Ruth 4:5
“Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must buy it also from Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead on his inheritance.””
What does Ruth 4:5 mean?
Boaz is explaining to the closer relative why he can't simply purchase Naomi's land and walk away. By marrying Ruth (the widow of the previous owner), whoever buys the field takes on the responsibility of continuing her late husband's family line, which was a sacred obligation in that culture. This means the land transaction comes with a significant personal and financial commitment, not just a business deal. Boaz's words make clear that this relative now understands the full cost of what he'd claimed to want, which is why he steps aside and allows Boaz to take both the land and Ruth as his wife.