Ruth 3

King James Version

Full text for Ruth Chapter 3

1¶ Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?

2And now [is] not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor.

3Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: [but] make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.

4And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.

5And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do.

6¶ And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her.

7And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down.

8And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet.

9And he said, Who [art] thou? And she answered, I [am] Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou [art] a near kinsman.

10And he said, Blessed [be] thou of the LORD, my daughter: [for] thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.

11And 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.

12And now it is true that I [am thy] near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.

13Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, [that] if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, [as] the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning.

14¶ And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.

15Also he said, Bring the vail that [thou hast] upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six [measures] of barley, and laid [it] on her: and she went into the city.

16And when she came to her mother in law, she said, Who [art] thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her.

17And she said, These six [measures] of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law.

18Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Naomi instructs Ruth to approach Boaz at the threshingfloor, discreetly lying at his feet to seek his protection as a kinsman-redeemer. Ruth obeys, and when Boaz discovers her, she requests him to spread his skirt over her. Boaz commends her virtue and agrees to act as redeemer, but notes a nearer kinsman has the first right. He sends Ruth home with a gift of barley, promising to settle the matter swiftly.

Medium Summary

Naomi, seeking security for Ruth, devises a plan for her to approach Boaz, a wealthy kinsman, at the threshingfloor. Ruth is instructed to prepare herself, then discreetly lie at Boaz's feet after he falls asleep. Ruth faithfully executes the plan, and at midnight, Boaz awakens to find her there. Ruth identifies herself and requests him to fulfill the role of a kinsman-redeemer by spreading his skirt over her. Boaz praises her virtuous character and willingness to seek an established man. While affirming his desire to redeem her, he reveals there is a kinsman nearer than himself who holds the first right. He promises to resolve the matter by morning, sending Ruth back to Naomi with a generous gift of barley as a token of his intent.

Long Summary

Naomi, concerned for Ruth's future and well-being, proposes a plan to secure her a husband and a home. She instructs Ruth to prepare herself by washing, anointing, and dressing, then to go to the threshingfloor where Boaz, a wealthy kinsman, would be winnowing barley. Ruth is advised to remain hidden until Boaz has finished eating and drinking and has lain down to sleep. At that point, she is to discreetly uncover his feet and lie down beside him, trusting that he would then instruct her on the proper course of action. Ruth, demonstrating her unwavering loyalty and obedience, follows all of Naomi's instructions precisely. After Boaz had eaten and drunk and was merry, he lay down at the end of the heap of corn. Ruth then came softly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. Around midnight, Boaz was startled to find a woman at his feet. Upon questioning, Ruth identified herself as his handmaid and boldly requested him to "spread thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman," a symbolic plea for marriage and protection. Boaz responded with a blessing, commending her for her greater kindness in seeking him, an older man, rather than pursuing younger men, whether rich or poor. He assured her that he would fulfill her request, acknowledging that all the city knew her to be a virtuous woman. However, he disclosed that there was a kinsman nearer than himself who had the primary right of redemption. Boaz promised to address the matter in the morning, vowing to act as redeemer if the nearer kinsman declined. Ruth remained at his feet until morning, rising before anyone could recognize her. Boaz, mindful of appearances, instructed her to keep their encounter private and gave her six measures of barley to take to Naomi, ensuring she would not return empty-handed. Upon Ruth's return, Naomi eagerly inquired about the outcome, and Ruth recounted all that Boaz had done and given. Naomi then advised Ruth to wait patiently, confident that Boaz would not rest until he had completed the matter that very day.

Core Concepts

  • Kinsman-Redeemer (Goel)Boaz is identified as a "near kinsman" (v. 9, 12, 13), indicating his role as a potential redeemer responsible for preserving the family line and property of a deceased relative. Ruth's request to "spread thy skirt over thine handmaid" (v. 9) is a direct appeal for him to fulfill this role through marriage.
  • Threshingfloor EncounterThe threshingfloor serves as the setting for this pivotal encounter (v. 2, 6, 7, 14). It was a common place for agricultural work and often for sleeping during harvest, providing a semi-private, yet public, space for Ruth to approach Boaz.
  • Ruth's VirtueBoaz explicitly praises Ruth, stating, "all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman" (v. 11). This highlights her excellent reputation and moral character, which contributes to Boaz's willingness to consider her request.
  • Naomi's CounselNaomi actively orchestrates Ruth's approach to Boaz, providing detailed instructions for her preparation and actions at the threshingfloor (v. 1-4). Her wisdom and strategic planning are central to advancing Ruth's prospects.
  • Symbolic Gesture (Spreading Skirt)Ruth's plea to Boaz to "spread thy skirt over thine handmaid" (v. 9) is a symbolic act requesting protection, provision, and marriage. It signifies a desire for him to take her under his wing and assume the responsibilities of a husband and kinsman-redeemer.
  • Barley as AssuranceBoaz gives Ruth six measures of barley (v. 15, 17) as she departs. This gift serves as a tangible promise and assurance to both Ruth and Naomi that Boaz is committed to resolving the matter of redemption and will not let them go empty-handed.
  • Prior ClaimBoaz reveals that despite his willingness, there is a "kinsman nearer than I" (v. 12) who has the first legal right to redeem Ruth and the land. This introduces a legal challenge that must be addressed before Boaz can proceed.