Lesson 17: Kinsman-Redeemer

Read Ruth 4

In our previous lesson we read the title of Kinsman-Redeemer. This was a title God designed for His people to paint a picture of Jesus.

A kinsman-redeemer was a close relative, a man who could rescue or protect a person or property for someone who was either in great debt, or if the husband of the family had died. We find examples and instructions for this in Genesis 48:16, Exodus 6:6, and Leviticus 25:47-55; and 27:9-25. Land which was given to a family was supposed to stay in that family. This was so important to God that He made a law that every 50 years all land was to be returned to the original family, no matter what the reason was it had been given away or sold.

Therefore, if a man were to die without children, God said it was this kinsman-redeemer’s responsibility to provide a child who could inherit this property – the child was essentially adopted into the family of the dead man so he could inherit the property and carry on this man’s line. The story of Tamar (Genesis 38) is about this woman seeking to have someone be such a kinsman-redeemer for herself.

Boaz, when he rescued Ruth and Naomi, promised to have a child with Ruth so the line of Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, could continue. It is why, in the story of Ruth, their first son was laid into Naomi’s arms – as her rightful heir.


This is a picture of Jesus, because God the Father wanted to give mankind the inheritance He had promised us. The inheritance is stated in Genesis 1:26 – “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’”

But our sin “killed” us, leaving us with no way to inherit what God wanted to give us. Jesus came, sent by God the Father, to become our Kinsman-Redeemer. He redeemed us by giving us life so we can inherit all God has for us. He is our “Brother” – see Hebrews 2:11 – because He became human as we are.

Ruth is also a picture of who we need to be in this Kinsman-Redeemer relationship. She did not know or truly love Boaz when she married him. She simply followed Naomi’s instructions for what she was to do. She laid down at his feet – an action of complete submission to Boaz. We also place ourselves at Jesus’ feet and ask Him to be our Redeemer in the same way. Boaz may not have known the need – Jesus does. Boaz was not the only person who could redeem Ruth – Jesus is the only one who can redeem us. Boaz was willing to be Ruth’s redeemer – Jesus is willing to be ours.

*What does this picture of Jesus being your Kinsman-Redeemer tell you about Him?