Discovery BoxRuth 1:4
Context1:4 So her sons 1 married 2 Moabite women. (One was named Orpah and the other Ruth.) 3 And they continued to live there about ten years.
Ruth 1:16-17
Context1:16 But Ruth replied,
“Stop urging me to abandon you! 4
For wherever you go, I will go.
Wherever you live, I will live.
Your people will become my people,
and your God will become my God.
1:17 Wherever you die, I will die – and there I will be buried.
May the Lord punish me severely if I do not keep my promise! 5
Only death will be able to separate me from you!” 6
Ruth 1:22--4:22
Context1:22 So Naomi returned, accompanied by her Moabite daughter-in-law Ruth, who came back with her from the region of Moab. 7 (Now they 8 arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.) 9
2:1 Now Naomi 10 had a relative 11 on her husband’s side of the family named Boaz. He was a wealthy, prominent man from the clan of Elimelech. 12 2:2 One day Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go 13 to the fields so I can gather 14 grain behind whoever permits me to do so.” 15 Naomi 16 replied, “You may go, my daughter.” 2:3 So Ruth 17 went and gathered grain in the fields 18 behind the harvesters. Now she just happened to end up 19 in the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelech.
2:4 Now at that very moment, 20 Boaz arrived from Bethlehem 21 and greeted 22 the harvesters, “May the Lord be with you!” They replied, 23 “May the Lord bless you!” 2:5 Boaz asked 24 his servant 25 in charge of the harvesters, “To whom does this young woman belong?” 26 2:6 The servant in charge of the harvesters replied, “She’s the young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the region of Moab. 2:7 She asked, 27 ‘May I follow the harvesters and gather 28 grain among the bundles?’ 29 Since she arrived she has been working hard 30 from this morning until now 31 – except for 32 sitting 33 in the resting hut 34 a short time.” 35
2:8 So Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen carefully, 36 my dear! 37 Do not leave to gather grain in another field. You need not 38 go beyond the limits of this field. You may go along beside 39 my female workers. 40 2:9 Take note of 41 the field where the men 42 are harvesting and follow behind with the female workers. 43 I will tell the men 44 to leave you alone. 45 When you are thirsty, you may go to 46 the water jars 47 and drink some of the water 48 the servants draw.” 49
2:10 Ruth 50 knelt before him with her forehead to the ground 51 and said to him, “Why are you so kind 52 and so attentive to me, 53 even though 54 I am a foreigner?” 55 2:11 Boaz replied to her, 56 “I have been given a full report of 57 all that you have done for your mother-in-law following the death of your husband – how you left 58 your father and your mother, as well as your homeland, and came to live among people you did not know previously. 59 2:12 May the Lord reward your efforts! 60 May your acts of kindness be repaid fully 61 by the Lord God of Israel, from whom you have sought protection!” 62 2:13 She said, “You really are being kind to me, 63 sir, 64 for you have reassured 65 and encouraged 66 me, your servant, 67 even though I am 68 not one of your servants!” 69
2:14 Later during the mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here and have 70 some food! Dip your bread 71 in the vinegar!” So she sat down beside the harvesters. Then he handed 72 her some roasted grain. She ate until she was full and saved the rest. 73 2:15 When she got up to gather grain, Boaz told 74 his male servants, “Let her gather grain even among 75 the bundles! Don’t chase her off! 76 2:16 Make sure you pull out 77 ears of grain for her and drop them so she can gather them up. Don’t tell her not to!” 78 2:17 So she gathered grain in the field until evening. When she threshed 79 what she had gathered, it came to about thirty pounds 80 of barley!
2:18 She carried it back to town, and her mother-in-law saw 81 how much grain 82 she had gathered. Then Ruth 83 gave her the roasted grain she had saved from mealtime. 84 2:19 Her mother-in-law asked her, 85 “Where did you gather grain today? Where did you work? May the one who took notice of you be rewarded!” 86 So Ruth 87 told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked. She said, “The name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz.” 2:20 Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be rewarded by the Lord because he 88 has shown loyalty to the living on behalf of the dead!” 89 Then Naomi said to her, “This man is a close relative of ours; he is our guardian.” 90 2:21 Ruth the Moabite replied, “He even 91 told me, ‘You may go along beside my servants 92 until they have finished gathering all my harvest!’” 93 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. 94 That way you will not be harmed, which could happen in another field.” 95 2:23 So Ruth 96 worked beside 97 Boaz’s female servants, gathering grain until the end of the barley harvest as well as the wheat harvest. 98 After that she stayed home with her mother-in-law. 99
3:1 At that time, 100 Naomi, her mother-in-law, said to her, “My daughter, I must find a home for you so you will be secure. 101 3:2 Now Boaz, with whose female servants you worked, is our close relative. 102 Look, tonight he is winnowing barley at the threshing floor. 103 3:3 So bathe yourself, 104 rub on some perfumed oil, 105 and get dressed up. 106 Then go down 107 to the threshing floor. But don’t let the man know you’re there until he finishes his meal. 108 3:4 When he gets ready to go to sleep, 109 take careful notice of the place where he lies down. Then go, uncover his legs, 110 and lie down 111 beside him. 112 He will tell 113 you what you should do.” 3:5 Ruth replied to Naomi, 114 “I will do everything you have told 115 me 116 to do.” 117
3:6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law had instructed her to do. 118 3:7 When Boaz had finished his meal and was feeling satisfied, he lay down to sleep at the far end of the grain heap. 119 Then Ruth 120 crept up quietly, 121 uncovered his legs, 122 and lay down beside him. 123 3:8 In the middle of the night he was startled 124 and turned over. 125 Now 126 he saw a woman 127 lying beside him! 128 3:9 He said, “Who are you?” 129 She replied, “I am Ruth, your servant. 130 Marry your servant, 131 for you are a guardian of the family interests.” 132 3:10 He said, “May you be rewarded 133 by the Lord, my dear! 134 This act of devotion 135 is greater than what you did before. 136 For you have not sought to marry 137 one of the young men, whether rich or poor. 138 3:11 Now, my dear, don’t worry! 139 I intend to do for you everything you propose, 140 for everyone in the village 141 knows that you are a worthy woman. 142 3:12 Now yes, it is true that 143 I am a guardian, 144 but there is another guardian who is a closer relative than I am. 3:13 Remain here tonight. Then in the morning, if he agrees to marry you, 145 fine, 146 let him do so. 147 But if he does not want to do so, I promise, as surely as the Lord lives, to marry you. 148 Sleep here until morning.” 149 3:14 So she slept beside him 150 until morning. She woke up while it was still dark. 151 Boaz thought, 152 “No one must know that a woman visited the threshing floor.” 153 3:15 Then he said, “Hold out the shawl 154 you are wearing 155 and grip it tightly.” As she held it tightly, he measured out about sixty pounds 156 of barley into the shawl and put it on her shoulders. Then he 157 went into town, 3:16 and she returned to her mother-in-law.
When Ruth returned to her mother-in-law, Naomi 158 asked, 159 “How did things turn out for you, 160 my daughter?” Ruth 161 told her about all the man had done for her. 162 3:17 She said, “He gave me these sixty pounds of barley, for he said to me, 163 ‘Do not go to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’” 164 3:18 Then Naomi 165 said, “Stay put, 166 my daughter, until you know how the matter turns out. For the man will not rest until he has taken care of the matter today.”
4:1 Now Boaz went up 167 to the village gate and sat there. Then along came the guardian 168 whom Boaz had mentioned to Ruth! 169 Boaz said, “Come 170 here and sit down, ‘John Doe’!” 171 So he came 172 and sat down. 4:2 Boaz chose ten of the village leaders 173 and said, “Sit down here!” So they sat down. 4:3 Then Boaz said to the guardian, 174 “Naomi, who has returned from the region of Moab, is selling 175 the portion of land that belongs to our relative Elimelech. 4:4 So I am legally informing you: 176 Acquire it before those sitting here and before the leaders of my people! 177 If you want to exercise your right to redeem it, then do so. 178 But if not, then tell me 179 so I will know. 180 For you possess the first option to redeem it; I am next in line after you.” 181 He replied, “I will redeem it.” 4:5 Then Boaz said, “When 182 you acquire the field 183 from Naomi, 184 you must also 185 acquire Ruth the Moabite, 186 the wife of our deceased relative, 187 in order to preserve his family name by raising up a descendant who will inherit his property.” 188 4:6 The guardian said, “Then I am unable to redeem it, for I would ruin my own inheritance 189 in that case. You may exercise my redemption option, for I am unable to redeem it.” 190 4:7 (Now this used to be the customary way to finalize a transaction involving redemption in Israel: 191 A man would remove his sandal and give it to the other party. 192 This was a legally binding act 193 in Israel.) 4:8 So the guardian said to Boaz, “You may acquire it,” and he removed his sandal. 194 4:9 Then Boaz said to the leaders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I have acquired from Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech, Kilion, and Mahlon. 4:10 I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, the wife of Mahlon, as my wife to raise up a descendant who will inherit his property 195 so the name of the deceased might not disappear 196 from among his relatives and from his village. 197 You are witnesses today.” 4:11 All the people who were at the gate and the elders replied, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is entering your home like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built up the house of Israel! May 198 you prosper 199 in Ephrathah and become famous 200 in Bethlehem. 201 4:12 May your family 202 become like the family of Perez 203 – whom Tamar bore to Judah – through the descendants 204 the Lord gives you by this young woman.”
4:13 So Boaz married Ruth and had sexual relations with her. 205 The Lord enabled her to conceive 206 and she gave birth to a son. 4:14 The village women said to Naomi, “May the Lord be praised because he has not left you without a guardian 207 today! May he 208 become famous in Israel! 209 4:15 He will encourage you and provide for you when you are old, 210 for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, has given him birth. She 211 is better to you than seven sons!” 4:16 Naomi took the child and placed him on her lap; 212 she became his caregiver. 213 4:17 The neighbor women named him, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. 214 Now he became the father of Jesse – David’s father!
4:18 These are the descendants 215 of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron, 4:19 Hezron was the father of Ram, Ram was the father of Amminadab, 4:20 Amminadab was the father of Nachshon, Nachshon was the father of Salmah, 4:21 Salmon 216 was the father of Boaz, Boaz was the father of Obed, 4:22 Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of David. 217
[1:4] 1 tn Heb “they.” The verb is 3rd person masculine plural referring to Naomi’s sons, as the translation indicates.
[1:4] 2 tn Heb “and they lifted up for themselves Moabite wives.” When used with the noun “wife,” the verb נָשָׂא (nasa’, “to lift up, carry, take”) forms the idiom “to take a wife,” that is, to marry (BDB 673 s.v. Qal.3.d; 2 Chr 11:21; 13:21; 24:3; Ezra 9:2,12; 10:44; Neh 13:25).
[1:4] 3 tn Heb “the name of the one [was] Orpah and the name of the second [was] Ruth.”
[1:16] 4 tn Heb “do not urge me to abandon you to turn back from after you.” Most English versions, following the lead of the KJV, use “leave” here. The use of עזב (“abandon”) reflects Ruth’s perspective. To return to Moab would be to abandon Naomi and to leave her even more vulnerable than she already is.
[1:17] 5 tn Heb “Thus may the
[1:17] 6 tn Heb “certainly death will separate me and you.” Ruth’s vow has been interpreted two ways: (1) Not even death will separate her from Naomi – because they will be buried next to one another (e.g., NRSV, NCV; see E. F. Campbell, Ruth [AB], 74-75). However, for the statement to mean, “Not even death will separate me and you,” it would probably need to be introduced by אִם (’im, “if”) or negated by לֹא (lo’, “not”; see F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther [WBC], 83). (2) Nothing except death will separate her from Naomi (e.g., KJV, ASV, RSV, NASB, NIV, TEV, NJPS, REB, NLT, GW; see Bush, 83). The particle כִּי introduces the content of the vow, which – if violated – would bring about the curse uttered in the preceding oath (BDB 472 s.v. כִּי 1.c; e.g., Gen 42:16; Num 14:22; 1 Sam 20:3; 26:16; 29:6; 2 Sam 3:35; 1 Kgs 2:23; Isa 49:18). Some suggest that כּי is functioning as an asseverative (“indeed, certainly”) to express what the speaker is determined will happen (Bush, 83; see 1 Sam 14:44; 2 Sam 3:9; 1 Kgs 2:23; 19:2). Here כִּי probably functions in a conditional sense: “if” or “if…except, unless” (BDB 473 s.v. כִּי2.b). So her vow may essentially mean “if anything except death should separate me from you!” The most likely view is (2): Ruth is swearing that death alone will separate her from Naomi.
[1:22] 7 tn Heb “and Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, the one who returned from the region of Moab.”
[1:22] 8 tn The pronoun appears to be third person masculine plural in form, but it is probably an archaic third person dual form (see F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther [WBC], 94).
[1:22] 9 tn This statement, introduced with a disjunctive structure (vav [ו] + subject + verb) provides closure for the previous scene, while at the same time making a transition to the next scene, which takes place in the barley field. The reference to the harvest also reminds the reader that God has been merciful to his people by replacing the famine with fertility. In the flow of the narrative the question is now, “Will he do the same for Naomi and Ruth?”
[2:1] 10 tn The disjunctive clause (note the vav [ו] + prepositional phrase structure) provides background information essential to the following narrative.
[2:1] 11 tc The marginal reading (Qere) is מוֹדַע (moda’, “relative”), while the consonantal text (Kethib) has מְיֻדָּע (miyudda’, “friend”). The textual variant was probably caused by orthographic confusion between consonantal מְיֻדָּע and מוֹדַע. Virtually all English versions follow the marginal reading (Qere), e.g., KJV, NAB, NASB, NRSV “kinsman”; NIV, NCV, NLT “relative.”
[2:1] 12 tn Heb “and [there was] to Naomi a relative, to her husband, a man mighty in substance, from the clan of Elimelech, and his name [was] Boaz.”
[2:2] 13 tn The cohortative here (“Let me go”) expresses Ruth’s request. Note Naomi’s response, in which she gives Ruth permission to go to the field.
[2:2] 14 tn Following the preceding cohortative, the cohortative with vav conjunctive indicates purpose/result.
[2:2] 15 tn Heb “anyone in whose eyes I may find favor” (ASV, NIV similar). The expression אֶמְצָא־חֵן בְּעֵינָיו (’emtsa’-khen bÿ’enayv, “to find favor in the eyes of [someone]”) appears in Ruth 2:2, 10, 13. It is most often used when a subordinate or servant requests permission for something from a superior (BDB 336 s.v. חֵן). Ruth will play the role of the subordinate servant, seeking permission from a landowner, who then could show benevolence by granting her request to glean in his field behind the harvest workers.
[2:2] 16 tn Heb “she”; the referent (Naomi) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[2:3] 17 tn Heb “she”; the referent (Ruth) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[2:3] 18 tn Heb “and she went and entered [a field] and gleaned in the field behind the harvesters.” Cf. KJV, NASB, NRSV “the reapers”; TEV “the workers.”
[2:3] 19 sn The text is written from Ruth’s limited perspective. As far as she was concerned, she randomly picked a spot in the field. But God was providentially at work and led her to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who, as a near relative of Elimelech, was a potential benefactor.
[2:4] 20 tn Heb “and look”; NIV, NRSV “Just then.” The narrator invites the audience into the story, describing Boaz’s arrival as if it were witnessed by the audience.
[2:4] 21 map For location see Map5 B1; Map7 E2; Map8 E2; Map10 B4.
[2:4] 22 tn Heb “said to.” Context indicates that the following expression is a greeting, the first thing Boaz says to his workers.
[2:4] 23 tn Heb “said to him.” For stylistic reasons “replied” is used in the present translation.
[2:5] 24 tn Heb “said to.” Since what follows is a question, “asked” is appropriate in this context.
[2:5] 25 tn Heb “young man.” Cf. NAB “overseer”; NIV, NLT “foreman.”
[2:5] 26 sn In this patriarchal culture Ruth would “belong” to either her father (if unmarried) or her husband (if married).
[2:7] 27 tn Heb “said.” What follows is a question, so “asked” is used in the translation.
[2:7] 28 tn On the use of the perfect with vav consecutive after the cohortative, see IBHS 530 §32.2.2b.
[2:7] 29 tn Heb “May I glean and gather among the bundles behind the harvesters?” Others translate, “May I glean and gather [grain] in bundles behind the harvesters?” (cf. NAB; see F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther [WBC], 117). For discussion of the terminology and process of harvesting, see O. Borowski, Agriculture in Iron Age Israel, 59-61.
[2:7] 30 tn Heb “and she came and she has persisted.” The construction וַתָּבוֹא וַתַעֲמוֹד (vattavo’ vata’amod) forms a dependent temporal sequence: “since she came, she has persisted.” Because עָמַד (’amad, “to stand, remain, persist”; BDB 764 s.v. עָמַד; HALOT 840-42 s.v. עמד) has a broad range of meanings, וַתַעֲמוֹד has been understood in various ways: (1) Ruth had stood all morning waiting to receive permission from Boaz to glean in his field: “she has stood (here waiting)”; (2) Ruth had remained in the field all morning: “she has remained here” (NAB, NASB, NCV); and (3) Ruth had worked hard all morning: “she has worked steadily” (REB), “she has been working” (TEV, CEV), “she has been on her feet (all morning)” (JPS, NJPS, NRSV). For discussion, see F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther (WBC), 118-19.
[2:7] 31 tn Heb “and she came and she stood, from then, the morning, and until now, this, her sitting [in] the house a little.” The syntax of the Hebrew text is awkward and the meaning uncertain. For discussion see F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther (WBC), 118-19.
[2:7] 32 tn Heb “except this.” The function and meaning of the demonstrative adjective זֶה (zeh, “this”) is difficult: (1) MT accentuation joins זֶה withשִׁבְתָּהּ (shivtah, “this her sitting”), suggesting that זֶה שִׁבְתָּהּ functions as subject complement (see BDB 261 s.v. זֶה 2.a and Josh 9:12). (2) Others suggest that זֶה functions as an emphasizing adverb of time (“just now”; BDB 261 s.v. 4.h) and connect it with עַתָּה (’attah, “now”) to form the idiom עַתָּה זֶה (zeh ’attah, “now, just now”; BDB 261 s.v. 4.h; GKC 442-43 §136.d; see F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther [WBC], 118-19). The entire line is translated variously: KJV “until now, (+ save ASV) that she tarried a little in the house”; NASB “she has been sitting in the house for a little while”; NIV “except for a short rest in the shelter”; NJPS “she has rested but little in the hut”; “her sitting (= resting) in the house (has only been) for a moment.” A paraphrase would be: “She came and has kept at it (= gleaning) from this morning until now, except for this: She has been sitting in the hut only a little while.” The clause as a whole is an exceptive clause: “except for this….”
[2:7] 33 tc The MT vocalizes consonantal שבתה as שִׁבְתָּהּ (shivtah, “her sitting”; Qal infinitive construct from יָשַׁב (yashav), “to sit” + 3rd person feminine singular suffix), apparently taking the 3rd person feminine singular suffix as a subjective genitive: “she sat [in the hut only a little while]” (so KJV, ASV, NASB, NIV, REB, TEV, NCV, NJPS). On the other hand, LXX κατέπαυσεν (“she rested”) reflects the vocalization שָׁבְתָה (shavtah, “she rested”; Qal perfect 3rd person feminine singular from שָׁבַת (shavat), “to rest”): “she rested [in the hut only a little while]” (so RSV, NRSV, NAB, CEV, NJB, JPS). The MT reading is more difficult and is therefore probably original.
[2:7] 34 tc Several English versions (NAB, NEB, RSV, NRSV, JB, CEV) suggest deleting MT הַבַּיִת (habbayit, lit. “the house”) due to dittography with בתה in שִׁבְתָּהּ (shivtah) which precedes; however, several ancient textual witnesses support the MT (medieval Hebrew manuscripts, Syriac, Targum). The LXX reading ἐν τῷ ἀργῷ (en tw argw, “in the field”) probably does not represent an alternate Hebrew textual tradition, but merely the translator’s attempt to smooth out a difficult Hebrew text.
[2:7] 35 tn Heb “a little while.” The adjective מְעָט (me’at) functions in a temporal sense (“a little while”; e.g., Job 24:24) or a comparative sense (“a little bit”); see BDB 589-90 s.v. The foreman’s point is that Ruth was a hard worker who only rested a short time.
[2:8] 36 tn Heb “Have you not heard?” The idiomatic, negated rhetorical question is equivalent to an affirmation (see F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther [WBC], 119, and GKC 474 §150.e).
[2:8] 37 tn Heb “my daughter.” This form of address is a mild form of endearment, perhaps merely rhetorical. It might suggest that Boaz is older than Ruth, but not necessarily significantly so. A few English versions omit it entirely (e.g., TEV, CEV).
[2:8] 38 tn The switch from the negative particle אַל (’al, see the preceding statement, “do not leave”) to לֹא (lo’) may make this statement more emphatic. It may indicate that the statement is a policy applicable for the rest of the harvest (see v. 21).
[2:8] 39 tn Heb “and thus you may stay close with.” The imperfect has a permissive nuance here.
[2:8] 40 sn The female workers would come along behind those who cut the grain and bundle it up. Staying close to the female workers allowed Ruth to collect more grain than would normally be the case (see O. Borowski, Agriculture in Iron Age Israel, 61, and F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther [WBC], 121).
[2:9] 41 tn Heb “let your eyes be upon” (KJV, NASB similar).
[2:9] 42 tn Heb “they.” The verb is masculine plural, indicating that the male workers are the subject here.
[2:9] 43 tn Heb “and go after them.” The pronominal suffix (“them”) is feminine plural, indicating that the female workers are referred to here.
[2:9] 44 tn Male servants are in view here, as the masculine plural form of the noun indicates (cf. KJV, NAB, NRSV “the young men”).
[2:9] 45 tn Heb “Have I not commanded the servants not to touch [i.e., “harm”] you?” The idiomatic, negated rhetorical question is equivalent to an affirmation (see v. 8). The perfect is either instantaneous, indicating completion of the action concurrent with the statement (see F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther [WBC], 107, 121-22, who translates, “I am herewith ordering”) or emphatic/rhetorical, indicating the action is as good as done.
[2:9] 46 tn The juxtaposition of two perfects, each with vav consecutive, here indicates a conditional sentence (see GKC 337 §112.kk).
[2:9] 47 tn Heb “vessels (so KJV, NAB, NRSV), receptacles”; NCV “water jugs.”
[2:9] 48 tn Heb “drink [some] of that which” (KJV similar); in the context “water” is implied.
[2:9] 49 tn The imperfect here either indicates characteristic or typical activity, or anterior future, referring to a future action (drawing water) which logically precedes another future action (drinking).
[2:10] 50 tn Heb “she”; the referent (Ruth) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[2:10] 51 tn Heb “she fell upon her face and bowed to the ground” (KJV, NASB similar).
[2:10] 52 tn Heb “Why do I find favor in your eyes…?” The expression מָצַא חֵן בְּעֵינֶי (matsa’ khen bÿ’eney, “to find favor in the eyes of [someone]”) is often characterized by the following features: (1) A subordinate or servant is requesting permission for something from a superior (master, owner, king). (2) The granting of the request is not a certainty but dependent on whether or not the superior is pleased with the subordinate to do so. (3) The granting of the request by the superior is an act of kindness or benevolence; however, it sometimes reciprocates loyalty previously shown by the subordinate to the superior (e.g., Gen 30:27; 32:6; 33:8, 10, 15; 34:11; 39:4; 47:25, 29; 50:4; Num 32:5; Deut 24:1; 1 Sam 1:18; 16:22; 20:3, 29; 27:3; 2 Sam 14:22; 16:4; 1 Kgs 11:19; Esth 5:8; 7:3; BDB 336 s.v. חֵן). While Boaz had granted her request for permission to glean in his field, she is amazed at the degree of kindness he had shown – especially since she had done nothing, in her own mind, to merit such a display. However, Boaz explains that she had indeed shown kindness to him indirectly through her devotion to Naomi (v. 11).
[2:10] 53 tn Heb “Why do I find favor in your eyes by [you] recognizing me.” The infinitive construct with prefixed לְ (lamed) here indicates manner (“by”).
[2:10] 54 tn Heb “and I am a foreigner.” The disjunctive clause (note the pattern vav + subject + predicate nominative) here has a circumstantial (i.e., concessive) function (“even though”).
[2:10] 55 sn The similarly spelled Hebrew terms נָכַר (nakhar, “to notice”) and נָכְרִי (nokhriy, “foreigner”) in this verse form a homonymic wordplay. This highlights the unexpected nature of the attentiveness and concern Boaz displayed to Ruth.
[2:11] 56 tn Heb “answered and said to her” (so NASB). For stylistic reasons this has been translated as “replied to her.”
[2:11] 57 tn Heb “it has been fully reported to me.” The infinitive absolute here emphasizes the following finite verb from the same root. Here it emphasizes either the clarity of the report or its completeness. See R. L. Hubbard, Jr., Ruth (NICOT), 153, n. 6. Most English versions tend toward the nuance of completeness (e.g., KJV “fully been shewed”; NAB “a complete account”; NASB, NRSV “All that you have done”).
[2:11] 58 tn The vav (ו) consecutive construction here has a specifying function. This and the following clause elaborate on the preceding general statement and explain more specifically what she did for her mother-in-law.
[2:11] 59 tn Heb “yesterday and the third day.” This Hebrew idiom means “previously, in the past” (Exod 5:7,8,14; Exod 21:29,36; Deut 4:42; 19:4,6; Josh 3:4; 1 Sam 21:5; 2 Sam 3:17; 1 Chr 11:2).
[2:12] 60 tn Heb “repay your work”; KJV, ASV “recompense thy work.” The prefixed verbal form is understood as a jussive of prayer (note the jussive form in the next clause).
[2:12] 61 tn Heb “may your wages be complete”; NCV “May your wages be paid in full.” The prefixed verbal form is a distinct jussive form, indicating that this is a prayer for blessing.
[2:12] 62 tn Heb “under whose wings you have sought shelter”; NIV, NLT “have come to take refuge.”
[2:13] 63 tn Heb “I am finding favor in your eyes.” In v. 10, where Ruth uses the perfect, she simply states the fact that Boaz is kind. Here the Hebrew text switches to the imperfect, thus emphasizing the ongoing attitude of kindness displayed by Boaz. Many English versions treat this as a request: KJV “Let me find favour in thy sight”; NAB “May I prove worthy of your kindness”; NIV “May I continue to find favor in your eyes.”
[2:13] 64 tn Heb “my master”; KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV “my lord.”
[2:13] 65 tn Or “comforted” (so NAB, NASB, NRSV, NLT).
[2:13] 66 tn Heb “spoken to the heart of.” As F. W. Bush points out, the idiom here means “to reassure, encourage” (Ruth, Esther [WBC], 124).
[2:13] 67 tn Ruth here uses a word (שִׁפְחָה, shifkhah) that describes the lowest level of female servant (see 1 Sam 25:41). Note Ruth 3:9 where she uses the word אָמָה (’amah), which refers to a higher class of servant.
[2:13] 68 tn The imperfect verbal form of הָיָה (hayah) is used here. F. W. Bush shows from usage elsewhere that the form should be taken as future (Ruth, Esther [WBC], 124-25).
[2:13] 69 tn The disjunctive clause (note the pattern vav [ו] + subject + verb) is circumstantial (or concessive) here (“even though”).
[2:14] 70 tn Heb “eat” (so KJV, NRSV).
[2:14] 71 tn Heb “your portion”; NRSV “your morsel.”
[2:14] 72 tn The Hebrew verb צָבַט (tsavat) occurs only here in the OT. Cf. KJV, ASV “he reached her”; NASB “he served her”; NIV “he offered her”; NRSV “he heaped up for her.” For discussion of its meaning, including the etymological evidence, see BDB 840 s.v.; R. L. Hubbard, Jr., Ruth (NICOT), 174; and F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther (WBC), 125-26.
[2:14] 73 tn Heb “and she ate and she was satisfied and she had some left over” (NASB similar).
[2:15] 74 tn Or “commanded” (so KJV, NASB, NCV).
[2:15] 75 tn Heb “even between”; NCV “even around.”
[2:15] 76 tn Heb “do not humiliate her”; cf. KJV “reproach her not”; NASB “do not insult her”; NIV “don’t embarrass her.” This probably refers to a verbal rebuke which would single her out and embarrass her (see v. 16). See R. L. Hubbard, Jr., Ruth (NICOT), 176-77, and F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther (WBC), 126.
[2:16] 77 tn The infinitive absolute precedes the finite verb for emphasis. Here שָׁלַל (shalal, “pull out”) is a homonym of the more common Hebrew verb meaning “to plunder.” An Arabic cognate is used of drawing a sword out of a scabbard (see BDB 1021 s.v.).
[2:16] 78 tn Heb “do not rebuke her” (so NASB, NRSV); CEV “don’t speak harshly to her”; NLT “don’t give her a hard time.”
[2:17] 79 tn Heb “she beat out” (so NAB, NASB, NRSV, NLT). Ruth probably used a stick to separate the kernels of grain from the husks. See O. Borowski, Agriculture in Iron Age Israel, 63.
[2:17] 80 tn Heb “there was an ephah.” An ephah was a dry measure, equivalent to one-tenth of a homer (see HALOT 43 s.v. אֵיפָה). An ephah was equivalent to a “bath,” a liquid measure. Jars labeled “bath” found at archaeological sites in Israel could contain approximately 5.8 gallons, or one-half to two-thirds of a bushel. Thus an ephah of barley would have weighed about 29 to 30 pounds (just over 13 kg). See R. L. Hubbard, Jr., Ruth (NICOT), 179.
[2:18] 81 tc MT vocalizes ותרא as the Qal verb וַתֵּרֶא (vattere’, “and she saw”), consequently of “her mother-in-law” as subject and “what she gathered” as the direct object: “her mother-in-law saw what she gathered.” A few medieval Hebrew
[2:18] 82 tn Heb “that which”; the referent (how much grain) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[2:18] 83 tn Heb “she”; the referent (Ruth) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[2:18] 84 tn Heb “and she brought out and gave to her that which she had left over from her being satisfied.”
[2:19] 85 tn Heb “said to her.” Since what follows is a question, the translation uses “asked her” here.
[2:19] 86 tn Or “blessed” (so NAB, NIV, NRSV). The same expression occurs in the following verse.
[2:19] 87 tn Heb “she”; the referent (Ruth) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[2:20] 88 tn Many English versions translate this statement, “May he [Boaz] be blessed by the
[2:20] 89 tn Heb “to the living and the dead” (so KJV, NASB).
[2:20] 90 tn The Hebrew term גָּאַל (ga’al) is sometimes translated “redeemer” here (NIV “one of our kinsman-redeemers”; NLT “one of our family redeemers”). In this context Boaz, as a “redeemer,” functions as a guardian of the family interests who has responsibility for caring for the widows of his deceased kinsmen.
[2:21] 91 tn On the force of the phrase גָּם כִּי (gam ki) here, see F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther (WBC), 138-39.
[2:21] 92 tn Heb “with the servants who are mine you may stay close.” The imperfect has a permissive nuance here. The word “servants” is masculine plural.
[2:21] 93 tn Heb “until they have finished all the harvest which is mine”; NIV “until they finish harvesting all my grain.”
[2:22] 94 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.
[2:22] 95 tn Heb “and they will not harm you in another field”; NRSV “otherwise you might be bothered in another field.”
[2:23] 96 tn Heb “she”; the referent (Ruth) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[2:23] 97 tn Heb “and she stayed close with”; NIV, NRSV, CEV “stayed close to”; NCV “continued working closely with.”
[2:23] 98 sn Barley was harvested from late March through late April, wheat from late April to late May (O. Borowski, Agriculture in Ancient Israel, 88, 91).
[2:23] 99 tn Heb “and she lived with her mother-in-law” (so NASB). Some interpret this to mean that she lived with her mother-in-law while working in the harvest. In other words, she worked by day and then came home to Naomi each evening. Others understand this to mean that following the harvest she stayed at home each day with Naomi and no longer went out looking for work (see F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther [WBC], 140). Others even propose that she lived away from home during this period, but this seems unlikely. A few Hebrew
[3:1] 100 tn The phrase “sometime later” does not appear in Hebrew but is supplied to mark the implicit shift in time from the events in chapter 2.
[3:1] 101 tn Heb “My daughter, should I not seek for you a resting place so that it may go well for you [or which will be good for you]?” The idiomatic, negated rhetorical question is equivalent to an affirmation (see 2:8-9) and has thus been translated in the affirmative (so also NAB, NCV, NRSV, TEV, CEV, NLT).
[3:2] 102 tn Heb “Is not Boaz our close relative, with whose female servants you were?” The idiomatic, negated rhetorical question is equivalent to an affirmation (see Ruth 2:8-9; 3:1) and has thus been translated in the affirmative (so also NCV, NRSV, TEV, CEV, NLT).
[3:2] 103 tn Heb “look, he is winnowing the barley threshing floor tonight.”
[3:3] 104 tn The perfect with prefixed vav (ו) consecutive here introduces a series of instructions. See GKC 335 §112.aa for other examples of this construction.
[3:3] 105 tn For the meaning of the verb סוּךְ (sukh), see HALOT 745-46 s.v. II סוך, and F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther (WBC), 150. Cf. NAB, NRSV “anoint yourself”; NIV “perfume yourself”; NLT “put on perfume.”
[3:3] 106 tc The consonantal text (Kethib) has the singular שִׂמְלֹתֵךְ (simlotekh, “your outer garment”), while the marginal reading (Qere) has the plural שִׂמְלֹתַיִךְ (simlotayikh) which might function as a plural of number (“your outer garments”) or a plural of composition (“your outer garment [composed of several parts]).”
[3:3] 107 tc The consonantal text (Kethib) has וְיָרַדְתִּי (vÿyaradtiy, “then I will go down”; Qal perfect 1st person common singular), while the marginal reading (Qere) is וְיָרַדְתְּ (vÿyaradt, “then you go down”; Qal perfect 2nd person feminine singular) which makes more much sense in context. It is possible that the Kethib preserves an archaic spelling of the 2nd person feminine singular form (see F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther [WBC], 144-45).
[3:3] 108 tn Heb “until he finishes eating and drinking”; NASB, NIV, NRSV, TEV, CEV “until he has finished.”
[3:4] 109 tn Heb “and let it be when he lies down”; NAB “But when he lies down.”
[3:4] 110 tn Some define the noun מַרְגְּלוֹת (margÿlot) as “the place for the feet” (see HALOT 631 s.v.; cf. KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT), but in Dan 10:6 the word refers to the legs, or “region of the legs.” For this reason “legs” or “lower body” is the preferred translation (see F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther [WBC], 152). Because “foot” is sometimes used euphemistically for the genitals, some feel that Ruth uncovered Boaz’s genitals. For a critique of this view see Bush, 153. While Ruth and Boaz did not actually have a sexual encounter at the threshing floor, there is no doubt that Ruth’s actions are symbolic and constitute a marriage proposal.
[3:4] 111 tc The consonantal text (Kethib) has וְשָׁכָבְתִּי (vÿshakhavtiy, “then I will lie down”; Qal perfect 1st person common singular), while the marginal reading (Qere) is וְשָׁכָבְתְּ (vÿshakhavt, “then you lie down”; Qal perfect 2nd person feminine singular) which makes more sense. It is possible that the Kethib preserves an archaic spelling of the 2nd person feminine singular form (see F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther [WBC], 144-45).
[3:4] 112 tn The words “beside him” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons; cf. NLT “lie down there.”
[3:4] 113 tn The disjunctive clause structure (vav [ו] + subject + verb) highlights this final word of instruction or signals the conclusion of the instructions.
[3:5] 114 tn Heb “she said to her.” The referents (Ruth and Naomi) have been specified in the translation for clarity.
[3:5] 115 tn The Hebrew imperfect is used, even though Naomi’s instructions appear to be concluded. The imperfect can sometimes express actions which although (strictly speaking) are already finished, yet are regarded as still lasting into the present, or continuing to operate in it (GKC 316 §107.h).
[3:5] 116 tc The MT (Kethib) lacks the preposition אֵלַי (’elay, “to me”) which is attested in the marginal reading (Qere). Many medieval Hebrew
[3:5] 117 tn Heb “everything which you are saying I will do.” The Hebrew word order emphasizes Ruth’s intention to follow Naomi’s instructions to the letter.
[3:6] 118 tn Heb “and she did according to all which her mother-in-law commanded her” (NASB similar). Verse 6 is a summary statement, while the following verses (vv. 7-15) give the particulars.
[3:7] 119 tn Heb “and Boaz ate and drank and his heart was well and he went to lie down at the end of the heap”; NAB “at the edge of the sheaves.”
[3:7] 120 tn Heb “she”; the referent (Ruth) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[3:7] 121 sn Ruth must have waited until Boaz fell asleep, for he does not notice when she uncovers his legs and lies down beside him.
[3:7] 122 tn See the note on the word “legs” in v. 4.
[3:7] 123 tn The words “beside him” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons. Cf. TEV “at his feet”; CEV “near his feet.”
[3:8] 124 tn Heb “trembled, shuddered”; CEV, NLT “suddenly woke up.” Perhaps he shivered because he was chilled.
[3:8] 125 tn The verb לָפַת (lafat) occurs only here, Job 6:18, and Judg 16:29 (where it seems to mean “grab hold of”). Here the verb seems to carry the meaning “bend, twist, turn,” like its Arabic cognate (see HALOT 533 s.v. לפת, and F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther [WBC], 163).
[3:8] 126 tn Heb “and behold” (so KJV, NASB). The narrator invites the reader to view the situation through Boaz’s eyes.
[3:8] 127 sn Now he saw a woman. The narrator writes from Boaz’s perspective. Both the narrator and the reader know the night visitor is Ruth, but from Boaz’s perspective she is simply “a woman.”
[3:8] 128 tn Heb “[at] his legs.” See the note on the word “legs” in v. 4.
[3:9] 129 tn When Boaz speaks, he uses the feminine form of the pronoun, indicating that he knows she is a woman.
[3:9] 130 tn Here Ruth uses אָמָה (’amah), a more elevated term for a female servant than שִׁפְחָה (shifkhah), the word used in 2:13. In Ruth 2, where Ruth has just arrived from Moab and is very much aware of her position as a foreigner (v. 10), she acknowledges Boaz’s kindness and emphasizes her own humility by using the term שִׁפְחָה, though she admits that she does not even occupy that lowly position on the social scale. However, here in chap. 3, where Naomi sends her to Boaz to seek marriage, she uses the more elevated term אָמָה to describe herself because she is now aware of Boaz’s responsibility as a close relative of her deceased husband and she wants to challenge him to fulfill his obligation. In her new social context she is dependent on Boaz (hence the use of אָמָה), but she is no mere שִׁפְחָה.
[3:9] 131 tn Heb “and spread your wing [or skirt] over your servant.” Many medieval Hebrew
[3:9] 132 tn Heb “for you are a גֹאֵל [go’el],” sometimes translated “redeemer” (cf. NIV “a kinsman-redeemer”; NLT “my family redeemer”). In this context Boaz, as a “redeemer,” functions as a guardian of the family interests who has responsibility for caring for the widows of his deceased kinsmen. For a discussion of the legal background, see F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther (WBC), 166-69.
[3:10] 133 tn Or “blessed” (so NASB, NRSV).
[3:10] 134 tn Heb “my daughter.” This form of address is a mild form of endearment, perhaps merely rhetorical. A few English versions omit it entirely (e.g., TEV, CEV). The same expression occurs in v. 11.
[3:10] 135 tn Heb “latter [act of] devotion”; NRSV “this last instance of your loyalty.”
[3:10] 136 tn Heb “you have made the latter act of devotion better than the former”; NIV “than that which you showed earlier.”
[3:10] 137 tn Heb “by not going after the young men” (NASB similar); TEV “You might have gone looking for a young man.”
[3:10] 138 tn Heb “whether poor or rich” (so KJV, NAB, NASB, NRSV); the more common English idiom reverses the order (“rich or poor”; cf. NIV, NCV, TEV, CEV, NLT).
[3:11] 139 tn Heb “do not fear” (so NASB); NRSV “do not be afraid.”
[3:11] 140 tn Heb “everything which you are saying I will do for you.” The Hebrew word order emphasizes Boaz’s intention to fulfill Ruth’s request. As in v. 5, the Hebrew imperfect is used (note “you are saying”), even though Ruth’s request appears to be concluded. According to GKC 316 §107.h, the imperfect can sometimes “express actions, etc., which although, strictly speaking, they are already finished, are regarded as still lasting on into the present time, or continuing to operate in it.” The imperfect אֶעֱשֶׂה (’e’eseh) could be translated “I will do” (so NAB, NIV, NRSV, NLT), but since there are legal complications which must first be resolved, it is better to take the form as indicating Boaz’s desire or intention, if the legal matters can be worked out.
[3:11] 141 tn Heb “all the gate of the town,” which by metonymy could refer to everyone in town (NIV “All my fellow townsmen”; NLT “everyone in town”), or only to the leaders and prominent citizens of the community (Boaz’s peers) who transacted business and made legal decisions at the town gate (NRSV “all the assembly of my people”).
[3:11] 142 tn Or “woman of strong character” (cf. NIV “woman of noble character”). The same phrase is used in Prov 31:10 to describe the ideal wife. Prov 31 emphasizes the ideal wife’s industry, her devotion to her family, and her concern for others, characteristics which Ruth had demonstrated.
[3:12] 143 tc The sequence כִּי אָמְנָם כִּי אִם (ki ’omnam ki ’im; Kethib) occurs only here in the OT, as does the sequence כִּי אָמְנָם כִּי (Qere). It is likely that כִּי אִם is dittographic (note the preceding sequence כִּי אָמְנָם). The translation assumes that the original text was simply the otherwise unattested וְעַתָּה כִּי אָמְנָם, with אָמְנָם and כִּי both having an asseverative (or emphatic) function.
[3:12] 144 tn Sometimes translated “redeemer” (also later in this verse). See the note on the phrase “guardian of the family interests” in v. 9.
[3:13] 145 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.
[3:13] 146 tn Or “good” (so NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV); TEV “well and good.”
[3:13] 147 tn Heb “let him redeem” (so NIV); NLT “then let him marry you.”
[3:13] 148 tn Heb “but if he does not want to redeem you, then I will redeem you, I, [as] the
[3:13] 149 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.
[3:14] 150 tc The consonantal text (Kethib) has the singular מַרְגְּלָתַו (margÿlatav, “his leg”), while the marginal reading (Qere) has the plural מַרְגְּלוֹתָיו (margÿlotayv, “his legs”).
[3:14] 151 tn Heb “and she arose before a man could recognize his companion”; NRSV “before one person could recognize another”; CEV “before daylight.”
[3:14] 152 tn Heb “and he said” (so KJV, NASB, NIV). Some translate “he thought [to himself]” (cf. NCV).
[3:14] 153 tn Heb “let it not be known that the woman came [to] the threshing floor” (NASB similar). The article on הָאִשָּׁה (ha’ishah, “the woman”) is probably dittographic (note the final he on the preceding verb בָאָה [va’ah, “she came”]).
[3:15] 154 tn Or “cloak” (so NAB, NRSV, NLT); CEV “cape.” The Hebrew noun occurs only here and in Isa 3:22.
[3:15] 155 tn Heb “which [is] upon you”; NIV, NRSV “you are wearing.”
[3:15] 156 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.
[3:15] 157 tc The MT preserves the 3rd person masculine singular form וַיָּבֹא (vayyavo’, “then he went”; cf. ASV, NAB, NIV, NCV, NRSV, NLT), while many medieval
[3:16] 158 tn Heb “she”; the referent (Naomi) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[3:16] 159 tn Heb “said.” Since what follows is a question, the present translation uses “asked” here.
[3:16] 160 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.
[3:16] 161 tn Heb “she”; the referent (Ruth) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[3:16] 162 sn All that the man had done. This would have included his promise to marry her and his gift of barley.
[3:17] 163 tc The MT (Kethib) lacks the preposition אֵלַי (’elay, “to me”) which is attested in the marginal reading (Qere).
[3:17] 164 sn ‘Do not go to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’ In addition to being a further gesture of kindness on Boaz’s part, the gift of barley served as a token of his intention to fulfill his responsibility as family guardian. See R. L. Hubbard, Jr., Ruth (NICOT), 225-26, and F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther (WBC), 187.
[3:18] 165 tn Heb “she”; the referent (Naomi) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[3:18] 166 tn Heb “sit”; KJV “Sit still”; NAB “Wait here”; NLT “Just be patient.”
[4:1] 167 tn The disjunctive clause structure (note the pattern vav [ו] + subject + verb) here signals the beginning of a new scene.
[4:1] 168 tn Sometimes translated “redeemer.” See the note on the phrase “guardian of the family interests” in 3:9.
[4:1] 169 tn Heb “look, the guardian was passing by of whom Boaz had spoken.”
[4:1] 170 tn Heb “turn aside” (so KJV, NASB); NIV, TEV, NLT “Come over here.”
[4:1] 171 tn Heb “a certain one”; KJV, ASV “such a one.” The expression פְלֹנִי אַלְמֹנִי (pÿloni ’almoni) is not the name of the nearest relative, but an idiom which literally means “such and such” or “a certain one” (BDB 811-12 s.v. פְלֹנִי), which is used when one wishes to be ambiguous (1 Sam 21:3; 2 Kgs 6:8). Certainly Boaz would have known his relative’s name, especially in such a small village, and would have uttered his actual name. However the narrator refuses to record his name in a form of poetic justice because he refused to preserve Mahlon’s “name” (lineage) by marrying his widow (see 4:5, 9-10). This close relative, who is a literary foil for Boaz, refuses to fulfill the role of family guardian. Because he does nothing memorable, he remains anonymous in a chapter otherwise filled with names. His anonymity contrasts sharply with Boaz’s prominence in the story and the fame he attains through the child born to Ruth. Because the actual name of this relative is not recorded, the translation of this expression is difficult since contemporary English style expects either a name or title. This is usually supplied in modern translations: “friend” (NASB, NIV, RSV, NRSV, NLT), “so-and-so” (JPS, NJPS). Perhaps “Mr. So-And-So!” or “Mr. No-Name!” makes the point. For discussion see Adele Berlin, Poetics and Interpretation of Biblical Narrative, 99-101; R. L. Hubbard, Jr., Ruth (NICOT), 233-35; F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther (WBC), 196-97. In the present translation “John Doe” is used since it is a standard designation for someone who is a party to legal proceedings whose true name is unknown.
[4:1] 172 tn Heb “and he turned aside” (so KJV, NASB); NRSV “And he went over.”
[4:2] 173 tn Heb “and he took ten men from the elders of the town.”
[4:3] 174 tn Or “redeemer.” See the note on the phrase “guardian of the family interests” in 3:9.
[4:3] 175 tn The perfect form of the verb here describes as a simple fact an action that is underway (cf. NIV, NRSV, CEV, NLT); NAB “is putting up for sale.”
[4:4] 176 tn Heb “and I said [or perhaps, “thought to myself”], ‘I will [or “must”] uncover your ear, saying’”; NAB “So I thought I would inform you”; NIV “I thought I should bring the matter to your attention.”
[4:4] 177 tn The phrase “before those sitting here and before the leaders of my people” appears to refer to the leaders who were specially chosen as witnesses (v. 2) and the larger group of community leaders standing by. It is possible, however, that the phrases “before those sitting here” and “before the leaders of my people” are appositional and that both refer to the ten leaders mentioned in v. 2 (cf. NLT “in the presence of these witnesses”).
[4:4] 178 tn Heb “if you will redeem, redeem” (KJV, NASB, NRSV all similar); NCV “If you want to buy back the land, then buy it.”
[4:4] 179 tn Heb “but if he will not redeem, tell me.” Most English versions emend the third person verb form (“he”) to the second person form because Boaz is addressing the closer relative. But it is possible that he briefly addresses the witnesses and refers to the closer relative in the third person. See J. M. Sasson, Ruth, 118.
[4:4] 180 tn Following the imperative, the prefixed verb form with vav indicates purpose or result.
[4:4] 181 tn Heb “for there is no one besides you to redeem, and I am after you” (NASB similar).
[4:5] 182 tn Heb “in the day”; NASB, NIV “On the day.”
[4:5] 183 sn Acquire the field. This probably refers to the right to redeem and use the field. See the note on the word “selling” in v. 3.
[4:5] 184 tn Heb “from the hand of Naomi” (so NASB, NRSV).
[4:5] 185 tc The MT וּמֵאֵת (ume’et) may be understood in two ways: (1) “and from” (vav conjunction “and,” plus preposition מִן [min] “from,” plus definite direct object marker אֵת) parallel to the preceding מִיַד (miyyad, “from [the hand of]”), suggesting the field would be purchased from Naomi and from Ruth; or (2) “and” (vav [ו] conjunction “and,” plus enclitic mem [ם], plus direct object marker [אֵת]) introducing the second part of the acquisition: the nearest kinsman would be acquiring the field and Ruth (for discussion see F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther [WBC], 202). However, the BHS editors suggest reading גם את־ (“as well as…”; emphatic particle גם [“also”] and the definite direct object marker אֵת) introducing the second part of the acquisition: He would be acquiring the field and Ruth. This alternate reading is reflected in the Vulgate reading quoque (“and also”) and supported by parallel usage in v. 9, “I am acquiring the field from Naomi, and also (גָּם אֵת־, gam ’et) Ruth the Moabitess the wife of the deceased.”
[4:5] 186 tc The MT (Kethib) reads קָנִיתִי (qaniti, “I acquire,” Qal perfect 1st person common singular): “When you acquire the field from the hand of Naomi, I acquire Ruth the Moabitess…” However, the marginal reading (Qere) is קָנִיתָה (qanitah, “you acquire,” Qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular, reflected in 2nd person masculine singular forms in Greek, Latin, Aramaic, and Syriac): “When you acquire the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabitess…” The Qere is probably original because the Kethib is too difficult syntactically and contextually, while the Qere makes perfect sense: (1) Boaz stated in 3:13 that the nearest kinsman had the first right to acquire Ruth if he wanted to do so, and only the Qere reading here presents him with that option; and (2) Boaz announces in 4:9-10 that he was acquiring the field and Ruth as a package deal in 4:9-10, and only the Qere reading here presents the nearest kinsman with the same package deal. The Kethib probably arose by a scribe trying to harmonize 4:5 with the 1st person common singular form in 4:9-10 without fully understanding the ploy of Boaz in 4:5. See F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther (WBC), 216-17.
[4:5] 187 tc The presence of two difficult textual problems in this line (see two preceding notes) has produced a combination of four different ways in which this line can be rendered: (1) “When you acquire the field from Naomi, you must acquire [it] from Ruth the Moabitess the wife of the deceased” (KJV, NKJV); (2) “When you acquire the field from Naomi and from Ruth the Moabitess, you must acquire the wife of the deceased” (JPS, NJPS, NIV); (3) “When you acquire the field from Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabitess the wife of the deceased” (NASB, NCV, TEV, RSV, NRSV, NLT); and (4) “When you acquire the field from Naomi, then I acquire Ruth the Moabitess the wife of the deceased” (REB). The third option is adopted here.
[4:5] 188 tn Heb “in order to raise up the name of the deceased over his inheritance” (NASB similar); NRSV “to maintain the dead man’s name on his inheritance.”
[4:6] 189 sn I would ruin my own inheritance. It is not entirely clear how acquiring Ruth and raising up an heir for the deceased Elimelech would ruin this individual’s inheritance. Perhaps this means that the inheritance of his other children would be diminished. See R. L. Hubbard, Jr., Ruth (NICOT), 245-46.
[4:6] 190 tn Heb “redeem for yourself, you, my right of redemption for I am unable to redeem.”
[4:7] 191 tn Heb “and this formerly in Israel concerning redemption and concerning a transfer to ratify every matter.”
[4:7] 192 tn Heb “a man removed his sandal and gave [it] to his companion”; NASB “gave it to another”; NIV, NRSV, CEV “to the other.”
[4:7] 193 tn Heb “the legal witness”; KJV “a testimony”; ASV, NASB “the manner (form NAB) of attestation.”
[4:8] 194 tc The LXX adds “and gave it to him” (cf. TEV, CEV), which presupposes the reading ויתן לו. This seems to be a clarifying addition (see v. 7), but it is possible the scribe’s eye jumped from the final vav (ו) on נַעֲלוֹ (na’alo, “his sandal”) to the final vav (ו) on לוֹ (lo, “to him”), accidentally omitting the intervening letters.
[4:10] 195 tn Heb “in order to raise up the name of the deceased over his inheritance” (NASB similar).
[4:10] 196 tn Heb “be cut off” (so NASB, NRSV); NAB “may not perish.”
[4:10] 197 tn Heb “and from the gate of his place” (so KJV, ASV); NASB “from the court of his birth place”; NIV “from the town records.”
[4:11] 198 tn Following the jussive, the imperative with prefixed vav indicates purpose or result.
[4:11] 199 tn The phrase וַעֲשֵׂה־חַיִל (va’aseh-khayil, literally, “do strength”) has been variously translated: (1) financial prosperity: “may you become rich” (TEV), “may you be a rich man” (CEV), “may you achieve wealth” (NASB), “may you prosper” (NKJV, NJPS); (2) social prominence: “may you become powerful” (NCV), “may you have standing” (NIV), “may you be great” (NLT), “may you do well” (NAB); (3) reproductive fertility: “may you produce children” (NRSV); and (4) social activity: “may you do a worthy deed” (REB).
[4:11] 200 tc Heb “and call a name.” This statement appears to be elliptical. Usually the person named and the name itself follow this expression. Perhaps וּקְרָא־שֵׁם (uqÿra’-shem) should be emended to וְיִקָּרֵא־שֵׁם (vÿyiqqare’-shem), “and your name will be called out,” that is, “perpetuated” (see Gen 48:16, cf. also Ruth 4:14b). The omission of the suffix with “name” could be explained as virtual haplography (note the letter bet [ב], which is similar to kaf [כ], at the beginning of the next word). The same explanation could account for the omission of the prefixed yod (י) on the verb “call” (yod [י] and vav [ו] are similar in appearance). Whether one reads the imperative (the form in the MT) or the jussive (the emended form), the construction indicates purpose or result following the earlier jussive “may he make.”
[4:11] 201 map For location see Map5 B1; Map7 E2; Map8 E2; Map10 B4.
[4:12] 202 tn Heb “your house” (so NAB, NASB, NRSV).
[4:12] 203 tn Heb “and may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, from the offspring whom the
[4:12] 204 tn Heb “from the seed” (KJV, ASV both similar); NASB, NIV “through the offspring”; NRSV “through the children.”
[4:13] 205 tn Heb “and Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife and he went in to her.” Here the phrase “went in to her” (so NASB) is a euphemism for having sexual relations (cf. NCV); NLT “When he slept with her.”
[4:13] 206 tn Heb “gave her conception” (so KJV); NRSV “made her conceive”; NLT “enabled her to become pregnant.”
[4:14] 207 tn Or “redeemer.” See the note on the phrase “guardian of the family interests” in 3:9. As the following context indicates, the child is referred to here.
[4:14] 208 tn The “guardian” is the subject of the verb, as the next verse makes clear.
[4:14] 209 tn Heb “may his name be called [i.e., “perpetuated”; see Gen 48:16] in Israel.”
[4:15] 210 tn Heb “and he will become for you a restorer of life and a sustainer of your old age” (NASB similar).
[4:15] 211 tn Heb “who, she”; KJV “which is better to thee.”
[4:16] 212 tn Or “breast”; KJV, NRSV “in her bosom.”
[4:16] 213 tn Heb “his nurse,” but this refers to a dry nurse, not a medical attendant. Cf. NIV “and cared for him”; TEV “and took (+ good CEV) care of him.”
[4:17] 214 tn The name “Obed” means “one who serves,” perhaps anticipating how he would help Naomi (see v. 15).
[4:18] 215 tn Or “generations” (so KJV, NASB); NIV, NLT “family line.”
[4:21] 216 sn Salmon appears to be an alternate spelling of Salmah in the preceding line.
[4:22] 217 sn The theological message of the Book of Ruth may be summarized as follows: God cares for needy people like Naomi and Ruth; he is their ally in this chaotic world. He richly rewards people like Ruth and Boaz who demonstrate sacrificial love and in so doing become his instruments in helping the needy. God’s rewards for those who sacrificially love others sometimes exceed their wildest imagination and transcend their lifetime.
