◄ Ruth 4:7 ►
Verse  (Click for Chapter)
Good News Translation
Now in those days, to settle a sale or an exchange of property, it was the custom for the seller to take off his sandal and give it to the buyer. In this way the Israelites showed that the matter was settled.

New Revised Standard Version
Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, the one took off a sandal and gave it to the other; this was the manner of attesting in Israel.

Contemporary English Version
To make a sale legal in those days, one person would take off a sandal and give it to the other.

New American Bible
Now it used to be the custom in Israel that, to make binding a contract of redemption or exchange, one party would take off a sandal and give it to the other. This was the form of attestation in Israel.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Now this in former times was the manner in Israel between kinsmen, that if at any time one yielded his right to another: that the grant might be sure, the man put off his shoe and gave it to his neighbour; this was a testimony of cession of right in Israel.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Now this in former times was the manner in Israel between kinsmen, that if at any time one yielded his right to another: that the grant might be sure, the man put off his shoe and gave it to his neighbour; this was a testimony of cession of right in Israel.

a man plucked off.

Deuteronomy 25:7-10 But if he will not take his brother's wife, who by law belongeth to him, the woman shall go to the gate of the city, and call upon the ancients, and say: My husband's brother refuseth to raise up his brother's name in Israel: and will not take me to wife. . . .

Context
Boaz Redeems Ruth
…6He answered: I yield up my right of next akin: for I must not cut off the posterity of my own family. Do thou make use of my privilege, which I profess I do willingly forego. 7Now this in former times was the manner in Israel between kinsmen, that if at any time one yielded his right to another: that the grant might be sure, the man put off his shoe and gave it to his neighbour; this was a testimony of cession of right in Israel.8So Booz said to his kinsman: Put off thy shoe. And immediately he took it off from his foot.…
Cross References
Deuteronomy 25:8
And they shall cause him to be sent for forthwith, and shall ask him. If he answer: I will not take her to wife:

Deuteronomy 25:9
The woman shall come to him before the ancients, and shall take off his shoe from his foot, and spit in his face, and say: So shall it be done to the man that will not build up his brother's house:

Ruth 4:8
So Booz said to his kinsman: Put off thy shoe. And immediately he took it off from his foot.

Ruth 4:6
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