Ruth 4:7 (LSB)

Passage

Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning the right of redemption and the exchange of land to establish any matter: a man removed his sandal and gave it to another; and this was the manner of attestation in Israel.

Nearby Context

Ruth 4:5 Then Boaz said, “On the day you acquire the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the one who had died, in order to raise up the name of the one who had died, on behalf of his inheritance.”

Ruth 4:6 So the kinsman redeemer said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I ruin my own inheritance. You redeem my right of redemption for yourself, for I cannot redeem it.”

Ruth 4:7 Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning the right of redemption and the exchange of land to establish any matter: a man removed his sandal and gave it to another; and this was the manner of attestation in Israel.

Ruth 4:8 So the kinsman redeemer said to Boaz, “Acquire this for yourself.” And he removed his sandal.

Ruth 4:9 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I have acquired all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon from the hand of Naomi.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "custom", "former", "times", "israel", "concerning", "right", "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 "So the kinsman redeemer said I cannot..." into verse 8's "So the kinsman redeemer said to Boaz...", 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.