4:5a

Then Boaz said: The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Then introduces a significant and unexpected addition to what Boaz told the other relative.

On the day you buy the land from Naomi: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as On the day means “when” or “whenever.” At the same time that the man bought the land from Naomi, he would also acquire Ruth (4:5b).

Here are some other ways to translate this verse part:

Boaz continued: “On the day you take over the field from Naomi (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Then Boaz explained, “When you buy the land from Naomi (New Century Version)

4:5b

and also from Ruth the Moabitess, you must also acquire: There is a textual problem with this part of the verse. Scholars suggest two ways to understand the Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as from Ruth :

(1) It should say “Ruth.” The word “Ruth” is the object of the verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as you…acquire. When the man acquired the land, he would also acquire Ruth. For example:

you also acquire Ruth the Moabitess (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
you will also assume responsibility for the Moabite Ruth (God’s Word)
-or-
you must also marry Ruth the Moabite (New Century Version)

(2) It should say “from Ruth.” Ruth as well as Naomi was the seller of the land. For example:

On the day you buy the land from Naomi and from Ruth, you acquire (New International Version (1984))

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with a majority of versions.

the widow of the deceased: The Hebrew phrase the Berean Standard Bible translates as the widow of the deceased is literally “the wife of the dead man.” It refers here to Ruth. The dead man is Mahlon, Elimelech’s son.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

the dead man’s wife (New Century Version)

4:5c

in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance: The custom of marrying a dead relative’s widow was intended to provide an heir for the dead man. The first male child born to the widow and the redeemer would be considered the heir of the man who had died. The land and the family name of the one who had died would belong to this son. In this case, people would consider Elimelech and Mahlon to be the ancestors of the first son born to Ruth and the redeemer.

the deceased: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the deceased is singular and primarily refers to Mahlon.

Here is one way to clarify that the name of the dead will be maintained:

This keeps the inheritance in the dead man’s name. (God’s Word)

his inheritance: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as inheritance refers here to the land that a man left to his son as an inheritance.

Here are some other ways to translate this verse part:

to maintain the dead man’s name on his inheritance (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
so that the field will stay in the dead man’s family (Good News Translation)

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