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Ruth 2:3-5
New English Translation
Ruth 2:3-5
New English Translation
3 So Ruth[a] went and gathered grain in the fields[b] behind the harvesters. Now she just happened to end up[c] in the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelech.
Boaz and Ruth Meet
4 Now at that very moment,[d] Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted[e] the harvesters, “May the Lord be with you!” They replied,[f] “May the Lord bless you!” 5 Boaz asked[g] his servant[h] in charge of the harvesters, “To whom does this young woman belong?”[i]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ruth 2:3 tn Heb “she”; the referent (Ruth) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Ruth 2:3 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.”
- Ruth 2:3 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.
- Ruth 2:4 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.
- Ruth 2:4 tn Heb “said to.” Context indicates that the following expression is a greeting, the first thing Boaz says to his workers.
- Ruth 2:4 tn Heb “said to him.” For stylistic reasons “replied” is used in the present translation.
- Ruth 2:5 tn Heb “said to.” Since what follows is a question, “asked” is appropriate in this context.
- Ruth 2:5 tn Heb “young man.” Cf. NAB “overseer”; NIV, NLT “foreman.”
- Ruth 2:5 sn In this patriarchal culture Ruth would “belong” to either her father (if unmarried) or her husband (if married).
New English Translation (NET)
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