Ruth 4:2
◄  Ruth 4:2  ►
New International Version (©2011)
Boaz took ten of the elders of the town and said, "Sit here," and they did so.

New Living Translation (©2007)
Then Boaz called ten leaders from the town and asked them to sit as witnesses.

English Standard Version (©2001)
And he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
He took ten men of the elders of the city and said, "Sit down here." So they sat down.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Then Boaz took 10 men of the town's elders and said, "Sit here." And they sat down.

International Standard Version (©2012)
Boaz selected ten of the town elders and spoke to them, "Sit down here." So they sat down

NET Bible (©2006)
Boaz chose ten of the village leaders and said, "Sit down here!" So they sat down.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Then Boaz chose ten men who were leaders of that city and said, "Sit here." So they also sat down.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit down here. And they sat down.

American King James Version
And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit you down here. And they sat down.

American Standard Version
And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And Booz taking ten men of the ancients of the city, said to them: Sit ye down here.

Darby Bible Translation
And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit down here. And they sat down.

English Revised Version
And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.

World English Bible
He took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, "Sit down here." They sat down.

Young's Literal Translation
And he taketh ten men of the elders of the city, and saith, 'Sit down here;' and they sit down.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

4:1-8 This matter depended on the laws given by Moses about inheritances, and doubtless the whole was settled in the regular and legal manner. This kinsman, when he heard the conditions of the bargain, refused it. In like manner many are shy of the great redemption; they are not willing to espouse religion; they have heard well of it, and have nothing to say against it; they will give it their good word, but they are willing to part with it, and cannot be bound to it, for fear of marring their own inheritance in this world. The right was resigned to Boaz. Fair and open dealing in all matters of contract and trade, is what all must make conscience of, who would approve themselves true Israelites, without guile. Honesty will be found the best policy.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 2. - And he took ten men of the elderly inhabitants of the city, and he said, Sit ye here; and they sat down. Boaz wished to have a full complement of witnesses to the important transaction which he contemplated.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And he took ten men of the elders of the city,.... Who were such, not merely in age but in office, who were the heads of thousands, fifties, and tens; ten of whom were a quorum to do business in judiciary affairs, to determine such matters as Boaz had propose, as to whom the right of redemption of a brother and kinsman's widow, and her estate, belonged, and who were the proper witnesses of the refusal of the one to do it, and of the other's doing it and from hence the Jews (e) gather, that the blessing of the bride and bridegroom at their marriage is not to be done by less than ten persons:

and said, sit down here, and they sat down; and so made a full court.

(e) Misnah Megillah, c. 4. sect. 3. T. Bab. Cetubot, fol. 7. 1. Midrash Ruth, fol. 35. 1.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

2. he took ten men of the elders of the city—as witnesses. In ordinary circumstances, two or three were sufficient to attest a bargain; but in cases of importance, such as matrimony, divorce, conveyancing of property, it was the Jewish practice to have ten (1Ki 21:8).

Ruth 4:2 Parallel Commentaries

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Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


Boaz Redeems Ruth
1Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spoke came by; to whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down. 2And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit you down here. And they sat down. 3And he said to the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, sells a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's: …

1 Kings 21:8 So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, placed his seal on them, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth's city with him.
Proverbs 31:23 Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.