גָּאַל: what redemption really means

Gaal (gaw-al'): To redeem, to act as kinsman-redeemer

This week's Hebrew word is gaal and once you understand it, the book of Ruth will never be the same. Neither will the gospel.

In ancient Israel, the goel — the kinsman-redeemer — was a specific role with a specific responsibility. If a relative fell into poverty and lost their land, or was sold into slavery, the goel was obligated to step in and buy them back. But there were two requirements: the goel had to be close enough to act (a near relative), and they had to be willing to pay the cost.

This is the backdrop of Ruth. Boaz doesn't just show kindness from a distance he draws near, he identifies himself as kin, and then he pays the full price to redeem both Ruth and Naomi's family land. The redemption requires closeness and cost. Both. Always.

And of course, every time we see gaal in Scripture, we're meant to look ahead. Job cries out from the ash heap, "I know that my Redeemer lives." Isaiah declares that the LORD Himself is the goel of Israel. The entire Old Testament is building toward a Redeemer who would come close enough — who would put on flesh and dwell among us — and who would pay a price none of us could ever pay.

Redemption was never going to be accomplished from a distance. It required God to come near.

What does it mean to you that your Redeemer was willing to draw near?

Scriptures where we find "Gaal":

Ruth 2:20 — "The LORD bless him! He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead. That man is our close relative; he is one of our kinsman-redeemers."

Psalm 19:14 — "May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."

Isaiah 44:22 — "I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you."