Ruth 4: Group Study Handout

How to use: read Ruth 4 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.

Overview

Boaz went to the city gate and called the near kinsman. He invited him to sit down and shared about Naomi selling Elimelech's land. Boaz urged the kinsman to redeem the land, but the kinsman agreed only until he learned he must also redeem Ruth (vv.

Key verse

“Let your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, of the offspring which Yahweh will give you by this young woman.”
Ruth 4:12 (WEB)

Outline

Ruth 4:1–4 Boaz Confronts the Kinsman
Ruth 4:5–7 Kinsman's Reluctance to Redeem
Ruth 4:8–12 Formalizing the Redemption
Ruth 4:13–17 Boaz Marries Ruth
Ruth 4:18–22 Genealogy of David

Discussion questions

In v3, what does Boaz mention about the parcel of land?
What does the near kinsman say in v6 that leads him to decline redemption?
Boaz’s statement in v10 about raising up the name of the dead: what implications does this have for family lineage?
The women’s blessing in vv. 14-15: how do they view Ruth's role in Naomi's life?
When have you felt a deep loyalty to someone, as Ruth shows to Naomi in v15?

Go deeper

Passages that echo Ruth 4: Deuteronomy 25, 1 Chronicles 2, Matthew 1.

Before next time: read 1 Samuel 1.