In Ruth, who is traditionally recognized as the kinsman-redeemer involved with Ruth and Boaz?

• A. Aaron
• B. Gideon
• C. Samuel
• D. Boaz

Answer: (D)

The key idea is identifying the goel, or the kinsman-redeemer, in the Ruth narrative. A kinsman-redeemer is a near relative who has the duty and ability to redeem a family’s property and to preserve the family line, often by marrying the widow to produce offspring for the deceased husband.

Boaz fits this role in Ruth. He is a relative of Naomi’s deceased husband’s family and steps forward to redeem the land that belonged to Elimelech. He then marries Ruth to ensure that offspring would continue Elimelech’s line and Naomi’s family name. This public act of redeeming the land and taking Ruth as wife is what identifies him as the goel in the story.

Aaron, Gideon, and Samuel belong to different parts of Israel’s history and serve distinct roles (priestly, judge, and prophet) rather than acting as a near relative who can redeem property and continue a family line in Bethlehem. Their places in the narrative do not correspond to the kinsman-redeemer role Ruth describes, so Boaz is the one who fulfills this specific duty.