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Ruth 3:12: Boaz's Answer to Ruth's Proposal, Part 3

Verse 12:[1] And now it is true that I am thy (Ruth 3:9) near kinsman: howbeit (Ruth 4:1) there is a kinsman nearer than I.



[I do not deny that I am near, but there is another nearer than I,וְעַתָּה֙ כִּ֣י אָמְנָ֔ם כִּ֥י אִם גֹאֵ֖ל אָנֹ֑כִי וְגַ֛ם יֵ֥שׁ גֹּאֵ֖ל קָר֥וֹב מִמֶּֽנִּי׃] Verbatim: And now, that truly indeed I am a redeemer, and there is also a redeemer nearer than I (Montanus, similarly the Septuagint, Syriac, Arabic). Now, therefore, I acknowledge that it is true that I am a kinsman; nevertheless, there is another kinsman nearer than I (Pagnine, similarly the English, Dutch). You are able to translate it so that nothing is to be understood, and the כִּי in the former position is superfluous; Now, therefore, it is true that I am a redeemer; nevertheless, there is also another nearer redeemer (Vatablus, Tigurinus, Geneva). But Vatablus does not approve this: for, when they had translated with the כִּי omitted, And so now it is true, etc., he noted, understand, I acknowledge that it is true that I am a redeemer or kinsman (Drusius). Others thus: Now I say that it is true, that, even if I am a redeemer, nevertheless there is in addition a redeemer nearer than I (Junius and Tremellius). That אָמְנָם/true/truly is more harshly constructed with the end of the verse, with the words, even if I am a redeemer, intervening. And, moreover, it is to observed that in all those versions אָמְנָם is taken for a true thing, or truth, as if it were a now; although it is everywhere an adver, truly (Dieu). But also this is now certainly evident; although I am near, nevertheless there is another nearer than I (Munster). Now therefore, although I am truly a redeemer, nevertheless there is also another redeemer nearer than I. כִּי/although, is set down by way of a πλεοναστικὴν/pleonastic epanalepsis:[2] and the particle אִם, that is, if, is inserted for even if; which appears to be a gloss of the particle כִּי (Piscator). In Hebrew, that a redeemer; written, that if, yet not read: and observe the germination of the particle, that truly, that a redeemer; we said, that truly, although a redeemer, with the sense thus requiring (Drusius). All difficulty will be removed, if I mistake not, if we expound both instances of כִּי by although, even if, which also is seen in the Lexica to be done elsewhere, in this manner; and now even if truly (or, certainly, truly), even if I be a redeemer, nevertheless there is a redeemer nearer than I. Or, the former כִּי is only confirmative, certainly, surely, which is common; the second כִּ֥י אִם is even if: for I do not think that the אִם here is superfluous, as the קְרִי/Qere indicates, but that together with the כִּי it makes even if, just as in 1 Samuel 14:39[3] (Dieu). There is another nearer than I: Prior, not in degree, but in order of birth (Grotius). It was possible among those that were in equal standing, indeed, it was requisite, that there be a certain order with respect to this right and obligation. See what things we have on Deuteronomy 25:5 (Bonfrerius). That one was the brother of Elimelech, but Boaz was only the son of his brother (Hebrews in Drusius).

[1] Hebrew: וְעַתָּה֙ כִּ֣י אָמְנָ֔ם כִּ֥י אִם גֹאֵ֖ל אָנֹ֑כִי וְגַ֛ם יֵ֥שׁ גֹּאֵ֖ל קָר֥וֹב מִמֶּֽנִּי׃


[2] That is, the repetition of the beginning of a clause or sentence at the end of that same clause or sentence, with words intervening.


[3] 1 Samuel 14:39a: “For, as the Lord liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son (כִּ֧י אִם־יֶשְׁנ֛וֹ בְּיוֹנָתָ֥ן בְּנִ֖י), he shall surely die.…”

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Dr. Dilday
Dr. Dilday
Oct 09, 2019

Thomas Boston's A View of the Covenant of Grace: 'Under the law, when a man was not able to act for himself, to assert and use his own right, one that was akin to him, had a right to act for him, coming in his room, and standing up in his right. And such a one was called his Goel; which properly signifies a Kinsman-redeemer. Hence that word is sometimes rendered a kinsman; as Numbers 5:8, "If the man have no (Goel) kinsman to recompense the trespass unto." Ruth 3:12, "I am thy (Goel) near kinsman: howbeit there is a (Goel) kinsman nearer than I." Sometimes it is rendered a Redeemer; as Proverbs 23:11, "Their (Goel) Redeemer is mighty." Isaia…


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Dr. Dilday
Dr. Dilday
Oct 09, 2019


Thomas Boston's Explication of the Assembly's Shorter Catechism: 'The Redeemer of the elect is the head of the covenant of grace, the Lord Jesus Christ; and there is no other Redeemer besides him, he is the only Redeemer: Acts 4:12, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved." The first part of his name, to wit, the Lord, signifies Jehovah, the true God, the Most High: Isaiah 47:4, "As for our Redeemer, the Lord of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel." Isaiah 48:17, "Thus saith the Lord thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel," etc. 1 Corinthians 12:3, "No man can sa…

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