Ruth 3:6-15
Holman Christian Standard Bible
6 She went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law had instructed her. 7 After Boaz ate, drank, and was in good spirits,[a] he went to lie down at the end of the pile of barley. Then she went in secretly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.
8 At midnight, Boaz was startled, turned over, and there lying at his feet was a woman! 9 So he asked, “Who are you?”
“I am Ruth, your slave,” she replied. “Spread your cloak[b] over me,(A) for you are a family redeemer.”(B)
10 Then he said, “May the Lord bless you,(C) my daughter. You have shown more kindness now than before,[c] because you have not pursued younger men, whether rich or poor. 11 Now don’t be afraid, my daughter. I will do for you whatever you say,[d] since all the people in my town[e] know that you are a woman of noble character.(D) 12 Yes, it is true that I am a family redeemer, but there is a redeemer closer than I am. 13 Stay here tonight, and in the morning, if he wants to redeem you, that’s good.(E) Let him redeem you. But if he doesn’t want to redeem you, as the Lord lives,(F) I will. Now lie down until morning.”
14 So she lay down at his feet until morning but got up while it was still dark.[f] Then Boaz said, “Don’t let it be known that a[g] woman came to the threshing floor.” 15 And he told Ruth, “Bring the shawl you’re wearing and hold it out.” When she held it out, he shoveled six measures of barley into her shawl, and she[h] went into the town.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ruth 3:7 Lit and his heart was glad
- Ruth 3:9 Or Spread the edge of your garment; lit Spread the wing of your garment; Ru 2:12
- Ruth 3:10 Lit kindness at the last than at the first
- Ruth 3:11 Some Hb mss, Orig, Syr, Tg, Vg read say to me
- Ruth 3:11 Lit all the gate of my people
- Ruth 3:14 Lit up before a man could recognize his companion
- Ruth 3:14 LXX; MT reads the
- Ruth 3:15 Some Hb mss, Aram, Syr, Vg; other Hb mss read he
Ruth 3:6-15
International Standard Version
6 So she went out to the threshing floor and did precisely what her mother-in-law had advised.
Ruth’s Meeting with Boaz
7 After Boaz had finished eating and drinking to his heart’s content, he went over and lay down next to the pile of threshed grain. Ruth[a] came in quietly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. 8 In the middle of the night, Boaz[b] was startled awake and turned over in surprise to see a woman lying at his feet.
9 He asked her, “Who are you?”
She answered, “I’m only Ruth, your servant. Spread the edge[c] of your garment over your servant, because you are my related redeemer.”
10 He replied, “May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter. You’ve added to the gracious love you’ve already demonstrated[d] by not pursuing younger men, whether rich or poor. 11 Don’t be afraid, my daughter. I’ll do for you everything that you have asked, since all of my people in town are aware that you’re a virtuous[e] woman. 12 It’s true that I’m your related redeemer, but there is another related redeemer even closer than I. 13 Stay the night, and if he fulfills his duty as your related redeemer in the morning, that will be acceptable. But if he isn’t inclined to do so,[f] then, as the Lord lives, I will act as your related redeemer myself. So lie down until morning.”
14 So she lay down at his feet until dawn approached, then got up while it was still difficult for anyone to be recognized. Then he told her, “It shouldn’t be known that a woman has come to the threshing floor.” 15 So he said, “Take your cloak and hold it out.” She did so, and he measured out six units[g] of barley and placed them in a sack[h] on her. Then she left for town.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ruth 3:7 Lit. She
- Ruth 3:8 Lit. the man
- Ruth 3:9 Or wing; cf. 2:12
- Ruth 3:10 Lit. You’ve showed more gracious love in the latter end than in the beginning
- Ruth 3:11 The Heb. word for virtuous is identical to the word for of considerable wealth in 2:1
- Ruth 3:13 I.e. act as related redeemer
- Ruth 3:15 The Heb. lacks units
- Ruth 3:15 The Heb. lacks in a sack
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