
TORAH
NEVI'IM
KETUVIM
Chapter 4
Translation and Transliteration of
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1Meanwhile, Boaz had gone to the gate and sat down there. And now the redeemer whom Boaz had mentioned passed by. He called, “Come over and sit down here, So-and-so!” And he came over and sat down.
u-BO-az a-LAH ha-SHA-ar va-YAY-shev SHAM, v'-hi-NEH ha-go-AYL o-VAYR a-SHER di-BER BO-az, va-YO-mer SU-rah SHE-va-PO p'-LO-NEE al-MO-nee, va-YA-sar va-YAY-shev.
אוּבֹ֨עַז עָלָ֣ה הַשַּׁ֘עַר֮ וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב שָׁם֒ וְהִנֵּ֨ה הַגֹּאֵ֤ל עֹבֵר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֶּר־בֹּ֔עַז וַיֹּ֛אמֶר ס֥וּרָה שְׁבָה־פֹּ֖ה פְּלֹנִ֣י אַלְמֹנִ֑י וַיָּ֖סַר וַיֵּשֵֽׁב׃
2Then [Boaz] took ten elders of the town and said, “Be seated here”; and they sat down.
vai-YI-kakh a-sa-RA an-a-SHEEM mi-zik-NAY ha-IR va-YO-mer she-VO-po va-YAY-she-VU
בוַיִּקַּ֞ח עֲשָׂרָ֧ה אֲנָשִׁ֛ים מִזִּקְנֵ֥י הָעִ֖יר וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שְׁבוּ־פֹ֑ה וַיֵּשֵֽׁבוּ׃
3He said to the redeemer, “Naomi, now returned from the country of Moab, must sell the piece of land which belonged to our kinsman Elimelech.
vai-YO-mer la-go-EL khel-KAT ha-sa-DEH a-SHER l'-a-KHEE-nu le-e-li-ME-lekh, ma-KH-RAH na-o-MEE ha-SHA-va mi-s'-DEH mo-AV
גוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לַגֹּאֵ֔ל חֶלְקַת֙ הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר לְאָחִ֖ינוּ לֶאֱלִימֶ֑לֶךְ מָכְרָ֣ה נׇעֳמִ֔י הַשָּׁ֖בָה מִשְּׂדֵ֥ה מוֹאָֽב׃
4I thought I should disclose the matter to you and say: Acquire it in the presence of those seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you are willing to redeem it, redeem! But if you will not redeem, tell me, that I may know. For there is no one to redeem but you, and I come after you.” “I am willing to redeem it,” he replied.
va-a-NEE a-MAR-tee e-GLEH a-Z'-NE-kha lay-MOR ke-NAY NE-ged ha-yo-SHE-veem v'-NE-ged zik-NAY a-MEE, im ti-GA-al ge-AL v'-im lo yi-GA-al ha-GEE-da LEE (ve-a-DE-a) [ve-eD'-a-HA] kee AYN zu-la-T'-KHA li-ge-OL v'-a-NO-khee a-kha-RE-kha va-YO-mer a-NO-khee e-GA-AL
דוַאֲנִ֨י אָמַ֜רְתִּי אֶגְלֶ֧ה אׇזְנְךָ֣ לֵאמֹ֗ר קְ֠נֵ֠ה נֶ֥גֶד הַיֹּשְׁבִים֮ וְנֶ֣גֶד זִקְנֵ֣י עַמִּי֒ אִם־תִּגְאַל֙ גְּאָ֔ל וְאִם־לֹ֨א יִגְאַ֜ל הַגִּ֣ידָה לִּ֗י (ואדע) [וְאֵֽדְעָה֙] כִּ֣י אֵ֤ין זוּלָֽתְךָ֙ לִגְא֔וֹל וְאָנֹכִ֖י אַחֲרֶ֑יךָ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אָנֹכִ֥י אֶגְאָֽל׃
5Boaz continued, “When you acquire the property from Naomi and from Rut the Moabite, you must also acquire the wife of the deceased, so as to perpetuate the name of the deceased upon his estate.”
vai-YO-mer BO-az b'-YOM k'-no-T'-KHA ha-SA-deh mi-YAD no-a-MEE, u-may-ET root ha-mo-a-VEE-yah, E-shet ha-MAYT (ka-NEE-ta) [ka-NEE-ta] l'-ha-KIM shaym ha-MAYT al-na-cha-LA-to
הוַיֹּ֣אמֶר בֹּ֔עַז בְּיוֹם־קְנוֹתְךָ֥ הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה מִיַּ֣ד נׇעֳמִ֑י וּ֠מֵאֵ֠ת ר֣וּת הַמּוֹאֲבִיָּ֤ה אֵֽשֶׁת־הַמֵּת֙ (קניתי) [קָנִ֔יתָ] לְהָקִ֥ים שֵׁם־הַמֵּ֖ת עַל־נַחֲלָתֽוֹ׃
6The redeemer replied, “Then I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own estate. You take over my right of redemption, for I am unable to exercise it.”
vai-YO-mer ha-go-EL lo u-KHAL (li-GA-ol) [li-g'-OL] li PEYN a-sh'-KHIT et-na-kha-LA-tee, g'-AL-le-KHA a-TAH et-g'-u-LA-tee, KEE lo u-KHAL li-G'-OL
ווַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַגֹּאֵ֗ל לֹ֤א אוּכַל֙ (לגאול) [לִגְאׇל־]לִ֔י פֶּן־אַשְׁחִ֖ית אֶת־נַחֲלָתִ֑י גְּאַל־לְךָ֤ אַתָּה֙ אֶת־גְּאֻלָּתִ֔י כִּ֥י לֹא־אוּכַ֖ל לִגְאֹֽל׃
7Now this was formerly done in Yisrael in cases of redemption or exchange: to validate any transaction, one man would take off his sandal and hand it to the other. Such was the practice in Yisrael.
v'-ZOT l'-fa-NIM b'-yis-ra-AYL al ha-ge-u-LAH v'-al ha-t'-mu-RAH l'-ka-YEM kol-da-VAR sha-LAF eesh na-a-LO v'-na-TAN l'-re-E-hu v'-ZOT ha-t'-u-DAH b'-yis-ra-AYL
זוְזֹאת֩ לְפָנִ֨ים בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל עַל־הַגְּאֻלָּ֤ה וְעַל־הַתְּמוּרָה֙ לְקַיֵּ֣ם כׇּל־דָּבָ֔ר שָׁלַ֥ף אִ֛ישׁ נַעֲל֖וֹ וְנָתַ֣ן לְרֵעֵ֑הוּ וְזֹ֥את הַתְּעוּדָ֖ה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
8So when the redeemer said to Boaz, “Acquire for yourself,” he drew off his sandal.
vai-YO-mer ha-go-EL l'-BO-az k'-NEH-lakh, vai-YISH-lof na-a-LO
חוַיֹּ֧אמֶר הַגֹּאֵ֛ל לְבֹ֖עַז קְנֵה־לָ֑ךְ וַיִּשְׁלֹ֖ף נַעֲלֽוֹ׃
9And Boaz said to the elders and to the rest of the people, “You are witnesses today that I am acquiring from Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Kilyon and Machlon.
vai-YO-mer BO-az la-z'-KE-nim v'-kol ha-AHM, ay-DEEM a-TEM ha-YOM, KEE ka-NEE-tee et-KOL a-SHER le-e-lee-MEKH, v'-ET kol a-SHER le-khil-YON u-makh-LON, mi-YAD na-o-MEE
טוַיֹּ֩אמֶר֩ בֹּ֨עַז לַזְּקֵנִ֜ים וְכׇל־הָעָ֗ם עֵדִ֤ים אַתֶּם֙ הַיּ֔וֹם כִּ֤י קָנִ֙יתִי֙ אֶת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֶאֱלִימֶ֔לֶךְ וְאֵ֛ת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר לְכִלְי֖וֹן וּמַחְל֑וֹן מִיַּ֖ד נׇעֳמִֽי׃
10I am also acquiring Rut the Moabite, the wife of Machlon, as my wife, so as to perpetuate the name of the deceased upon his estate, that the name of the deceased may not disappear from among his kinsmen and from the gate of his home town. You are witnesses today.”
v'-gam et-RUT ha-mo-a-vi-YAH, e-SHET ma-KH'-lon ka-NEE-tee lee l'-i-SHAH, l'-ha-KIM shem-ha-MAYT al-na-KHA-lat-o, v'-lo yi-ka-RET shem-ha-MAYT may-eem e-KHA-yav u-mi-SHA-ar me-KO-mo, e-DIM a-TEM ha-YOM.
יוְגַ֣ם אֶת־ר֣וּת הַמֹּאֲבִיָּה֩ אֵ֨שֶׁת מַחְל֜וֹן קָנִ֧יתִי לִ֣י לְאִשָּׁ֗ה לְהָקִ֤ים שֵׁם־הַמֵּת֙ עַל־נַ֣חֲלָת֔וֹ וְלֹא־יִכָּרֵ֧ת שֵׁם־הַמֵּ֛ת מֵעִ֥ם אֶחָ֖יו וּמִשַּׁ֣עַר מְקוֹמ֑וֹ עֵדִ֥ים אַתֶּ֖ם הַיּֽוֹם׃
11All the people at the gate and the elders answered, “We are. May Hashem make the woman who is coming into your house like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built up the House of Yisrael! Prosper in Efrat and perpetuate your name in Beit Lechem!
va-YO-meru kol-ha-AHM a-SHER ba-sha-AR v'-ha-z'-KE-nim ay-DEEM, yi-TAYN a-do-NAI et-ha-i-SHA ha-ba-AH el-BAY-te-KHA k'-ra-KHEL u-k'-le-AH a-SHER ba-NU sh'-TE-hem et-BAYT yis-ra-AYL, va-a-SEH-kha-YIL b'-e-fra-TAH u-k'-ra-SHEM b'-BAYT la-KHEM.
יאוַיֹּ֨אמְר֜וּ כׇּל־הָעָ֧ם אֲשֶׁר־בַּשַּׁ֛עַר וְהַזְּקֵנִ֖ים עֵדִ֑ים יִתֵּן֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֶֽת־הָאִשָּׁ֜ה הַבָּאָ֣ה אֶל־בֵּיתֶ֗ךָ כְּרָחֵ֤ל ׀ וּכְלֵאָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר בָּנ֤וּ שְׁתֵּיהֶם֙ אֶת־בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַעֲשֵׂה־חַ֣יִל בְּאֶפְרָ֔תָה וּקְרָא־שֵׁ֖ם בְּבֵ֥ית לָֽחֶם׃
12And may your house be like the house of Peretz whom Tamar bore to Yehuda—through the offspring which Hashem will give you by this young woman.”
v'-yi-HEE vayt-KHA k'-vayt PE-retz a-SHER ya-l'-DAH ta-MAR li-y'-hu-DAH min ha-Z'-RA a-SHER yi-TAYN a-do-NAI l'-KHA min ha-na-a-RAH ha-ZOT
יבוִיהִ֤י בֵֽיתְךָ֙ כְּבֵ֣ית פֶּ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יָלְדָ֥ה תָמָ֖ר לִיהוּדָ֑ה מִן־הַזֶּ֗רַע אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִתֵּ֤ן יְהֹוָה֙ לְךָ֔ מִן־הַֽנַּעֲרָ֖ה הַזֹּֽאת׃
13So Boaz married Rut; she became his wife, and he cohabited with her. Hashem let her conceive, and she bore a son.
vai-YA-kakh BO-az et-ROOT va-t'-HI lo l'-i-SHA, vai-ya-VO e-LE-ha, vai-YI-ten a-do-NAI LAH he-RA-yon, va-TAY-led BEN.
יגוַיִּקַּ֨ח בֹּ֤עַז אֶת־רוּת֙ וַתְּהִי־ל֣וֹ לְאִשָּׁ֔ה וַיָּבֹ֖א אֵלֶ֑יהָ וַיִּתֵּ֨ן יְהֹוָ֥ה לָ֛הּ הֵרָי֖וֹן וַתֵּ֥לֶד בֵּֽן׃
14And the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be Hashem, who has not withheld a redeemer from you today! May his name be perpetuated in Yisrael!
va-to-MAR-nah ha-na-SHEEM el-na-O-mee ba-RUKH a-do-NAI a-SHER lo hish-BEET lakh go-EL ha-YOM v'-yi-ka-REH sh'-MO b'-yis-ra-AYL
ידוַתֹּאמַ֤רְנָה הַנָּשִׁים֙ אֶֽל־נׇעֳמִ֔י בָּר֣וּךְ יְהֹוָ֔ה אֲ֠שֶׁ֠ר לֹ֣א הִשְׁבִּ֥ית לָ֛ךְ גֹּאֵ֖ל הַיּ֑וֹם וְיִקָּרֵ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
15He will renew your life and sustain your old age; for he is born of your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons.”
v'-ha-YA lakh l'-me-SHEEV NE-fesh u-l'-khal-KEL et-say-va-TEKH, KEE kha-la-TEKH a-SHER a-HE-va-TEKH ye-la-DA-tu, a-SHER hi TO-va lakh mi-shi-VAH ba-NEEM
טווְהָ֤יָה לָךְ֙ לְמֵשִׁ֣יב נֶ֔פֶשׁ וּלְכַלְכֵּ֖ל אֶת־שֵׂיבָתֵ֑ךְ כִּ֣י כַלָּתֵ֤ךְ אֲֽשֶׁר־אֲהֵבַ֙תֶךְ֙ יְלָדַ֔תּוּ אֲשֶׁר־הִיא֙ ט֣וֹבָה לָ֔ךְ מִשִּׁבְעָ֖ה בָּנִֽים׃
16Naomi took the child and held it to her bosom. She became its foster mother,
va-ti-KAKH no-a-MEE et ha-ye-LED va-t'-shi-TE-hu b'-khe-KAH va-t'-HI lo l'-o-ME-net
טזוַתִּקַּ֨ח נׇעֳמִ֤י אֶת־הַיֶּ֙לֶד֙ וַתְּשִׁתֵ֣הוּ בְחֵיקָ֔הּ וַתְּהִי־ל֖וֹ לְאֹמֶֽנֶת׃
17and the women neighbors gave him a name, saying, “A son is born to Naomi!” They named him Oved; he was the father of Yishai, father of David.
va-tik-RE-na LO ha-sh'-khe-NOT SHEM le-MOR: yu-LAD ben le-no-A-mee, va-tik-RE-na SHE-mo o-VED hu a-vee-yi-SHAI a-vee da-VID. (Pe)
יזוַתִּקְרֶ֩אנָה֩ ל֨וֹ הַשְּׁכֵנ֥וֹת שֵׁם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר יֻלַּד־בֵּ֖ן לְנׇעֳמִ֑י וַתִּקְרֶ֤אנָֽה שְׁמוֹ֙ עוֹבֵ֔ד ה֥וּא אֲבִֽי־יִשַׁ֖י אֲבִ֥י דָוִֽד׃
18This is the line of Peretz: Peretz begot Chetzron,
v'-AY-leh to-l'-DOT pa-RETZ, PE-retz ho-LEED et khetz-RON
יחוְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ תּוֹלְד֣וֹת פָּ֔רֶץ פֶּ֖רֶץ הוֹלִ֥יד אֶת־חֶצְרֽוֹן׃
19Chetzron begot Ram, Ram begot Aminadav,
v'-khetz-RON ho-LEED et-RAM, v'-RAM ho-LEED et-a-mee-na-DAV
יטוְחֶצְרוֹן֙ הוֹלִ֣יד אֶת־רָ֔ם וְרָ֖ם הוֹלִ֥יד אֶת־עַמִּֽינָדָֽב׃
20Aminadav begot Nachshon, Nachshon begot Salma,
v'-a-mi-na-DAV ho-LEED et nakh-SHON, v'-nakh-SHON ho-LEED et sal-MAH
כוְעַמִּֽינָדָב֙ הוֹלִ֣יד אֶת־נַחְשׁ֔וֹן וְנַחְשׁ֖וֹן הוֹלִ֥יד אֶת־שַׂלְמָֽה׃
21Salma begot Boaz, Boaz begot Oved,
v'-sal-MON ho-LEED et BO-az u-BO-az ho-LEED et o-VED
כאוְשַׂלְמוֹן֙ הוֹלִ֣יד אֶת־בֹּ֔עַז וּבֹ֖עַז הוֹלִ֥יד אֶת־עוֹבֵֽד׃
22Oved begot Yishai, and Yishai begot David.
v'-o-VAYD ho-LEED et yi-SHAI v'-yi-SHAI ho-LEED et da-VID
כבוְעֹבֵד֙ הוֹלִ֣יד אֶת־יִשָׁ֔י וְיִשַׁ֖י הוֹלִ֥יד אֶת־דָּוִֽד׃
4:22 And Yishai begot David
Megillat Rut ends by emphasizing Rut’s great reward for her selfless dedication to her mother-in-law and her late husband. She gives birth to a child who becomes the grandfather of King David, making Rut the ancestress of the Davidic dynasty as well as its future descendant, the Mashiach. Most other nations would have chosen a king with a perfect pedigree and impeccable lineage, yet King David descends from a Moabite convert. The lesson of King David’s humble origins is a powerful one. Rut teaches us that salvation and redemption can come from unlikely sources. No matter what our background is, we all have the ability to play a great role in history and make a difference in the world if we align ourselves with the God of Israel, the People of Israel and the Land of Israel.