Ruth 3
1599 Geneva Bible
3 1 Naomi giveth Ruth counsel. 8 She sleepeth at Boaz’s feet. 12 He acknowledgeth himself to be her kinsman.
1 Afterward Naomi her mother-in-law said unto her, My daughter, shall not I seek [a]rest for thee, that thou mayest prosper?
2 Now also is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maids thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley tonight in the [b]floor.
3 Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: let not the [c]man know of thee, until he have left eating and drinking.
4 And when he shall sleep, mark the place where he layeth him down, and go, and uncover the place of his feet, and lay thee down, and he shall tell thee what thou shalt do.
5 And she answered her, All that thou biddest me, I will do.
6 ¶ So 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 drunken, and [d]cheered his heart, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn, and she came softly, and uncovered the place of his feet, and lay down.
8 And at midnight the man was afraid [e]and caught hold: and lo, a woman lay at his feet.
9 Then he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore the wing of thy garment over thine handmaid: for thou art the kinsman.
10 Then he said, Blessed be thou of the Lord, my daughter: thou hast [f]showed more goodness in the latter end, than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, were they 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 kinsman, howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.
13 Tarry tonight, and when morning is come, if he [g]will do the duty of a kinsman unto thee, well, let him do the kinsman’s duty: but if he will not do the kinsman’s part, then will I do the duty of a kinsman, as the Lord liveth: sleep until the morning.
14 ¶ And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she arose before one could know another: for he said, Let no man know, that a woman came into the floor.
15 Also he said, Bring the [h]sheet that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid them on her, and she went into the city.
16 And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, [i]Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her,
17 And said, These six measures of barley gave he me: for he said to me, Thou shalt not come empty unto thy mother-in-law.
18 Then said she, My daughter, sit still, until thou know how the thing will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he hath finished the matter this same day.
Footnotes
- Ruth 3:1 Meaning, that she would provide her of an husband, with whom she might live quietly.
- Ruth 3:2 Or, in the barn.
- Ruth 3:3 Boaz, nor yet any other.
- Ruth 3:7 That is, had refreshed himself among his servants.
- Ruth 3:8 Or, turned himself from one side to another.
- Ruth 3:10 Thou showest thyself from time to time more virtuous.
- Ruth 3:13 If he will take thee to be his wife by the title of affinity, according to God’s law, Deut. 25:5.
- Ruth 3:15 Or, mantle.
- Ruth 3:16 Perceiving by her coming home, that he had not taken her to his wife, she was astonied.
Ruth 3
English Standard Version
Ruth and Boaz at the Threshing Floor
3 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek (A)rest for you, that it may be well with you? 2 Is not Boaz (B)our relative, (C)with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. 3 (D)Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.” 5 And she replied, “All that you say I will do.”
6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her. 7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and (E)his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down. 8 At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet! 9 He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. (F)Spread your wings[a] over your servant, for you are (G)a redeemer.” 10 And he said, (H)“May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than (I)the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are (J)a worthy woman. 12 And now it is true that I am (K)a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I. 13 Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will (L)redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, (M)as the Lord lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.”
14 So she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one could recognize another. And he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” 15 And he said, “Bring the garment you are wearing and hold it out.” So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley and put it on her. Then she went into the city. 16 And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did you fare, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her, 17 saying, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said to me, ‘You must not go back empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’” 18 She replied, “Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest but will settle the matter today.”
Footnotes
- Ruth 3:9 Compare 2:12; the word for wings can also mean corners of a garment
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
