Ruth 4:6-8
The Message
6 Then the relative said, “Oh, I can’t do that—I’d jeopardize my own family’s inheritance. You go ahead and buy it—you can have my rights—I can’t do it.”
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7 In the olden times in Israel, this is how they handled official business regarding matters of property and inheritance: a man would take off his shoe and give it to the other person. This was the same as an official seal or personal signature in Israel.
8 So when Boaz’s “redeemer” relative said, “Go ahead and buy it,” he signed the deal by pulling off his shoe.
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Ruth 4:6-8
New International Version
6 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)
7 (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)
8 So the guardian-redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it yourself.” And he removed his sandal.(G)
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