The Kinsman Redeemer

This last week I have been studying the "kinsman redeemer" picture in the Bible. The word "kinsman" in English indicates that it is a man and several commentaries specify that the kinsman redeemer is a "male relative." I had heard that before and never thought to question it, as it didn't seem like a relevant point to me, however earlier this week it was brought to my attention that it IS a very relevant point to those with a patriarchal mindset.

So rather than focusing on my original study of how the picture of the kinsman redeemer points to Yeshua, I decided to look to see if there was a picture of unity within the picture of the kinsman redeemer. Unity between the man and the person he was redeeming and of course, the most important aspect, unity between man and God. In other words, how does the picture of the kinsman redeemer reflect the relationship between Yeshua and believers?


Here is what I found:


There are three instances of the kinsman redeemer that are discussed the most often. These are Abraham's redemption of Lot, Mordecai redemption of Esther, and Boaz's redemption of Ruth. Of these, the story of Boaz and Ruth is the one that is focused on the most, as it offers a more complete picture of how the redemption process worked when a man was marrying his deceased relative's widow. Each of these stories has something unique to share, as they are a different aspect of the kinsman redeemer and they help tell the story of who the kinsman redeemer is and what he does.

It's important to note that the word kinsman redeemer is not used in the story of Abraham and Lot. The first time it is ever used is many chapters later in Genesis. However, we can see from the context that Abraham was in fact Lot's closest relative and that he redeemed or rescued Lot and his family. Gen 14:12-16

A kinsman redeemer is one who fights and risks his own life, to rescue his family from bondage or danger.

Mordecai is a redeemer of a different sort. He takes in his orphaned cousin, Esther, and raises her as his own daughter. Esther 2:7

A kinsman redeemer is one who takes responsibility for a child who is not his own.

Boaz marries Ruth after her husband died. He was not the closest relative, but the man who was the closest relative choose not to marry Ruth.

A kinsman redeemer is one who marries his family member's widow, in order to protect her and continue the family line.

Those three men portray three different types of kinsman redeemers, and we can see from their examples what a kinsman redeemer does. There are also several other verses that explain who the kinsman redeemer can be as well.

"Now if the means of a stranger or of a sojourner with you becomes sufficient, and a countryman of yours becomes so poor with regard to him as to sell himself to a stranger who is sojourning with you, or to the descendants of a stranger's family, then he shall have redemption right after he has been sold. One of his brothers may redeem him, or his uncle, or his uncle's son, may redeem him, or one of his blood relatives from his family may redeem him; or if he prospers, he may redeem himself." Leviticus 25:47-49

So the kinsman redeemer can be a brother, an uncle, a cousin, or a blood relative. According to the Blue Letter Bible, the Hebrew word for blood relative is she'er and means:

1) flesh, food, body, near kin, near kinswoman
a) flesh
1) as food
2) for physical power (fig)
b) flesh relation, blood relation
c) self

It is translated in the following ways: flesh 7, near kinswoman 2, food 1, near 1, nigh 1, near kin 1, kin 1, body 1, kinsman 1

The two places in which it is translated to mean "kinswoman" undeniably mean woman as they are speaking of "your father's sister" and "your mother's sister." Leviticus 18:12-13

The word for kinsman that is used throughout the book of Ruth and in over 100 other places in the Bible, often referring to God, is the Hebrew word ga'al.

Ga'al means:

1) to redeem, act as kinsman-redeemer, avenge, revenge, ransom, do the part of a kinsman
a) (Qal)
1) to act as kinsman, do the part of next of kin, act as kinsman-redeemer
a) by marrying brother's widow to beget a child for him, to redeem from slavery, to redeem land, to exact vengeance
2) to redeem (by payment)
3) to redeem (with God as subject)
a) individuals from death
b) Israel from Egyptian bondage
c) Israel from exile
b) (Niphal)
1) to redeem oneself
2) to be redeemed



What is interesting about this word is that it is a verb, yet it is translated into a noun in English. This word is about the action of avenging or redeeming, not about the one doing the action.

Numbers 35:19, Deut 19:6 and Joshua 20 all use the word ga'al when speaking of the kinsman redeemer as well.


"Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man." Gen 9:6

In English, this avenger is clearly male, however the Hebrew word used is adam which means:

1) man, mankind
a) man, human being
b) man, mankind (much more frequently intended sense in OT)
c) Adam, first man

as opposed to ish which is used specifically for male and ishah which is specifically female.

After studying this, I have to challenge the use of the translated word "kinsman." This kinsman can also be a kinswoman, so the more appropriate word would be kins-person or close relative.

Now we know who a kins person is- a close relative- and what he or she does- redeems property or people, rescues others from danger or bondage, avenges the death of a relative, and protects relatives. I was curious if there are any examples of a kinswoman redeemer in the Bible.

This study will be broken into 3 parts. This is the first part and it explored who the kinsperson redeemer is and what this person does. The next part will explore kinswoman redeemers. The third part will explore unity.