Ruth 3

1 One day Ruth’s mother-in-law [and guardian] Naomi said to her, “My daughter [female child, beloved one], should I not [is it not right that I] seek [search diligently, inquire] a resting place [state of quiet, peaceful settlement] for you, that it may be well [prosper, be joyful] with you? word study 2 Now [at this moment, in this present time] is not Boaz [our kinsman, a close relative], with whose servant girls [young women, maidens] you have been working, a relative [kinsman, one of our family] of ours? In fact, tonight [this evening, in the night] he is winnowing [separating, scattering] barley [a type of grain, a staple food] on the threshing floor [a place of separation, a ground for winnowing]. word study 3 Therefore wash yourself [bathe, cleanse your body], put on perfume [anoint, smear oil on your skin], and wear your best clothes [fine garments, beautiful apparel]. Go down [descend, go to a lower place] to the threshing floor [the place of grain separation], but do not let the man [the male person, Boaz] know you are there until he has finished eating [consuming food, devouring] and drinking [ingesting liquid, feasting]. word study 4 When he lies down [to rest or sleep], note the place [location or position] where he lies. Then go in and uncover his feet [the place where he stands or rests], and lie down [to rest or sleep], and he will explain [tell or declare openly] to you what you should do [the actions you must take].” word study 5 “I will do [all that is commanded] everything [all, the whole of] you say [to me, as instructed],” Ruth [the Moabitess, a foreigner] answered [in obedience, with a willing heart]. word study 6 So she went down [to a lower place, descended] to the threshing floor [where grain is separated from chaff, an open area] and did [made, performed, carried out] everything [all, the whole] her mother-in-law [the husband’s mother, a family relationship] had instructed [commanded, given orders to] her to do [accomplish, fulfill]. word study 7 After Boaz [an ancestor of King David] had finished eating [to devour, consume] and drinking [to feast, indulge] and was in good spirits [his heart was merry, joyful], he went [to come, approach] to lie down [to rest, sleep] at the end [border, edge] of the heap [pile, sheaf] of grain. Then Ruth went in [came softly, approached quietly] secretly [covertly, in hiding], uncovered [revealed, exposed] his feet [the place where he stood], and lay down [to rest, recline]. word study 8 At [the middle of the night, in the stillness] midnight, Boaz was startled [trembled with fear, afraid], turned over [twisted, bent forward], and there lying [resting, reclining] at his feet [the place where he stood, his presence] was a woman [a female person, a wife]! word study 9 “Who are you [who is this, what person]?” he asked. “I am your servant [maidservant, handmaid] Ruth,” she replied. “Spread [stretch out, unfold] the corner [wing, edge] of your garment [cloak, covering] over me, for you are a kinsman-redeemer [near relative, family redeemer, one who buys back]. ” word study 10 Then Boaz said, “May the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] bless [praise or honor] you, my daughter [female child or woman, a term of endearment]. You have shown [demonstrated, made evident] more kindness [loving actions, mercy] now than before [at the beginning, in the past], because you have not run after [pursued, followed] the younger men [young, chosen individuals], whether [if] rich [wealthy, noble] or poor [needy, weak]. word study 11 And now [at this time, in this moment] do not [in no way, never] be afraid [fearful, anxious], my daughter [young woman, female child]. I will do [accomplish, fulfill] for you [on your behalf, in your place] whatever [all that, everything] you request [ask, desire], since [because, for] all [every, the entire] my fellow townspeople [city dwellers, community] know [are aware, recognize] that you are [have been, have become] a woman [female, wife] of noble [excellent, virtuous] character [strength, integrity]. word study 12 Yes, it is true [assuredly, surely] that I am a kinsman-redeemer [near relative, family redeemer], but there is a redeemer [one who buys back, restores] nearer [closer in relationship, more closely related] than I. word study 13 Stay here tonight [tarry, rest], and in the morning [at the break of day], if he wants to redeem [act as a kinsman, buy back] you, good [pleasant, beneficial]. Let him redeem [fulfill his duty as a relative] you. But if he does not want to redeem [refuse to act as a kinsman] you, as surely as the LORD [Yehovah, the living God] lives, I will [I myself, personally]. Now lie here until morning [the time of new beginnings].” word study 14 So she lay down [rested, slept] at his feet [the place where he stood, the foot of the threshing floor] until morning [the break of day, a new beginning], but she got up [rose, stood] before anyone else could recognize [discern, know] her. Then Boaz said, “Do not [let it not be] let it be known [revealed, disclosed] that a woman [a female person, a wife] came [approached, entered] to the threshing floor [the place of grain separation, the area of harvest].” word study 15 And he told her, “Bring the shawl [cloak, mantle] you are wearing and hold it out [grasp it, take hold of it].” When she did so, he shoveled six [a quantity of six] measures of barley [a type of grain, food] into her shawl [cloak, covering]. Then he went into the city [town, urban area]. word study 16 When Ruth returned [came back, arrived home] to her mother-in-law [relative by marriage, the husband’s mother], Naomi asked her, “How did it go [what happened, how did things turn out], my daughter [female child, young woman]?” Then Ruth told [declared, recounted] her all that Boaz [the owner of the field, her kinsman] had done [performed, accomplished] for her [on her behalf, to her benefit]. word study 17 And she said, “He gave [bestowed, provided] me these six [a specific quantity, a number of] measures of barley [a type of grain, a staple food], for he said, ‘Do not [under no circumstances] go back [return, come back] to your mother-in-law [the husband’s mother, a family relationship] empty-handed [without anything, with no gift].’” word study 18 “Wait [sit still, be patient], my daughter [female child, young woman],” said Naomi, “until you find out [know, discover] how [in what way, to what extent] things go [fall, turn out], for he [the man, Boaz] will not rest [be at peace, quiet] unless he has resolved [finished, completed] the matter [affair, thing] today [on this day, now].” word study