Ruth 3:14-16

New English Translation

Footnotes

1. Ruth 3:14 tc The consonantal text (Kethib) has the singular מַרְגְּלָתוֹ (marg^elato, “his leg”), while the marginal reading (Qere) has the plural מַרְגְּלוֹתָיו (marg^elotayv, “his legs”). tn Heb “[at] his legs.” See the note on the word “legs” in v. 4.
2. Ruth 3:14 tn Heb “and she arose before a man could recognize his companion”; NRSV “before one person could recognize another”; CEV “before daylight.”
3. Ruth 3:14 tn Heb “and he said” (so KJV, NASB, NIV). Some translate “he thought [to himself]” (cf. NCV).
4. Ruth 3:14 tn Heb “let it not be known that the woman came [to] the threshing floor” (NASB similar). The article on הָאִשָּׁה (haʾishah, “the woman”) is probably dittographic (note the final he on the preceding verb בָּאָה [baʾah, “she came”]).
5. Ruth 3:15 tn Or “cloak” (so NAB, NRSV, NLT); CEV “cape.” The Hebrew noun occurs only here and in Isa 3:22.
6. Ruth 3:15 tn Heb “which [is] upon you”; NIV, NRSV “you are wearing.”
7. Ruth 3:15 tn Heb “and she gripped it tightly and he measured out six of barley and placed upon her.” The unit of measure is not indicated in the Hebrew text, although it would probably have been clear to the original hearers of the account. Six ephahs, the equivalent of 180-300 pounds, is clearly too heavy, especially if carried in a garment. Six omers (an omer being a tenth of an ephah) seems too little, since this would have amounted to six-tenths of an ephah, less than Ruth had gleaned in a single day (cf. 2:17). Thus a seah (one third of an ephah) may be in view here; six seahs would amount to two ephahs, about 60 pounds (27 kg). See R. L. Hubbard, Jr., Ruth (NICOT), 222, and F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther (WBC), 178.
8. Ruth 3:15 tn The phrase “into the shawl” are supplied in the translation for clarity.
9. Ruth 3:15 tc The MT preserves the third person masculine singular form וַיָּבֹא (vayyavoʾ, “then he went”; cf. ASV, NAB, NIV, NCV, NRSV, NLT), while many medieval mss (supported by the Syriac and Vulgate) have the third person feminine singular form וַתָּבֹא (vattavoʾ, “then she went”; cf. KJV, NASB, TEV).
10. Ruth 3:16 tn Heb “she”; the referent (Naomi) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
11. Ruth 3:16 tn Heb “said.” Since what follows is a question, the present translation uses “asked” here.
12. Ruth 3:16 tn Heb “Who are you?” In this context Naomi is clearly not asking for Ruth’s identity. Here the question has the semantic force “Are you his wife?” See R. L. Hubbard, Jr., Ruth (NICOT), 223-24, and F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther (WBC), 184-85.
13. Ruth 3:16 tn Heb “she”; the referent (Ruth) has been specified in the translation for clarity.