Goel: The Kinsman-Redeemer.
- manjulajk
- Aug 13
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 14
Goel, Rut 4:6. Kinsman Redeemer.
The Complete Jewish Bible Ruth 4:6, The redeemer said, "Then I can't redeem it for myself, because I might put my inheritance at risk. You take my right of redemption on yourself, because I can't redeem it."
Orthodox Jewish
Ruth 4:6 (OJB) And the Go’el said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own nachalah; redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.
For Indians, Goel is a common surname of the Agarwal caste. (One of 17 / 18 sub-castes, a businessperson). Both Hindus and Jains use this name.
In the Bible, ‘Go’el’ is the redeemer, an Israelite, the next of kin, the kinsman/ guardian redeemer, the closest relative of the deceased who was to restore rights and avenge the wrongs. Known as 'Goel hadahm' (Num 35: 9-30), he must avenge the blood or death of a family member. He could redeem the land (Lev 25:48-49) and bear a son in the name for the deceased, so that the name of the deceased would not cease to be. (Levirate marriage, Deut 25:5-10.). He could also receive restitution for the deceased (Num 5:8). Judah and Tamar are an example of the Levirate marriage. (Read Genesis 38). Judah declares that Tamar was more righteous than he was because he denied her the right to produce an heir with his third son, Sheilah. With no other option, Tamar tricked Judah into doing the needful, and she gave birth to twins named Perez and Zerah. The Goel is the protector and the defender of the family. He cares for the widows and orphans. (Pr 23:11).
YHWH Go'el/ YHWH, THE REDEEMER.
In the Bible, Goel is used more of God than of humans. (Exodus 6:6). Yakov mentions the Goel who redeemed me from all evil. (Genesis 48:16); Job/ Iyov said, " I know that my redeemer lives." ( Job 19:25). The Psalmist calls Him 'My Redeemer' ( Psalm 19:14; 103:4; 78:35). Isaiah mentions YHWH as Goel the most @13x. But it is in the NT that we see Yeshua Messiah is the Redeemer. ( Matt 20:28; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 1:18-19). Yeshua, the Messiah, came in flesh to purchase/ redeem us from slavery to satan to freedom in His Kingdom by avenging us. He is the groom who came to woo his bride, the church, and will come to take her for the wedding feast.
Boaz, the Kinsman-Redeemer.
Boaz, the second closest relative of Naomi, called the first relative Go’el at the city gate with 10 elders (a minyan, an adequate quorum) and asked him if he would acquire Naomi’s land. The nameless Goel said yes. But when he discovered he would have to marry Ruth and raise a son for Mahlon, he refused and said, “…. It would mar his inheritance.” What does this strange statement mean?
Marry a widow and give her a son named after his dead dad!
It means the Go’el would have to invest his money into acquiring Elimelech’s land. He would have to divert his meagre funds and energy into cultivating that land. He would also have to marry the widowed Rut and raise a son for Mahalon, who would eventually own that piece of land and would carry his father’s ancestry further. This would strain the ‘goel’s’ resources and give him no gain in the end, because the land would belong to the son, who would have Mahlon’s ( the dead father's) name. He took off his sandal and gave it to Boaz, giving up his right to walk on that land as master. The ceremony is called ‘Chalitzah’. (Deut 25:9, Ruth 4 :7.) Boaz was widowed at the time this occurred.
Boaz and Ruth, More surprises than expected.
Boaz buys the land for Naomi and marries Ruth, a gentile ( the daughter of King Eglon of Moab), and they have a son whom they name “Obed / Oved,” which means servant/ serving. It is not what we would name our kids. It is strange, considering Boaz was well-off. The famine was over, and he was harvesting a bountiful crop of barley. Boaz belonged to the tribe of Judah, while Ruth was a descendant of Lot, are mentioned in Yeshua’s genealogy. According to Jewish tradition, beautiful Ruth would’ve been around 40 and Boaz 80 years old at the time of their marriage, and Boaz died the same night, leaving Ruth a widow to raise Obed with Naomi. The people said, " Naomi has a son." (Ruth 4: 17.) Because this son would carry Elimelech's name forward. He became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David, the king of Israel.
Our Goel is Yeshua Messiah.
He is our next of kin, the kinsman redeemer, who paid the price for our sin and redeemed us with His blood. (Galatians 3:13-14). Levirate marriage is explained in this short book of Ruth. It is a prophetic picture of Yeshua Messiah, our kinsman redeemer (Hebrews 2:17), who will return to claim His bride, the church (Rut/ gentiles), as His own because of His covenant love. YHWH Goel is our only hope, because we are not Jews. We Gentiles/ uncircumcised heathens were excluded from the citizenship of Israel and the covenant promises, and were without God and hope. But now we are united with Yeshua, the Messiah, and brought near through His blood. He brought peace to us when he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us by his death on the cross and united the Jews and the Gentiles. We are no longer strangers and foreigners; instead, we are citizens along with God’s holy people and members of His family. Through Him, we are joined together, becoming a holy temple where His Spirit dwells. (Ephesians 2:11-22).
Takeaway
Bless ADONAI, O my soul and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name.
Who is the Go'el ( Redeemer) of my life from shachat ( corruption, pit, grave);
Who crowns me with chesed ( loving kindness) and rachamin ( tender mercies).
Psalm 103:2,4.
Blessings of Yeshua, the Messiah, our Go'el.
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