The Book of Ruth

⭑ Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 3 -

One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek a resting place for you, that it may be well with you?

Now is not Boaz, with whose servant girls you have been working, a relative of ours? In fact, tonight he is winnowing barley on the threshing floor.

Therefore wash yourself, put on perfume, and wear your best clothes. Go down to the threshing floor, but do not let the man know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking.

When he lies down, note the place where he lies. Then go in and uncover his feet, and lie down, and he will explain to you what you should do.”

“I will do everything you say,” Ruth answered.

So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law had instructed her to do.

After Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then Ruth went in secretly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.

At midnight, Boaz was startled, turned over, and there lying at his feet was a woman!

“Who are you?” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your garment

(a)

over me, for you are a kinsman-redeemer.(b)”

Then Boaz said, “May the LORD bless you, my daughter. You have shown more kindness now than before, because you have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor.

And now do not be afraid, my daughter. I will do for you whatever you request, since all my fellow townspeople know that you are a woman of noble character.

Yes, it is true that I am a kinsman-redeemer, but there is a redeemer nearer than I.(c)

Stay here tonight, and in the morning, if he wants to redeem you, good. Let him redeem you. But if he does not want to redeem you, as surely as the LORD lives, I will. Now lie here until morning.”

So she lay down at his feet until morning, but she got up before anyone else could recognize her. Then Boaz said, “Do not let it be known that a woman came to the threshing floor.”

And he told her, “Bring the shawl you are wearing and hold it out.” When she did so, he shoveled six measures of barley

(d)

into her shawl. Then he went

(e)

into the city.

When Ruth returned to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked her, “How did it go, my daughter?” Then Ruth told her all that Boaz had done for her.

And she said, “He gave me these six measures of barley, for he said, ‘Do not go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’”

“Wait, my daughter,” said Naomi, “until you find out how things go, for he will not rest unless he has resolved the matter today.”

Footnotes

(a)3:9 Or Spread your wing; the word for wing can also mean corner of a garment; see Ruth 2:12.

(b)3:9 The Hebrew word for kinsman-redeemer or guardian-redeemer is a legal term for the kinsman who redeems or vindicates a relative; similarly in verses 12 and 13; see Leviticus 25:25–55.

(d)3:15 Possibly six seahs (two ephahs), or approximately 39.6 dry quarts or 43.8 liters (about 58 pounds or 26.3 kilograms of barley)

(e)3:15 Most Hebrew manuscripts; many Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate, and Syriac she went

Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?

Now isn’t Boaz our kinsman, with whose maidens you were? Behold, he will be winnowing barley tonight on the threshing floor.

Therefore wash yourself, anoint yourself, get dressed, and go down to the threshing floor; but don’t make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.

It shall be, when he lies down, that you shall note the place where he is lying. Then you shall go in, uncover his feet, and lie down. Then he will tell you what to do.”

She said to her, “All that you say, I will do.”

She went down to the threshing floor, and did everything that her mother-in-law told her.

When Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. She came softly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.

At midnight, the man was startled and turned himself; and behold, a woman lay at his feet.

He said, “Who are you?” She answered, “I am Ruth your servant. Therefore spread the corner of your garment over your servant; for you are a near kinsman.”

He said, “You are blessed by the LORD, my daughter. You have shown more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, because you didn’t follow young men, whether poor or rich.

Now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do to you all that you say; for all the city of my people knows that you are a worthy woman.

Now it is true that I am a near kinsman. However, there is a kinsman nearer than I.

Stay this night, and in the morning, if he will perform for you the part of a kinsman, good. Let him do the kinsman’s duty. But if he will not do the duty of a kinsman for you, then I will do the duty of a kinsman for you, as the LORD lives. Lie down until the morning.”

She lay at his feet until the morning, then she rose up before one could discern another. For he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.”

He said, “Bring the mantle that is on you, and hold it.” She held it; and he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her; then he went into the city.

When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did it go, my daughter?” She told her all that the man had done for her.

She said, “He gave me these six measures of barley; for he said, ‘Don’t go empty to your mother-in-law.’”

Then she said, “Wait, my daughter, until you know what will happen; for the man will not rest until he has settled this today.”