Neville Goddard on Ruth 4:1-10 - Mystical Bible Interpretation

Read Ruth 4 in context

Scripture Focus

1Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.

2And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.

3And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's:

4And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.

5Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.

6And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.

7Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel.

8Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe.

9And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi.

10Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.

Ruth 4:1-10

Biblical Context

Boaz calls the nearer kinsman to the gate to redeem Naomi's land and take Ruth as wife. When the man cannot redeem Ruth without harming his own inheritance, Boaz proceeds to redeem both land and wife, sealing the purchase before the elders.

Neville's Inner Vision

At the inner level, the gate is your threshold of awareness. Boaz represents the I AM stepping forth to claim your inheritance; the nearer kinsman embodies a belief about what must be preserved to feel secure. Ruth and Naomi stand for your living loyalties and lineage—what you will not abandon when you claim a new state. The shoe-removal scene marks a transfer of right, a decision that you will not leave old identities in charge but place your entire estate into the hands of your present I AM. The ten elders are the laws and principles of life bearing witness to your act, while Boaz and Ruth illustrate a new wave of relationship and purpose. When you sincerely assume the end result in imagination, you are redeeming your life from lack and establishing a future that reflects your inner decision. Your consciousness is the gate; your assumption is the deed; your life follows the name you give it.

Practice This Now

Close your eyes and imagine Boaz at your inner gate, with the ten elders of your life present. Assume the purchase is complete now: you own the land and Ruth as your partner, and affirm, 'ye are witnesses this day' to seal your new reality.