Lectionary Calendar
Saturday, December 20th, 2025
the Third Week of Advent
Attention!
Take your personal ministry to the Next Level by helping StudyLight build churches and supporting pastors in Uganda.
Click here to join the effort!

Read the Bible

Good News Translation

Ruth 3:12

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.

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.
Easy-to-Read Version
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.
George Lamsa Translation
And now it is true that I am a near kinsman; however, there is another kinsman nearer than I.
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 to the threshing place and did just what her mother-in-law had told her. 7 When Boaz had finished eating and drinking, he was in a good mood. He went to the pile of barley and lay down to sleep. Ruth slipped over quietly, lifted the covers and lay down at his feet. 8 During the night he woke up suddenly, turned over, and was surprised to find a woman lying at his feet. 9 "Who are you?" he asked. "It's Ruth, sir," she answered. "Because you are a close relative, you are responsible for taking care of me. So please marry me." 10 "The Lord bless you," he said. "You are showing even greater family loyalty in what you are doing now than in what you did for your mother-in-law. You might have gone looking for a young man, either rich or poor, but you haven't. 11 Now don't worry, Ruth. I will do everything you ask; as everyone in town knows, you are a fine woman. 12 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. 13 Stay here the rest of the night, and in the morning we will find out whether or not he will take responsibility for you. If so, well and good; if not, then I swear by the living Lord that I will take the responsibility. Now lie down and stay here till 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, "It is not good for the man to live alone. I will make a suitable companion to help him."
Genesis 2:20
So the man named all the birds and all the animals; but not one of them was a suitable companion to help him.
Genesis 2:22
He formed a woman out of the rib and brought her to him.
Genesis 3:13
The Lord God asked the woman, "Why did you do this?" She replied, "The snake tricked me into eating it."
Genesis 3:15
I will make you and the woman hate each other; her offspring and yours will always be enemies. Her offspring will crush your head, and you will bite her offspring's heel."
Genesis 3:20
Adam named his wife Eve, because she was the mother of all human beings.
Genesis 3:21
And the Lord God made clothes out of animal skins for Adam and his wife, and he clothed them.
Genesis 3:24
Then at the east side of the garden he put living creatures and a flaming sword which turned in all directions. This was to keep anyone from coming near the tree that gives life.
Job 31:33
Others try to hide their sins, but I have never concealed mine.
Proverbs 19:3
Some people ruin themselves by their own stupid actions and then blame the Lord .

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.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile