Ruth 4:7 (DBY)

Passage

Now this [was the custom] in former time in Israel concerning redemption and concerning exchange, to confirm the whole matter: a man drew off his sandal, and gave it to his neighbour, and this was the [mode of] attestation in Israel.

Nearby Context

Ruth 4:5 And Boaz said, On the 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 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].

Ruth 4:7 Now this [was the custom] in former time in Israel concerning redemption and concerning exchange, to confirm the whole matter: a man drew off his sandal, and gave it to his neighbour, and this was the [mode of] attestation in Israel.

Ruth 4:8 And he that had the right of redemption said to Boaz, Buy for thyself; and he drew off his sandal.

Ruth 4:9 And Boaz said to the elders and all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi;

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "custom", "former", "time", "israel", "concerning", "redemption", and "exchange". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "custom" and "former", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 6's "And he that had the right of..." into verse 8's "And he that had the right of...", so "custom" and "former" belong inside that flow. In Ruth context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "custom" and "former" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.