Ruth 4:5 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Bible Comments

The wife of the dead; according to the law, Deuteronomy 25:5 Matthew 22:24, &c. To raise up the name of the dead; to revive his name, which was lost and buried with his body, by raising up a seed to him, to be called by his name.

Ruth 4:5

5 Then 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.