Ruth 4:7 (GNV)

Passage

Now this was the maner beforetime in Israel, concerning redeeming and changing, for to stablish all things: a man did plucke off his shooe, and gaue it his neighbour, and this was a sure witnes in Israel.

Nearby Context

Ruth 4:5 Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou mnst also buy it of Ruth the Moabitesse the wife of the dead, to stirre vp the name of the dead, vpon his inheritance.

Ruth 4:6 And the kinsman answered, I can not redeeme it, lest I destroy mine owne inheritance: redeeme my right to thee, for I can not redeeme it.

Ruth 4:7 Now this was the maner beforetime in Israel, concerning redeeming and changing, for to stablish all things: a man did plucke off his shooe, and gaue it his neighbour, and this was a sure witnes in Israel.

Ruth 4:8 Therefore the kinsman sayd to Boas, Buy it for thee: and he drew off his shooe.

Ruth 4:9 And Boaz sayd vnto the Elders and vnto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I haue bought all that was Elimelechs, and all that was Chilions and Mahlons, of the hand of Naomi.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "all things", "maner", "beforetime", "israel", "concerning", "redeeming", "changing", and "stablish". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "all things" and "maner", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 6's "And the kinsman answered I can not..." into verse 8's "Therefore the kinsman sayd to Boas Buy...", so "all things" and "maner" 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 "all things" and "maner" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.