Ruth 3:12

Now yes, it is true that ¹  I am a guardian, ²  but there is another guardian who is a closer relative than I am.

Although it is true that I am near of kin, there is a kinsman-redeemer nearer than I.

"Now it is true I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I.

But there is one problem. While it is true that I am one of your family redeemers, there is another man who is more closely related to you than I am.

You're right, I am a close relative to you, but there is one even closer than I am.

Now it is true that I am a near relation: but there is a relation nearer than I.

But now, though it is true that I am a near kinsman, there is another kinsman more closely related than I.

"Now it is true that I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I.

Now yes, it is true that ¹  I am a guardian, ²  but there is another guardian who is a closer relative than I am.

¹ tc The sequence כִּי אָמְנָם כִּי אִם (ki ’omnam ki ’im; Kethib) occurs only here in the OT, as does the sequence כִּי אָמְנָם כִּי (Qere). It is likely that כִּי אִם is dittographic (note the preceding sequence כִּי אָמְנָם). The translation assumes that the original text was simply the otherwise unattested וְעַתָּה כִּי אָמְנָם, with אָמְנָם and כִּי both having an asseverative (or emphatic) function.

² tn Sometimes translated “redeemer” (also later in this verse). See the note on the phrase “guardian of the family interests” in v. 9.