10I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, the wife of Mahlon, to be my wife, to maintain the dead man’s name on his inheritance, in order that the name of the dead may not be cut off from his kindred and from the gate of his native place; today you are witnesses.”
“know something is true because of seeing it” in Teutila Cuicatec (source for this and above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
“ones who will confirm that these-things that you have seen are true” in Kankanaey (source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
“ones who are to testify about these things, because it all happened before your eyes” in Tagbanwa (source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Ruth” in English means “beauty,” “something worth seeing,” “friendship,” “trembling,” “satisfied.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )
In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with the sign for “respect” referring to the respect that she shows for the mother-in-law as shown in Ruth 1:16. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
In Hungarian Sign Language it is translated with a sign that refers to “woman” and “progress” (the perspective of future). It signifies that Ruth did not return to her people but stayed with her mother-in-law, Naomi, because she was bound to her by deep love, loyalty, and commitment, even after the death of her husband (Naomi’s son). (Source: Jenjelvi Biblia and HSL Bible Translation Group)
“Ruth” in Hungarian Sign Language — note that only the first part refers to “Ruth,” the second part refers to “book” (source )
Following are a number of back-translations of Ruth 4:7-10:
Noongar: “Long ago, when the people of Israel divided land, one man must take off his shoe and give it to the other man. So the other right-way man said to Boaz, ‘Take this land yourself,’ and he took off his shoe. And Boaz said to all the people, ‘This day, you become my witnesses. I take from the hands of Naomi, all the land of Elimelech and Chilion and Mahlon. I also take Ruth of Moab, widow of Mahlon, to become my wife, so the name of the dead man stays with his land, so his name will not be lost to his people and will not be forgotten in this place. This day you become my witnesses.” (Source: Bardip Ruth-Ang 2020)
Eastern Bru: “Before in the country of Israel, the custom was this: if someone wanted to exchange things or wanted to agree about the inheritance of a kinsman who had died, then that person would give a sign. The sign was to take off one shoe and give it to the person who owned that thing or that inheritance. So the kinsman of Boaz said to Boaz: ‘Now you buy the inheritance for yourself.’ After that the kinsman took of one shoe and gave it to Boaz.And Boaz told the leader and all the people: ‘This day you have heard, I will buy from Naomi all the inheritance of Elimelech and his sons Kilion and Mahlon. And I will take also Ruth, the Moabitess, to be my wife. Before she was the wife of Mahlon who died. Now I will take her to be my wife so that she may have a son to carry on the name of her former husband. So then the inheritance of her former husband will remain in the village and in his clan. This day you have heard these things with me.’” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “That time in Israel, to make-sure/ensure the buying/purchase of the land or the transferring of the rights to buy the land, a man will-take-off his sandal and give-(it) to the other-(party/one). This is what-is-being-done in Israel to prove/attest that the transaction is now sure/certain. So when the man said to Boaz, ‘You(sg) just buy the land,’ he then took-off one of his sandals and gave-(it) to Boaz. Then Boaz said to the rulers of the town and to all the people there, ‘You(pl) are witnesses today that I will-buy now from Noemi all the lands of Elimelec, which were-inherited by Kilion and Mahlon. And one more (thing), I will-marry Ruth the Moabnon, the widow of Mahlon, so-that if we(incl) have now a child, the land of Mahlon will-remain to his family. And so-that his descendants will- not -disappear from his fellow-countrymen.’ Then Boaz said to the people, ’You(pl) are witnesses today!’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “At that time, it was the custom in Israel, when a person bought property that belonged to another person, that the man who was selling the property would take off one of his sandals and give it to the one who was buying the property. That was the way they finalized sales in Israel. So that close relative said to Boaz, ‘You buy the field yourself!’ And he took off one of his sandals and gave it to Boaz. Then Boaz said to the elders and all the other people who were there, ‘Today you have all seen that I have bought from Naomi all the property that belonged to her dead husband Elimelech and his dead sons Mahlon and Chilion. I am also taking Ruth, the woman from Moab, Mahlon’s widow, to be my wife, in order that she may give birth to a son who will inherit the property of the dead man. In that way, Elimelech’s name will continue among the members of his family and among all the people of this town. Today you all are witnesses of what I have done.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)
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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.
One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).
The importance of the preservation of one’s “name” in both Hebrew and Bantu society has been noted on a number of occasions throughout this narrative. We might call attention once more to the slight difference in orientation underlying this desire: the Tonga concern is focused upon the past and the need for the children of the deceased to keep in “contact” with his spirit through the established religious ritual; the Hebrew was interested more in the future and perpetuating the influence of the deceased “in the land” through his descendants.
The phrase In addition may be rendered in some languages as “also,” but a fuller form may be required in certain instances; for example, “in addition to the property” or “but after the property also.”
It may be useful in this context to retain the expression the Moabite, perhaps in the form “the woman from Moab” or “the Moabite woman,” so as to emphasize satisfactorily the fact that Ruth was not of Jewish background.
For the translation of becomes my wife, see the comment on verse 5.
For the expression This will keep the property in the dead man’s family, see the notes on verse 5. It would be wrong, however, to suggest that Ruth becomes the wife of Boaz only in order to keep the property in the dead man’s family. Hence it may be useful to indicate clearly that this is a type of result; for example, “and as a result the property will remain in the dead man’s family” or “… in the family of Mahlon.”
And his family line will continue among his people is literally in Hebrew “that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brethren.” Good News Translation changes the passive expression to an active one and eliminates the rather difficult figurative expression “cut off from among” (a very common Hebrew figure).
In some languages it is essential to specify whose name is involved. This could be “the name of Mahlon.” But the focus throughout this passage has been upon the relationship of the various persons to Elimelech, and therefore one may translate “the name of Elimelech.”
In a number of languages one cannot speak about a “name continuing,” but it may be possible to employ some related expression, such as “that the name of Elimelech will not be missing (lacking, failing) among his brothers.”
For some languages the whole concept of name as a substitute for a person (or as in this context, for descendants) may be impossible, and therefore one may translate “that his descendants will not be lacking” or “that he may have descendants.” Semantically, the “cutting off of the name” remains in the same domain as the “cutting off of hope” (Pro 23.18; 24.14). See Kutsch’s article in THAT I, s.v. krt. On the other hand, shem is sometimes synonymous to zeraʿ so that “to cut off a name” means “to extirpate a family.” However, in this connection the verb krt is only used once, Isaiah 14.22.
In his hometown is literally in Hebrew “from the gate of his place.” For the significance of this expression, see the comments on 3.11.
You are witnesses to this today may be rendered as “You have seen this today and you can speak of it tomorrow.” In this way participating in an event and being able to confirm it at a later time are clearly indicated as the double role of a witness.
Quoted with permission from de Waard, Jan and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Ruth. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1978, 1992. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as acquired is the same word that is translated “buy” or “bought” in other parts of this chapter. It can also mean “have gotten” or “have obtained.”
Boaz was taking Ruth, Mahlon’s widow, as his wife. This was an important part of the responsibility of the “redeemer.” This is not the same as giving a payment to the parents of the bride, called a “bride-price,” which is practiced in many cultures. See how you translated “acquire” in 4:5b.
4:10b
In 4:10b and 4:10c, Boaz stated his reasons for marrying Ruth. Here he gave a positive reason. He said that if a son would be born to him and Ruth, that son would be the heir to the property of Mahlon and would carry on Mahlon’s family name.
to raise up: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to raise up here means “establish” or “cause to continue.” If an heir would be born, the property would continue to be known as the property of the family line of Elimelech and Mahlon.
the name of the deceased: This probably refers primarily to Mahlon. But Boaz was also talking about Elimelech who originally owned the property (see the Good News Translation and New Century Version quoted in 4:9b). He did not distinguish between the name and property of the father Elimelek and the son Mahlon. But if you must be specific, it is recommended that you refer to Mahlon, as in 4:5c.
through his inheritance: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as inheritance refers to the plot of land that Elimelech owned and that his sons would have inherited after he died.
Here are some other ways to translate this verse part:
This way she can have a son to carry on the family name of her dead husband and to inherit the family property here in his hometown. (New Living Translation (2004)) -or-
I am doing this so her dead husband’s property will stay in his name and his name will not be separated from his family and his hometown. (New Century Version)
4:10c
Having given a positive reason in 4:10b for him to marry Ruth, Boaz here gave a negative reason. He said that if a son would be born to him and Ruth, people would not forget that Elimelech’s and Mahlon’s family/lineage continued to exist.
so that his name will not disappear: The Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as disappear is literally “be cut off.” If there was no heir and a different family bought Elimelech’s family land, then the name of Mahlon, and that of Elimelech and Chilion as well, would no longer be associated with this land. Their names would eventually be forgotten.
from among his brothers or from the gate of his home: Their names would be forgotten among his brothersin the family line and from the gate of his homein the town history. First, if there was no heir, there would be no descendants or relatives to talk about them. Secondly, if the property was not bought back and was used by some other family and their descendants, the names of Mahlon and Elimelech eventually would not be mentioned in relation to the property, even from the gate of his home.
his brothers: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as his brothers means Mahlon’s relatives and descendants.
or from the gate of his home: This phrase is an idiom that refers to a family’s history in relation to their property, which is equivalent to town records. Here is another possible translation:
or from the town records
4:10d
You are witnesses today: This phrase was used to complete legal or commercial business. See the notes on 4:9b.
witnesses: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as witnesses is emphasized by being placed first in the phrase in the Hebrew text.
General Comment on 4:10a–d
Since 4:10 is very long, it may be better to break it into several shorter sentences. See the Display for examples.
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