Why is Jesus Our Kinsman-Redeemer?

“Blessed be he of the Lord, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!” Ruth 2:20

Things were not going well. In the book of Ruth, both Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi, have lost their husbands as well as Naomi’s two sons. The Bible does not clearly state how they died, but it appears it was due to a famine in the land at the time. The loss of every male in the family left Naomi and her daughters-in-law without a male protector or a source of income.

Without a male in the family, most women at that time were left to die. Typically, there was scorn and shame, and they were doomed to poverty since it was only males who could make any money or own property. Naomi and her daughters had no choice but to try to make it on their own.

With the future looking bleak, Naomi decided to leave Moab and return to her native Bethlehem, thus allowing her daughters-in-law to return to their families. One daughter left, but Ruth begged to stay with Naomi. Together, they traveled back to Judah. By divine appointment, once they arrived, Naomi soon reunited with a forgotten relative of her husband’s.

His name was Boaz.

Ruth and Boaz

Boaz was a successful and well-respected farmer in Bethlehem. It was harvesting time when Naomi and Ruth arrived. As such, Boaz’s workers were busy bringing in the crops, leaving the corners of the field untouched, according to the Law (Lev 19:9-10; 23:22). Those areas were reserved for the poor to gather food for themselves. This is where we find Ruth, harvesting the corners of Boaz’s fields.

Ruth routinely went to Boaz’s fields for about a year and became a well-known presence. Finally, Boaz asked about her and allowed her to glean along with his servant girls. He later explained to Ruth that he is impressed that she left her family and country to journey to a foreign land so she could take care of Naomi (2:11-12). But his unusual favor toward her seems to indicate he thought she was not only brave and honorable but also attractive.

One day, Naomi suggests to Ruth that she put on her finest clothes and go to Boaz in the threshing room, then wait until he finishes eating and drinking and goes to sleep. She instructs Ruth to uncover Boaz’s feet after he lies down (possibly in the hope the cold air will wake him) and then lie next to him.

Boaz is startled awake in the middle of the night, finding Ruth at his feet. She asks him to spread the corner of his garment over her to indicate he would marry her (Ez 16:8) and be her kinsman-redeemer. Finding favor in her, he agrees to it, blesses her, and allows her to continue sleeping there for the rest of the night (ch. 3).

Ordinarily, a woman behaving this way with a man on a threshing room floor in the middle of the night would be considered completely scandalous.

The Old Testament often refers to acts of uncovering as an indication of illicit sexual relations, and threshing room floors were common locations for immoral sexual activities. Ruth lying down next to Boaz also implies sexual intent based on Genesis 19:33. Additionally, the Old Testament sometimes uses “feet” as a euphemism for male sexual organs (Ex 4:25; Jdg 3:24; 1 Sam 24:3; Is 7:20).

In every way, Naomi’s plan should have shamed Ruth forever and instituted a type of death sentence. Yet, God orchestrated this moment for a divine purpose that He would not reveal for over a thousand years.

What is a Kinsman-Redeemer?

In Hebrew, the word for kinsman-redeemer is Go’el HaDahm, stemming from the word lig’ol, which means “to redeem.”

As the name implies, a kinsman is a family relation, usually the next of kin if there is no brother or another male in the immediate family. According to modern dictionaries, a redeemer is also someone who “buys, buys back, recovers, pays off, or exchanges something for goods.” Therefore, a kinsman-redeemer is someone, usually the nearest relative, charged with the duty of restoring or recovering the rights of another relative and avenging any wrongs in exchange for something.

By law, the kinsman-redeemer had two primary responsibilities: (1) to redeem family property that had changed ownership, and (2) to marry a childless widow and raise children in her dead husband’s name. The Bible indicates that either the male relative could initiate the redemption or the woman could request it, as evidenced by Ruth.

Confusion arises when we realize that Ruth was not related to Boaz in any way. However, Naomi was, so the solution is simple. Naomi initiated Ruth’s actions by instructing her to lie down next to Boaz on the threshing floor. Because it was under Naomi’s instruction, Ruth was well within the law.

But there was one small problem.

Making It Official

Later that evening, in the threshing room, Boaz revealed to Ruth that he was not Naomi’s closest relative (3:12-13). He had the first right of refusal; therefore, she must present herself to him first. But if he does not want her, Boaz promised to replace him as kinsman-redeemer.

Becoming a kinsman-redeemer was commonly done in the presence of the town elders to make it official. So the next morning, Boaz went into town and offered Ruth and all of Naomi’s husband’s land to the rightful kinsman-redeemer. The unnamed man wanted the land, but he did not want Ruth because of her Moabite heritage. He took off his sandal as an act of a legally binding transaction and handed it to Boaz, who turned and announced to the elders sitting nearby…

“Today, you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelech, Killion, and Mahlon (Naomi’s husband and sons). I have also acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from the town records. Today, you are witnesses!” (4:9-10)

Boaz, the kinsman, redeemed his relative’s wife, Naomi, and restored her dead husband’s property and good name in exchange for Ruth’s hand in marriage. Now, neither woman will be alone, and they will never again have to pick the fields to survive.

What makes this story even better is that Boaz and Ruth’s relationship was not solely transactional; they sincerely loved each other. Out of that love and in accordance with God’s plans, they later gave birth to a son named Obed, who eventually became the grandfather of King David and established the lineage that paved the way for Jesus’ prophetic birth as the Messiah.

Jesus Our Kinsman-Redeemer

Like Boaz, Jesus is also a kinsman-redeemer. Because all brothers and sisters in Christ are co-heirs to the throne (Rom 8:17), Jesus becomes our holy brother (Heb 2:11). He is our nearest relative.

“Therefore, He had to be made like His brothers in every respect, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” (Heb 2:17)

Though historically factual, the story of Ruth and Naomi is an illustration of the situation we all experience. Sin has separated us from the Father, leaving us orphans, much like Naomi and Ruth were left alone in Moab. But because of God’s holy redemption plan, Jesus became our kinsman-redeemer. Through His shed blood on the cross, He has bought our freedom from sin, restored our relationship with the Father, and redeemed us from the penalty of sin.

What About Jesus?

In exchange for being a kinsman-redeemer, Boaz gained a wife in Ruth. What does Jesus get?

Similarly, Jesus receives our hand in marriage as the church. Like a bride prepared for her groom, we, the church, join Jesus in an eternal relationship.  Now, those who believe in Him as the Son of God will never be alone. Jesus’ declared faithfulness proves it. The book of Revelation reveals what the official wedding day will look like.

“I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband…Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain for the old order of things has passed away.” (Rev 21:2-4)

Through Jesus’ grace and sacrifice on our behalf, we have redemption from sin, and we will enjoy eternal life with Him as His bride.

We are Just Like Ruth

Ruth’s story is remarkably like ours. In her, we see someone unable to help herself and in need of rescue. We see her requesting that someone specific become her kinsman-redeemer so he would restore and protect her in exchange for her hand in marriage.

All of us are in need of rescue from sin. We cannot do it ourselves. We need a kinsman-redeemer named Jesus. He is the only one who loved us enough to willingly pay the price for our sin (death) and make us His bride so that we can eternally enjoy His grace and blessings.

Jesus’ offer to be a kinsman-redeemer is open to everyone, not just a few chosen people. His grace is for all who seek rescue from sin and long for the freedom of salvation. Jesus has declared that He will save anyone who calls out to Him (Joel 2:32; Rom 10:13). No strings attached, and no questions asked—just simple salvation with a promise of complete restoration and eternal life.

Jesus is our true kinsman-redeemer. Praise the Lord for His goodness and love.

Further Reading

In 2001, Pastor John MacArthur wrote a great sermon about Jesus being our kinsman-redeemer. Grace to You reprinted the sermon in its entirety. It’s very informative and full of great Bible history. You can either read or listen to the whole thing right here. Enjoy!

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