Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, July 29th, 2025
the Week of Proper 12 / Ordinary 17
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Read the Bible

Easy-to-Read Version

Ruth 3:12

And it is true that I am a close relative. But there is a man who is a closer relative to you than I am.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Chastity;   Continence;   Courtship;   Threshing;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Widows;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Widow;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Boaz;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Goel;   Kinsman;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Avenger;   Economic Life;   Kinsman;   Levirate Law, Levirate Marriage;   Ruth;   Skirt;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for June 21;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Yes, it is true that I am a family redeemer, but there is a redeemer closer than I am.
Hebrew Names Version
Now it is true that I am a near kinsman; however there is a kinsman nearer than I.
King James Version
And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.
Lexham English Bible
Now truly I am a redeemer, but there is also a redeemer of a closer relationship than me.
English Standard Version
And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I.
New Century Version
It is true that I am a relative who is to take care of you, but you have a closer relative than I.
New English Translation
Now yes, it is true that I am a guardian, but there is another guardian who is a closer relative than I am.
Amplified Bible
"It is true that I am your close relative and redeemer; however, there is a relative closer [to you] than I.
New American Standard Bible
"But now, although it is true that I am a redeemer, yet there is also a redeemer more closely related than I.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And now, it is true that I am thy kinsman, howbeit there is a kinsman neerer then I.
Legacy Standard Bible
But now it is true I am a kinsman redeemer; however, there is a kinsman redeemer closer than I.
Contemporary English Version
It's true that I am one of the relatives who is supposed to take care of you, but there is someone who is an even closer relative.
Complete Jewish Bible
Now, it is true that I am a redeeming kinsman; but there is a redeemer who is a closer relative than I am.
Darby Translation
And now, truly I am one that has the right of redemption, yet there is one that has the right of redemption who is nearer than I.
George Lamsa Translation
And now it is true that I am a near kinsman; however, there is another kinsman nearer than I.
Good News Translation
It is true that I am a close relative and am responsible for you, but there is a man who is a closer relative than I am.
Literal Translation
And now, surely it is true that I am a kinsman redeemer. But there also is a redeemer nearer than I.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Trueth it is now, yt I am a nye kynsma, but there is one nyer then I.
American Standard Version
And now it is true that I am a near kinsman; howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.
Bible in Basic English
Now it is true that I am a near relation: but there is a relation nearer than I.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And it is true that I am of thy next kinne, howbeit there is one nier then I.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And now it is true that I am a near kinsman; howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.
King James Version (1611)
And now it is true, that I am thy neare kinseman: howbeit there is a kinseman nearer then I.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And now I am truly akin to thee; nevertheless there is a kinsman nearer than I.
English Revised Version
And now it is true that I am a near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.
Berean Standard Bible
Yes, it is true that I am a kinsman-redeemer, but there is a redeemer nearer than I.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Y forsake not, that Y am of nyy kyn, but another man is neer than Y;
Young's Literal Translation
And now, surely, true, that I [am] a redeemer, but also there is a redeemer nearer than I.
Update Bible Version
And now it is true that I am a near kinsman; nevertheless there is a kinsman nearer than I.
Webster's Bible Translation
And now it is true that I [am thy] near kinsman: yet there is a kinsman nearer than I.
World English Bible
Now it is true that I am a near kinsman; however there is a kinsman nearer than I.
New King James Version
Now it is true that I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I.
New Living Translation
But while it's true that I am one of your family redeemers, there is another man who is more closely related to you than I am.
New Life Bible
It is true that I am of your family. But there is one closer than I.
New Revised Standard
But now, though it is true that I am a near kinsman, there is another kinsman more closely related than I.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, now, although it is true that, a kinsman, am I, yet is there a kinsman nearer than I.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Neither do I deny myself to be near of kin, but there is another nearer than I.
Revised Standard Version
And now it is true that I am a near kinsman, yet there is a kinsman nearer than I.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Now it is true I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I.

Contextual Overview

6 So Ruth went down to the threshing floor and did everything that her mother-in-law told her to do. 7 After eating and drinking, Boaz was very satisfied. He went to lie down near the pile of grain. Then Ruth went to him very quietly and lifted the cover from his feet and lay down by his feet. 8 About midnight, Boaz rolled over in his sleep and woke up. He was very surprised. There was a woman lying near his feet. 9 Boaz said, "Who are you?" She said, "I am Ruth, your servant girl. Spread your cover over me. You are my protector." 10 Then Boaz said, "May the Lord bless you, young woman. You have been very kind to me. Your kindness to me is greater than the kindness you showed to Naomi in the beginning. You could have looked for a young man to marry, rich or poor. But you did not. 11 Now, young woman, don't be afraid. I will do what you ask. All the people in our town know that you are a very good woman. 12 And it is true that I am a close relative. But there is a man who is a closer relative to you than I am. 13 Stay here tonight. In the morning we will see if he will help you. If he decides to help you, that is fine. If he refuses to help, I promise, as surely as the Lord lives, I will marry you and buy back Elimelech's land for you. So lie here until morning."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

there is: Ruth 4:1, Matthew 7:12, 1 Thessalonians 4:6

Reciprocal: Leviticus 25:25 - General Ruth 2:1 - kinsman Ruth 3:9 - a near kinsman Ruth 4:5 - to raise up

Cross-References

Genesis 2:18
Then the Lord God said, "I see that it is not good for the man to be alone. I will make the companion he needs, one just right for him."
Genesis 2:20
The man gave names to all the tame animals, to all the birds in the air, and to all the wild animals. He saw many animals and birds, but he could not find a companion that was right for him.
Genesis 2:22
The Lord God used the rib from the man to make a woman. Then he brought the woman to the man.
Genesis 3:13
Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What have you done?" She said, "The snake tricked me, so I ate the fruit."
Genesis 3:15
I will make you and the woman enemies to each other. Your children and her children will be enemies. You will bite her child's foot, but he will crush your head."
Genesis 3:20
Adam named his wife Eve. He gave her this name because Eve would be the mother of everyone who ever lived.
Genesis 3:21
The Lord God used animal skins and made some clothes for the man and his wife. Then he put the clothes on them.
Genesis 3:24
God forced the man to leave the garden. Then he put Cherub angels and a sword of fire at the entrance to the garden to protect it. The sword flashed around and around, guarding the way to the tree of life.
Job 31:33
I have not tried to hide my sins as some people do. I have never hidden my guilt.
Proverbs 19:3
People ruin their lives with the foolish things they do, and then they blame the Lord for it.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And now it is true, that I am thy near kinsman,.... Her husband and he being brothers' sons, so own cousins:

howbeit, there is a kinsman nearer than I, who was, the Jews say w, the brother of her husband's father, and so his uncle, which was a nearer relation than an own cousin.

w Midrash Ruth, ut supra. (31. 4. & 34. 2) Jarchi in loc.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

By “kinsman,” understand the גאל gā'al (Ruth 2:20 note).

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Ruth 3:12. There is a kinsman nearer than I. — It is very likely that Naomi was not acquainted with this circumstance. Some have supposed that there was a brother of Elimelech remaining, who was nearer than Boaz, who is supposed to have been only a nephew; the former, therefore, must have a prior right.


 
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