go'el

What it means

A close relative with the right and duty to step in for family in trouble: buying back land that had been sold, freeing a relative sold into debt, or keeping a family line alive. In Ruth it starts as a family duty and becomes the shape of the whole story. Elsewhere in the Bible, God is called Israel's redeemer.

Range of meaning

• Redeemer of landBuying back family land so it stays in the family.
• Redeemer of a personBuying back a relative who sold himself to pay debts.
• Avenger of bloodThe relative responsible for justice when a family member was killed.
• God as redeemerGod acting as Israel's next of kin, rescuing his people.

In Ruth

• Chapter 2

  Naomi says Boaz is "one of our redeemers" (2:20). The rest of the book turns on this word.

• Chapter 3

  Ruth calls Boaz a redeemer (3:9), and he reveals a closer one (3:12).

• Chapter 4

  The word runs through the gate scene (4:1-8), and the women call baby Obed Naomi's redeemer (4:14).