Ruth 4 · Verse 6

Ruth 4:6

And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.
Ruth 4:6, King James Version

Ruth 4:6 in other translations

BSBThe kinsman-redeemer replied, “I cannot redeem it myself, or I would jeopardize my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption, because I cannot redeem it.”
WEBThe near kinsman said, “I can’t redeem it for myself, lest I endanger my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption for yourself; for I can’t redeem it.”
ASVAnd the near kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: take thou my right of redemption on thee; for I cannot redeem it.
YLTAnd the redeemer saith, ‘I am not able to redeem it for myself, lest I destroy mine inheritance; redeem for thyself--thou--my right of redemption, for I am not able to redeem.'
DARBYAnd he that had the right of redemption said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance. Redeem thou for thyself what I should redeem, for I cannot redeem it.
BBEAnd the near relation said, I am not able to do the relation's part, for fear of damaging the heritage I have: you may do it in my place, for I am not able to do it myself.
WebsterAnd the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar my own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.

What does Ruth 4:6 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Ru 4:6-8. He Refuses the Redemption.

6. The kinsman said, I cannot redeem it ..., lest I mar mine own inheritance--This consequence would follow, either, first, from his having a son by Ruth, who, though heir to the property, would not bear his name; his name would be extinguished in that of her former husband; or, secondly, from its having to be subdivided among his other children, which he had probably by a previous marriage. This right, therefore, was renounced and assigned in favor of Boaz, in the way of whose marriage with Ruth the only existing obstacle was now removed.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 6 I cannot redeem it for myself - The Targum gives the proper sense of this passage: "And the kinsman said, On this ground I cannot redeem it, because I have a wife already; and I have no desire to take another, lest there should be contention in my house, and I should become a corrupter of my inheritance. Do thou redeem it, for thou hast no wife; for I cannot redeem it." This needs no comment. But still the gloss of the Targum has no foundation in the law of Moses. See the law, Deu 25:5-9.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ruth 4:1-8

This matter depended on the laws given by Moses about inheritances, and doubtless the whole was settled in the regular and legal manner. This kinsman, when he heard the conditions of the bargain, refused it. In like manner many are shy of the great redemption; they are not willing to espouse religion; they have heard well of it, and have nothing to say against it; they will give it their good word, but they are…

Read the full comment on Ruth 4:1-8 →

Ruth 4:6 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
הַגֹּאֵ֗לha.go.'Elthe kinsman-redeemerH1350
לֹ֤אlo'notH3808
אוּכַל֙'u.KhalI am ableH3201
לִגְאָלlig.'ol-to redeem [it]H1350
לִ֔יlifor <the> myself
פֶּן\־pen-lestH6435
אַשְׁחִ֖ית'ash.ChitI should ruinH7843
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
נַחֲלָתִ֑יna.cha.la.Tiown inheritance myH5159
גְּאַל\־ge.'al-redeemH1350
לְךָ֤le.Khafor <the> yourself
אַתָּה֙'a.TahyouH859
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
גְּאֻלָּתִ֔יge.'u.la.Tiright of redemption myH1353
כִּ֥יkiforH3588
לֹא\־lo'-notH3808
אוּכַ֖ל'u.KhalI am ableH3201
לִגְאֹֽל\׃lig.'Olto redeem [it]H1350

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ruth 4:6

  • Ruth 3:13

    Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman’s part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the Lord liveth: lie down until the morning.

  • Leviticus 25:25

    If thy brother be waxen poor, and hath sold away some of his possession, and if any of his kin come to redeem it, then shall he redeem that which his brother sold.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
I cannot.The Targum seems to give the proper sense of this passage: "I cannot redeem it, because I have a wife already; and it is not fit for me to bring another into my house, lest brawling and contention arise in it; and lest I hurt my own inheritance. Do thou redeem it, for thou has no wife; which hinders me from redeeming it."
6

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Ruth 4:5

    Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.

  • Ruth 4:6

    And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.

  • Ruth 4:7

    Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel.

Read all of Ruth 4

Ruth 4:6 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y respondió el pariente: No puedo redimir por mi parte, porque echaría á perder mi heredad: redime tú usando de mi derecho, porque yo no podré redimir.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et celui qui avait le droit de rachat dit: Je ne puis pas le racheter pour moi, de peur que je ne ruine mon héritage; use, toi, de mon droit de rachat, car je ne puis racheter.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Da sprach der Blutsverwandte: Ich kann nicht für mich lösen, daß ich mein Erbteil nicht verderbe. Löse du für dich, was ich lösen sollte, denn ich kann nicht lösen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Qui respondit: Cedo juri propinquitatis: neque enim posteritatem familiæ meæ delere debeo: tu meo utere privilegio, quo me libenter carere profiteor.