And the kinsman answered, I cannot redeem it, lest I destroy mine own inheritance: redeem my right to thee, for I can not redeem it.

Now this was the manner beforetime in Israel, concerning redeeming and changing for to stablish all things: a man did pluck off his shoe, and gave it his neighbor: and this was a sure [a]witness in Israel.

Therefore the kinsman said to Boaz, Buy it for thee: and he drew off his shoe.

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Footnotes

  1. Ruth 4:7 That he had resigned his right, Deut. 25:9.

At this, the guardian-redeemer said, “Then I cannot redeem(A) it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it.”(B)

(Now in earlier times in Israel, for the redemption(C) and transfer of property to become final, one party took off his sandal(D) and gave it to the other. This was the method of legalizing transactions(E) in Israel.)(F)

So the guardian-redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it yourself.” And he removed his sandal.(G)

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