Ruth 2:22

2:22 Naomi then said to her daughter-in-law Ruth, “It is good, my daughter, that you should go out to work with his female servants. ¹  That way you will not be harmed, which could happen in another field.” ² 

Ruth 3:13

3:13 Remain here tonight. Then in the morning, if he agrees to marry you, ³  fine, ⁴  let him do so. ⁵  But if he does not want to do so, I promise, as surely as the Lord lives, to marry you. ⁶  Sleep here until morning.” ⁷ 

¹ tn Naomi uses the feminine form of the word “servant” (as Boaz did earlier, see v. 8), in contrast to Ruth’s use of the masculine form in the preceding verse. Since she is concerned for Ruth’s safety, she may be subtly reminding Ruth to stay with the female workers and not get too close to the men.

² tn Heb “and they will not harm you in another field”; NRSV “otherwise you might be bothered in another field.”

³ tn Heb “if he redeems you”; NIV “if he wants to redeem”; NRSV “if he will act as next-of-kin for you.” The verb גֹּאֵל (go’el) here refers generally to fulfilling his responsibilities as a guardian of the family interests. In this case it specifically entails marrying Ruth.

⁴ tn Or “good” (so NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV); TEV “well and good.”

⁵ tn Heb “let him redeem” (so NIV); NLT “then let him marry you.”

⁶ tn Heb “but if he does not want to redeem you, then I will redeem you, I, [as] the Lord lives” (NASB similar).

⁷ sn Sleep here. Perhaps Boaz tells her to remain at the threshing floor because he is afraid she might be hurt wandering back home in the dark. See Song 5:7 and R. L. Hubbard, Jr., Ruth (NICOT), 218.