Recognizes Ruth's Loyalty
Boaz learns of Ruth's devotion to Naomi and her Moabite origin. He blesses her and instructs his reapers to leave extra grain for her to gather.
c. 11th century BC
Naomi's Plan for Ruth
Naomi, recognizing Boaz's kindness and his status as a kinsman-redeemer (go'el), devises a plan for Ruth to approach him on the threshing floor, seeking marriage.
c. 11th century BC— this verse
Boaz defers to a nearer kinsman
Boaz acknowledges his kinship to Ruth but reveals that another, closer kinsman has the primary right to redeem Elimelech's land and marry Ruth, according to ancient custom.
This passage lays out the law of the kinsman-redeemer, establishing the concept of a redeemer who has the right and responsibility to buy back land or a relative's freedom, directly paralleling Boaz's situation.
Deuteronomy 25:5-10This passage details the law of the Levirate marriage, where a brother or kinsman was obligated to marry a widow without an heir to preserve her deceased husband's name and lineage, a custom relevant to the kinsman-redeemer role.
Matthew 1:1-17The genealogy of Jesus, tracing His lineage through Boaz and Ruth, shows how this specific act of redemption and marriage, involving a Moabite woman, was part of God's redemptive plan for all humanity.
1 Corinthians 6:20Paul speaks of believers being 'bought at a price,' referencing Christ's redemptive work. This echoes the idea of a redeemer stepping in to reclaim or restore what was lost, mirroring Boaz's role for Ruth and Naomi.
gillRuth 3:12: "And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I."
And now it is true, that I am thy near kinsman,.... Her husband and he being brothers' sons, so own cousins: howbeit, there is a kinsman nearer than I, who was, the Jews say (w), the brother of her husband's father, and so his uncle, which was a nearer relation than an own cousin. (w) Midrash Ruth, ut supra. (31. 4. & 34. 2) Jarchi in loc.
clarkeRuth 3:12: "And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I."
There is a kinsman nearer than I-- It is very likely that Naomi was not acquainted with this circumstance. Some have supposed that there was a brother of Elimelech remaining, who was nearer than Boaz, who is supposed to have been only a nephew; the former, therefore, must have a prior right.
Boaz’s admission isn’t just about a legal technicality; it reveals a deep-seated honor code. He acknowledges his role as kinsman but immediately defers to a "nearer" one, demonstrating that right is not merely about proximity of blood but also about the established order of responsibility, even if that means setting aside his own potential claim.
Boaz has just revealed his honorable intentions to Ruth, promising to act as her kinsman-redeemer. However, he immediately clarifies that there's a closer relative who has the primary legal right to redeem her and her deceased husband's land. This sets up a crucial negotiation where Boaz must approach this nearer kinsman according to the customs of their society.
Boaz has just revealed his honorable intentions to Ruth, promising to act as her kinsman-redeemer. However, he immediately clarifies that there's a closer relative who has the primary legal right to redeem her and her deceased husband's land. This sets up a crucial negotiation where Boaz must approach this nearer kinsman according to the customs of their society.
"And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I." — Boaz’s admission isn’t just about a legal technicality; it reveals a deep-seated honor code. He acknowledges his role as kinsman but immediately defers to a "nearer" one, demonstrating that right is…
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Last reviewed October 2026