Ruth 2:2-4
New English Translation
2 One day Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go[a] to the fields so I can gather[b] grain behind whoever permits me to do so.”[c] Naomi[d] replied, “You may go, my daughter.” 3 So Ruth[e] went and gathered grain in the fields[f] behind the harvesters. Now she just happened to end up[g] 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,[h] Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted[i] the harvesters, “May the Lord be with you!” They replied,[j] “May the Lord bless you!”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ruth 2:2 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.
- Ruth 2:2 tn Following the preceding cohortative, the cohortative with vav conjunctive indicates purpose/result.
- Ruth 2:2 tn Heb “anyone in whose eyes I may find favor” (ASV, NIV similar). The expression אֶמְצָא־חֵן בְּעֵינָיו (ʾemtsaʾ khen beʿenayv, “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.
- Ruth 2:2 tn Heb “she”; the referent (Naomi) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- 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 2:2-4
New International Version
2 And Ruth the Moabite(A) said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain(B) behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.(C)”
Naomi said to her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” 3 So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters.(D) As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek.(E)
4 Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, “The Lord be with you!(F)”
“The Lord bless you!(G)” they answered.
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