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Ruth and Boaz

3 One day, Naomi said to Ruth, ‘My daughter, I must find a home for you. There you will have everything that you need. ² You have worked with Boaz's women workers, and he is our relative. Tonight, he will be at the threshing floor where he prepares the barley seeds. ^{[ a ]} ³ So wash yourself carefully. Put some perfume on yourself. Put on your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor. Do not let Boaz know that you are there. Wait quietly until he has finished his food and drink. ⁴ After that, he will lie down to sleep. Then you will see where he is lying. Go and lift the cloth from over his feet. Lie down there. Then he will tell you what you should do.’

⁵ Ruth said, ‘I will do what you have said to me.’ ⁶ So she went down to the threshing floor. She did everything that Naomi had told her to do.

⁷ Boaz felt very happy when he had finished his food and drink. He lay down next to the heap of barley seeds. Ruth went to him very quietly. She lifted the cloth that covered his feet. Then she lay down there. ⁸ In the middle of the night, something caused Boaz to wake up suddenly. When he turned over, he saw a woman who was lying there at his feet!

⁹ He asked, ‘Who are you?’ Ruth replied, ‘I am your servant, Ruth. You are our family-redeemer, so please cover me with the corner of your cloth.’ ^{[ b ]}

¹⁰ Boaz replied, ‘Young woman, I pray that the Lord will bless you. You have already been very kind to Naomi. Now you have been even more kind to me. You have not tried to marry a man who is younger than me, whether he is rich or poor. ¹¹ So, young woman, do not be afraid. All the people in this town know that you are a good woman. I will do everything for you that you have asked me to do. ¹² It is true that I am a family-redeemer for your family. But there is another relative who is nearer to your family than I am. ¹³ Stay here for this night. In the morning, we will see what to do. If this relative wants to take care of you, let him do it. If he does not agree, then I will do it. As surely as the Lord lives, I will do it. So just lie here until the morning.’

¹⁴ So Ruth lay beside Boaz's feet until morning arrived. Then she got up before anyone could see her. Boaz said to her, ‘Nobody must know that a woman came here to the threshing floor.’

¹⁵ He said to Ruth, ‘Bring me the coat that you are wearing.’ She brought the coat to him. Then Boaz poured six bowls of barley seeds onto it. He tied it together and put it on her shoulder. Later, he returned to the town.

¹⁶ When Ruth returned home to Naomi, Naomi asked her, ‘My daughter, what happened last night?’ Then Ruth told her everything that Boaz had done for her. ¹⁷ She said to Naomi, ‘He also gave me all this barley. He said, “Do not return to Naomi with nothing to give to her.” ’

¹⁸ Naomi said, ‘My daughter, you must be patient. We must wait to see what will happen. Boaz will surely do what he needs to do today.’

Footnotes

3:2 Boaz had brought all his barley from his fields to a place called the threshing floor. The grains of barley had two parts called the seed and the chaff. People used the seeds to make food. So they had to make the seed separate from the chaff. Boaz would take all the good seed from the barley. Then he would keep it safe to eat later that year.
3:9 This was a way that a woman could ask a man to marry her. Naomi wanted Boaz to marry Ruth. So she had told Ruth to do this.

The Threshing Floor

3 Then Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law, said to her, “My daughter, maybe I should find a husband and a good home for you. That would be good for you. ² Boaz is our close relative. ^{[ a ]} You worked with his women servants. Tonight he will be working at the threshing floor. ³ Go wash yourself and get dressed. Put on a nice dress, and go down to the threshing floor. But don’t let Boaz see you until he has finished eating his dinner. ⁴ After he eats, he will lie down to rest. Watch him so that you will know where he lies down. Go there and lift the cover off his feet. ^{[ b ]} Then lie down there with Boaz. He will tell you what you should do about marriage.”

⁵ Then Ruth answered, “I will do what you say.”

⁶ So Ruth went down to the threshing floor and did everything that her mother-in-law told her to do. ⁷ After eating and drinking, Boaz was very satisfied. He went to lie down near the pile of grain. Then Ruth went to him very quietly and lifted the cover from his feet and lay down by his feet.

⁸ About midnight, Boaz rolled over in his sleep and woke up. He was very surprised. There was a woman lying near his feet. ⁹ Boaz said, “Who are you?”

She said, “I am Ruth, your servant girl. Spread your cover over me. ^{[ c ]} You are my protector.”

¹⁰ Then Boaz said, “May the Lord bless you, young woman. You have been very kind to me. Your kindness to me is greater than the kindness you showed to Naomi in the beginning. You could have looked for a young man to marry, rich or poor. But you did not. ¹¹ Now, young woman, don’t be afraid. I will do what you ask. All the people in our town know that you are a very good woman. ¹² And it is true that I am a close relative. But there is a man who is a closer relative to you than I am. ¹³ Stay here tonight. In the morning we will see if he will help ^{[ d ]} you. If he decides to help you, that is fine. If he refuses to help, I promise, as surely as the Lord lives, I will marry you and buy back Elimelech’s land for you. ^{[ e ]} So lie here until morning.”

¹⁴ So Ruth lay near Boaz’s feet until morning. She got up while it was still dark, before it was light enough for people to recognize each other.

Boaz said to her, “We will keep it a secret that you came here to me last night.” ¹⁵ Then he said, “Bring me your coat. Now, hold it open.”

So Ruth held her coat open, and Boaz measured out about a bushel of barley ^{[ f ]} as a gift to Naomi, her mother-in-law. Boaz then wrapped it in Ruth’s coat, and put it on her back. Then he went to the city.

¹⁶ Ruth went to the home of her mother-in-law, Naomi. Naomi went to the door and asked, “Who’s there?”

Ruth went in telling Naomi everything that Boaz did for her. ¹⁷ She said, “Boaz gave me this barley as a gift for you. He said that I must not go home without bringing a gift for you.”

¹⁸ Naomi said, “Daughter, be patient until we hear what happens. Boaz will not rest until he has finished doing what he should do. We will know what will happen before the day is ended.”

Footnotes

Ruth 3:2 close relative, protector A close relative who could marry Ruth so that she could have children. This man would care for this family, but this family and their property would not belong to him. They would belong to Ruth’s dead husband. Also in 3:9, 12; 4:1, 3, 6.
Ruth 3:4 lift the cover off his feet Literally, “uncover his legs.” This showed that Ruth was asking Boaz to be her protector.
Ruth 3:9 Spread your cover over me Or “Spread your wing over me.” This showed that Ruth was asking for help and protection. See Ruth 2:12.
Ruth 3:13 help Or “redeem.” This meant the close relative would care for and protect the dead man’s family and property, but that property would not be his.
Ruth 3:13 I will marry … you Literally, “I will redeem you.”
Ruth 3:15 bushel of barley Literally, “six measures of barley.”

3 Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?

² And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor.

³ Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.

⁴ And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.

⁵ And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do.

⁶ And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her.

⁷ And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down.

⁸ And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet.

⁹ And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.

¹⁰ And he said, Blessed be thou of the Lord , my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.

¹¹ And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.

¹² And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.

¹³ Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the Lord liveth: lie down until the morning.

¹⁴ And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.

¹⁵ Also he said, Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city.

¹⁶ And when she came to her mother in law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her.

¹⁷ And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law.

¹⁸ Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.

Boaz Will Redeem Ruth

3 Then her mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek ^{[ a ]} security for you, that it may go well for you? ² Now then, is Boaz not ^{( A )} our relative, with whose young women you were? Behold, he is winnowing barley at the threshing floor tonight. ³ Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself, and put on your best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor; but do not reveal yourself to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. ⁴ And it shall be when he lies down, that you shall ^{[ b ]} take notice of the place where he lies, and you shall go and uncover his feet and lie down; then he will tell you what you should do.” ⁵ And she said to her, “ ^{( B )} All that you say I will do.”

⁶ So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law had commanded her. ⁷ When Boaz had eaten and drunk and ^{( C )} his heart was cheerful, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came secretly, and uncovered his feet and lay down. ⁸ And it happened in the middle of the night that the man was startled and ^{[ c ]} bent forward; and behold, a woman was lying at his feet. ⁹ So he said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth your slave. Now spread your garment over your slave, for you are a redeemer.” ¹⁰ Then he said, “ ^{( D )} May you be blessed of the Lord , my daughter. You have shown your last kindness to be better than the first, by not going after young men, whether poor or rich. ¹¹ So now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you say, for all ^{[ d ]} my people in the city know that you are ^{( E )} a woman of excellence. ¹² But now, although it is true that I am a redeemer, yet there is also a redeemer more closely related than I. ¹³ Remain this night, and when morning comes, ^{( F )} if he will ^{[ e ]} redeem you, good; let him redeem you. But if he does not wish to ^{[ f ]} redeem you, then I will redeem you, ^{( G )} as the Lord lives. Lie down until morning.”

¹⁴ So she lay at his feet until morning, and got up before one person could recognize another; and he said, “ ^{( H )} Do not let it be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” ¹⁵ Again he said, “Give me the shawl that is on you and hold it.” So she held it, and he measured six measures of barley and laid it on her. Then ^{[ g ]} she went into the city. ¹⁶ When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “ ^{[ h ]} How did it go, my daughter?” And she told her all that the man had done for her. ¹⁷ She also said, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said, ‘Do not go to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’” ¹⁸ Then she said, “Wait, my daughter, until you know how the matter ^{[ i ]} turns out; for the man will not rest until he has ^{[ j ]} settled it today.”

Footnotes

Ruth 3:1 Lit a resting place
Ruth 3:4 Lit know
Ruth 3:8 Or tossed around
Ruth 3:11 Lit the gate of my people know
Ruth 3:13 Or act as close relative to
Ruth 3:13 Or act as close relative to
Ruth 3:15 Many mss; MT he
Ruth 3:16 Lit Who are you ?
Ruth 3:18 Lit falls
Ruth 3:18 Lit finished the matter

Ruth and Boaz at the Threshing Floor

3 One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi ^{( A )} said to her, “My daughter, I must find a home ^{[ a ]} ^{( B )} for you, where you will be well provided for. ² Now Boaz, with whose women you have worked, is a relative ^{( C )} of ours. Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. ^{( D )} ³ Wash, ^{( E )} put on perfume, ^{( F )} and get dressed in your best clothes. ^{( G )} Then go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. ^{( H )} ⁴ When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do.”

⁵ “I will do whatever you say,” ^{( I )} Ruth answered. ⁶ So she went down to the threshing floor ^{( J )} and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do.

⁷ When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, ^{( K )} he went over to lie down at the far end of the grain pile. ^{( L )} Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down. ⁸ In the middle of the night something startled the man; he turned—and there was a woman lying at his feet!

⁹ “Who are you?” he asked.

“I am your servant Ruth,” she said. “Spread the corner of your garment ^{( M )} over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer ^{[ b ]} ^{( N )} of our family.”

¹⁰ “The Lord bless you, ^{( O )} my daughter,” he replied. “This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: ^{( P )} You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. ¹¹ And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character. ^{( Q )} ¹² Although it is true that I am a guardian-redeemer of our family, ^{( R )} there is another who is more closely related than ^{( S )} I. ¹³ Stay here for the night, and in the morning if he wants to do his duty as your guardian-redeemer, ^{( T )} good; let him redeem you. But if he is not willing, as surely as the Lord lives ^{( U )} I will do it. ^{( V )} Lie here until morning.”

¹⁴ So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before anyone could be recognized; and he said, “No one must know that a woman came to the threshing floor. ^{( W )} ” ^{( X )}

¹⁵ He also said, “Bring me the shawl ^{( Y )} you are wearing and hold it out.” When she did so, he poured into it six measures of barley and placed the bundle on her. Then he ^{[ c ]} went back to town.

¹⁶ When Ruth came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “How did it go, my daughter?”

Then she told her everything Boaz had done for her ¹⁷ and added, “He gave me these six measures of barley, saying, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’”

¹⁸ Then Naomi said, “Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today.” ^{( Z )}

Footnotes

Ruth 3:1 Hebrew find rest (see 1:9)
Ruth 3:9 The Hebrew word for guardian-redeemer is a legal term for one who has the obligation to redeem a relative in serious difficulty (see Lev. 25:25-55); also in verses 12 and 13.
Ruth 3:15 Most Hebrew manuscripts; many Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate and Syriac she

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Ruth and Boaz

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The Threshing Floor

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Boaz Will Redeem Ruth

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Ruth and Boaz at the Threshing Floor

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Ruth and Boaz

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The Threshing Floor

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Boaz Will Redeem Ruth

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Ruth and Boaz at the Threshing Floor

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