Paragraph 4:7–8

This paragraph describes the sandal ceremony that finalized the redemption of property.

4:7

This verse is background material. Use whatever way is appropriate in your language to indicate that this is background material and not part of the main story.

Apparently, at the time that the author wrote this story, the people of Israel were no longer practicing the same customs for legal matters, so he needed to explain it.

4:7a

Now: The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Now introduces background information about an old custom. It is not a time word here.

in former times in Israel: This phrase refers to a period of time in the past, long before the author wrote this book.

Here are some other ways to translate it:

in former times, it was the custom in Israel (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Long ago in Israel (New Century Version)
-or-
(This is the way it used to be in Israel (God’s Word)

4:7b

concerning the redemption or exchange of property, to make any matter legally binding: The custom mentioned in 4:7c was followed:

(a) when there was a redemption of property or possessions, and

(b) when there was some exchange of property or other possessions.

redemption: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as redemption is the noun that refers to the responsibility of purchasing the land of a poor relative.

exchange: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as exchange refers to a transfer or exchange.

of property: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as of property is literally “of all things.” It refers to any object or possession, not just to land.

to make any matter legally binding: The Hebrew phrase to make any matter legally binding means “to confirm,” “to establish,” or “to show that they had agreed.”

Here are other ways to translate this verse part:

to confirm a transaction in matters of redemption or inheritance (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
when people traded or bought back something (New Century Version)
-or-
to settle a sale or an exchange of property (Good News Translation)

4:7c

a man would remove his sandal and give it to the other party: The Hebrew words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as a man…the other party refers to the two people involved in the matter. Probably only men took part in such legal transactions, so it is acceptable to use masculine words in your translation here.

one party took off his sandal and give it to the other (New International Version)
-or-
for the seller to take off his sandal and give it to the buyer (Good News Translation)

remove his sandal: The sandal referred to here was most likely the common footwear of that time. It probably had a hard leather sole, with straps or strips of leather crossing over the top of the foot. If you do not have a word meaning sandal in your language, there are at least two options for translating this term:

• Use a general word that refers to footwear.

• Use a specific word in your language that refers to something similar to a sandal. For example:

thong/flip-flop

4:7d

and this was a confirmation in Israel: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as a confirmation occurs in only three places. It probably refers to the way that people in Israel confirmed their agreements at that time. For example:

This was the way a contract was publicly approved in Israel. (God’s Word)
-or-
In this way the Israelites showed that the matter was settled. (Good News Translation)

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