Ruth 2:20

King James Version (KJV)

And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the Lord, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

To the living and to the dead - Naomi and Ruth were the living; and they were also the representatives of Elimelech and Mahlon, who were dead. Naomi was of the family; and Ruth, though not of the family, was a representative of one of its deceased branches, being the widow of Mahlon.

One of our next kinsmen - מגאלינו miggoaleynu, of our redeemers, one who has the right to redeem the forfeited inheritance of the family. The word גאל goel signifies a near kinsman - one who by the Mosaic law had a right to redeem an inheritance, and also was permitted to vindicate or revenge the death of his relation by killing the slayer, if he found him out of the cities of refuge.

In order to prevent families from running to decay, if a brother died childless, the next unmarried brother took his widow; and the children from that marriage were reputed the children of the deceased brother. The office of the next akin was threefold:

It belonged to him to buy back the forfeited inheritance, or the liberty of him who had been obliged to sell himself for a servant.

It was his right to avenge the blood of any of the family who had been killed, by killing the murderer.

It belonged to him to take the widow of a deceased brother or relative, if he died childless.

If the nearest akin in any case refused, he was treated with indignity, lost his right to the inheritance, and the next akin to him might come forward and take the widow, etc., as in the case of Boaz. See Rth 4:4-10.

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Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

Blessed be he of the Lord … - We may gather from Naomi‘s allusion to the dead that both her husband and son had been faithful servants of Jehovah, the God of Israel. His kindness to the dead consisted in raising up (as Naomi hoped) an heir to perpetuate the name; and, in general, in His care for their widows.

One of our next kinsmen - The word here is גאל gā'al the redeemer, who had the right:

(1) of redeeming the inheritance of the person;

(2) of marrying the widow;

(3) of avenging the death. (See Leviticus 25:25-31, Leviticus 25:47-55; Deuteronomy 25:5-10; Deuteronomy 19:1-13.)

Since these rights belonged to the next of kin, גאל gā'al came to mean the nearest kinsman.

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

It encourages industry, that in all labour, even that of gleaning, there is profit. Ruth was pleased with what she gained by her own industry, and was careful to secure it. Let us thus take care that we lose not those things which we have wrought, which we have gained for our souls' good, 2Jo 1:8. Parents should examine their children, as Naomi did, not to frighten or discourage them, so as to make them hate home, or tempt them to tell a lie; but to commend them if they have done well, and with mildness to reprove and caution them if they have done otherwise. It is a good question for us to ask ourselves every night, Where have I gleaned to-day? What improvement have I made in knowledge and grace? What have I done that will turn to a good account? When the Lord deals bountifully with us, let us not be found in any other field, nor seeking for happiness and satisfaction in the creature. We lose Divine favours, if we slight them. Ruth dutifully observed her mother's directions. And when the harvest was ended, she kept her aged mother company at home. Dinah went out to see the daughters of the land; her vanity ended in disgrace, Ge 34. Ruth kept at home, and helped to maintain her mother, and went out on no other errand than to get provision for her; her humility and industry ended in preferment.

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

20. One of our next kinsmen. What Naomi doubtless explains to Ruth is not simply that Boaz is a relative, but that, as a near kinsman, he has the right of redeeming Elimelech’s property, probably already sold for debt (see on Lev. 25:24). Naomi’s first thought is of the family inheritance. Ruth does not yet understand what the “right” to “redeem” (Ruth 4:6) involves in Jewish social law, but she does hasten to tell Naomi how Boaz had urged her to remain in his field throughout the harvest. Naomi heartily approves of Boaz’ earnest invitation to Ruth to continue gleaning in his field (see ch. 2:22).

The word translated “kinsmen” is from the root ga’al, meaning “to redeem,” “to ransom,” “to recover,” that is, by the settlement of outstanding obligations. The participle is go’el, a “near relative.” Preceded by the definite article it becomes haggo’el, “nearest kinsman,” as in ch. 4:1.

There were several important responsibilities that, according to Jewish law and custom, devolved upon a near kinsman. It was his duty to: (1) Buy back the property a near kinsman had sold to a creditor, or to someone else, to meet the creditor’s demands, as in Lev. 25:25; Ruth 4:4, 6; Jer. 32:7. (2) “Redeem” one near of kin who had of necessity sold himself into servitude, as in Lev. 25:48, 49. (3) Avenge the blood of a near kinsman, if slain by an enemy, as in Num. 35:19; where go’el is translated “revenger.” (4) Marry the childless widow of a near kinsman, as in Ruth 3:13, and become trustee of the property on behalf of the offspring of this union.

Bible writers adopted the figure of the near kinsman as a “redeemer” and applied it to God as the Redeemer of man from sin and death. Job, for instance, said, “I know that my redeemer [go’el] liveth” (Job 19:25)â€”the one who would redeem him from the grave at the resurrection. Isaiah uses ga’al and go’el 18 times in reference to God as the Redeemer of Israel from their foes, and of men from the clutches of sin (see Isa. 43:1, 14; 44:22; 49:7, 54:5, 8; 63:16; etc.). Well may we rejoice in Christ, our near Kinsman, who accepted on our behalf the responsibilities implied in that relationship. He it is who has redeemed us from the power of sin and of death (Isa. 44:22; Hosea 13:14). If we but come to Him, He will not decline as did Ruth’s next of kin (Ruth 4:6); He will in no wise cast us out (John 6:37). And in coming to Him we will find “rest” unto our souls (Ruth 3:1; Matt. 11:29).

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Ellen G. White
The Desire of Ages, 327

Those who are called to suffer for Christ's sake, who have to endure misapprehension and distrust, even in their own home, may find comfort in the thought that Jesus has endured the same. He is moved with compassion for them. He bids them find companionship in Him, and relief where He found it, in communion with the Father. DA 327.1

Those who accept Christ as their personal Saviour are not left as orphans, to bear the trials of life alone. He receives them as members of the heavenly family; He bids them call His Father their Father. They are His “little ones,” dear to the heart of God, bound to Him by the most tender and abiding ties. He has toward them an exceeding tenderness, as far surpassing what our father or mother has felt toward us in our helplessness as the divine is above the human. DA 327.2

Of Christ's relation to His people, there is a beautiful illustration in the laws given to Israel. When through poverty a Hebrew had been forced to part with his patrimony, and to sell himself as a bondservant, the duty of redeeming him and his inheritance fell to the one who was nearest of kin. See Leviticus 25:25, 47-49; Ruth 2:20. So the work of redeeming us and our inheritance, lost through sin, fell upon Him who is “near of kin” unto us. It was to redeem us that He became our kinsman. Closer than father, mother, brother, friend, or lover is the Lord our Saviour. “Fear not,” He says, “for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine.” “Since thou wast precious in My sight, thou hast been honorable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.” Isaiah 43:1, 4. DA 327.3

Christ loves the heavenly beings that surround His throne; but what shall account for the great love wherewith He has loved us? We cannot understand it, but we can know it true in our own experience. And if we do hold the relation of kinship to Him, with what tenderness should we regard those who are brethren and sisters of our Lord! Should we not be quick to recognize the claims of our divine relationship? Adopted into the family of God, should we not honor our Father and our kindred? DA 327.4

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Cross References

Blessed

hath not