Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ruth 3:12
And now it is true that I [am thy] near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.
12. there is a kinsman nearer than I ] with a better right to do the kinsman’s part. Boaz displays a nice sense of honour, and a desire to adhere strictly to the rules of social usage.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
By kinsman, understand the ga’al (Rth 2:20 note).
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 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.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical 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.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
12. There is a kinsman nearer than I From this it appears that Naomi had laboured under some mistake. Probably she was ignorant of the existence of a nearer kinsman than Boaz; or she may have known that nearer kinsman, and also that it would have marred his inheritance to have redeemed that of her husband, Elimelech. Compare Rth 4:6.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
“ And now it is true that I am a near kinsman. However, there is a kinsman nearer than I.”
Boaz, however, now drew attention to a problem There was a nearer kinsman than himself. In view of the fact that Ruth was seeking to produce children on behalf of her dead husband it had to be through the nearest kinsman who was willing. Furthermore, rights to property were involved, and that also gave precedence to the nearest kinsman.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Rth 3:12. Howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I He does not reject her petition; but, actuated by a strict regard to the law of Moses, informs her, that he could not properly take her to wife, as there was a person nearer to her than himself: till, therefore, that person could be consulted, it was their duty to wait. He assures her, that there shall be no longer delay than is absolutely requisite; that he will immediately take all necessary steps; and, in the mean time, advises her in quietness and security to remain there that night, under the protection of a man, whom inclination as well as religion led to preserve her virtue, reputation, and happiness. See Rth 3:14 and Pfeiffer’s Dubia Vexata, p. 360.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Rth 3:12 And now it is true that I [am thy] near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.
Ver. 12. And now it is true. ] He easily yieldeth to the truth of her allegation, as being , a lover of truth – a title given to Arrian the historian – and a promoter of it, as it is said of Vespasian.
Howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Chapter 16
Three Nearer Kinsmen,
But Only One Redeemer
“And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I. Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman’s part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning.”
Rth 3:12-13
Tragedies alone never convert sinners (Rev 9:20; Rev 16:9-11. The old proverb is true – Any refuge built in the storm will die in the calm. Acts of providential judgment do not produce repentance. A good scare will make a man seek a refuge; but it will not change his heart. Though these things are used of God to convert his elect, it is only when they are accompanied by the grace of God and only a saving revelation of Christ in the heart that they change the heart and produce repentance (Zec 12:10). The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance (Rom 2:4).
However, God does use providential tragedies, judgments, and dangers to bring chosen sinners to Christ (Psa 107:1-43). As we have seen, this fact is beautifully and clearly illustrated in the case of Ruth. Ruth, the chosen object of mercy, a Moabitess, must be saved. Therefore, God sent famine to Bethlehem-Judah. Elimelech went down to Moab. Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth were all widowed. All this was done to bring Ruth, the chosen object of mercy, to the place appointed of God for her to obtain mercy.
In the saving of chosen sinners, God always utilizes the preaching of the gospel (Rom 10:10-17; 1Co 1:21; Jas 1:18; 1Pe 1:23-25). This fact is beautifully illustrated in Rth 1:6. Almighty God never gets in a bind. He never needs to change his mind, or alter his purpose. At the appointed time, by one means or another, God will send someone to his elect with the good news of his free grace in Christ.
However, there is one thing absolutely essential to the salvation of Gods elect, one thing without which no sinner could ever be saved, one thing without which God himself could never have saved anyone, is blood redemption. Without shedding of blood is no remission (Heb 9:22). God could save with or without earthly tragedies. Had he chosen to do so, certainly God could save without the ministry of the Word, had that been his purpose. But God cannot save apart from blood redemption. The whole purpose of the Book of Ruth is to teach us about redemption, more specifically, to teach us about Christ, our Kinsman Redeemer.
Boaz had spotted Ruth in his fields. He took care of Ruth and provided for her. Ruth came to Boaz on the threshing floor and asked him to take her for his wife. He wanted her and was determined to have her; but the law of God had to be honored. Ruth had a nearer kinsman. Boaz knew the this nearer kinsman. He knew that if Ruth looked to that self-serving scoundrel for redemption she would never be redeemed at all. Yet, he had to be dealt with, according to the law.
Boaz was ready, at any price, to perform the part of a kinsman to Ruth, the stranger from Moab. By nature, being a Moabitess, she was an aversion to him. Still, he loved her. He wanted her. But there was a kinsman nearer than he to Elimelechs fallen family. So it is with the sons and daughters of Adam. Though there are many nearer to us by nature, there is none who could and would redeem us, but the Lord Jesus Christ, our Kinsman Redeemer.
THE ANGELS OF GOD
Some commentators suggest that the nearer kinsman represents the angels of God. Without question the angels are nearer kin to us than the Son of God in the natural order of creation. They are creatures like us. Christ is not a creature, but the Creator. The angels are the sons of God by creation (Job 1:6). Christ is the eternal Son, one with and co-eternal with the eternal Father. Like us, angels were created to be the servants of God. The Lord Jesus became the Fathers servant willingly (Isa 50:5-7).
But redemption is a work no angel could ever perform. They might be able to assume human nature. They are holy creatures.
But they are only finite creatures. They could never suffer the wrath of God to the full satisfaction of justice. They could never bring in everlasting righteousness. Besides, the angels of God were created to be ministering spirits to Gods elect (Heb 1:14). So far from being able to redeem, the angels of God look to redeemed sinners to learn about redemption (Eph 3:10-11). What folly it is for blind idolaters to talk about praying to the angels. They have no power or ability to redeem and save. This is the work of God alone. Therefore, our prayers go out to God alone.
THE OLD MAN
Some are of the opinion that this nearer kinsman represents the old man Adam, that is our fallen nature. Both Philip Mauro[3] and Ferrell Griswold[4] gave this interpretation to the passage. The law of God certainly made allowance for the man in bondage to redeem himself, if he were able (Lev 25:26). But that is a mighty big if! If you are going to save yourself, if you hope to redeem yourself, you only have to do three things:
[3] Mauro, Phillip, Ruth The Satisfied Stranger, (Fleming H. Revel, Old Tappan, New Jersey, 1920), p. 205
[4] Griswold, Ferrell, Ruth (Series of sermons delivered to the First Baptist Church of Minor Heights), Birmingham, Alabama
Perfectly Obey Gods Holy Law (Gal 3:10).
Make Complete Atonement For All Your Sin (Exo 13:13).
Give Yourself A New Heart (See Isa 1:16-18).
Self-salvation is an utter impossibility! As both Mauro and Griswold pointed out, it is permissible; but it is not possible. No mere man can obey Gods law. No mortal can atone for sin and satisfy the infinite justice of the holy Lord God. And no man can make himself a new creature! Only the infinite God himself can do these things.
Not only is self-salvation impossible, it is also impossible for any man to redeem another man (Psa 49:7-9). We are but finite creatures of the dust. Redemption requires an infinite Savior, with infinite righteousness, infinitely meritorious blood, and infinite power. That is just the kind of Redeemer the Lord Jesus Christ is (Heb 10:5-14).
THE LAW OF GOD
A third nearer kinsman to us is the law of God. The law of God is holy, just, and good. It was made for man, for the benefit of man. The law, in its entirety, with all its rigors, commands, carnal ordinances, sacrifices, and legal ceremonies, was designed by God to bring us to and to shut us up to Christ as our only Savior (Gal 3:24). But the law of God could never redeem and save fallen man (Rom 8:3; Gal 3:21; Gal 4:5-6; Heb 10:1-4).
The law curses, but never cures. The law provides punishment, but not propitiation. The law bruises, but never blesses. The law gives terror, but never peace. As John Berridge wrote
The law demands a weighty debt,
And not a single mite will bate;
The gospel sings of Jesus blood,
And says it made the payment good.
The law provokes men oft to ill,
And churlish hearts makes harder still;
The gospel acts the kinder part
And melts the hard and stubborn heart.
Run, run, and work, the law commands,
Yet finds me neither feet nor hands;
But sweeter news the gospel brings;
It bids me fly, and gives me wings!
(Such needful wings, O Lord, impart,
To brace my feet and brace my heart;
Good wings of faith and wings of love
Will make the cripple spritely move.)
With these my lumpish soul may fly,
And soar aloft, and reach the sky;
Nor faint, nor falter in the race,
But cheerfully work and sing of grace.
As Ruths nearer kinsman was unable and thus unwilling to redeem her, so these three nearer kinsman of ours are incapable of redeeming our souls. But, blessed be God, there is one who has made himself a nearer kinsman than any others, and he is both able and willing to redeem!
CHRIST ALONE
The Lord Jesus Christ is our one and only kinsman Redeemer. The Son of God has made himself our kinsman that he might be our Redeemer (2Co 8:9; Heb 2:10-18). He took our human nature into union with his divine nature, so that he might redeem us from the curse of the law by the sacrifice of himself. Someone once said, God could not suffer and man could not satisfy; but the God man has both suffered and satisfied. The Lord Jesus Christ, our kinsman Redeemer, has willingly done the kinsmans part for us. Christ is a willing Savior. He willingly became Jehovahs servant, because he loved us (Exo 21:1-5).
He is an able Savior, too. (Heb 7:25). He has done everything for us that the law of God required a kinsman to do. He paid our debt. He redeemed us from bondage. He married the desolate. He raised up children to the dead, a seed to serve him forever. The love of Christ for us far exceeds the love of any on this earth. We love him because he first loved us (1Jn 4:19). As his love for us exceeds all earthly loves, let our love for him exceed all earthly loves as well.
Fuente: Discovering Christ In Selected Books of the Bible
there is: Rth 4:1, Mat 7:12, 1Th 4:6
Reciprocal: Lev 25:25 – General Rth 2:1 – kinsman Rth 3:9 – a near kinsman Rth 4:5 – to raise up