Ruth 3:18

18 Then she said, Be still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall; for the man will not rest until he have completed the matter this day.

Ruth 3:18 Meaning and Commentary

Ruth 3:18

Then, said she, sit still, my daughter
Keep at home, say nothing of this affair to any person, be easy about it, take no other steps in it, wait the issue of it:

until thou know how the matter will fall;
not that she thought it was a chance matter, a fortuitous and contingent event with respect to God; for all decrees come from heaven, as Aben Ezra on the text says, and particularly marriages are decreed in heaven, and come about according to such decrees; so the Targum,

``sit, my daughter, with me, in the house, until the time thou shall know how it is decreed from heaven:''

for the man will not be at rest until he have finished the thing this
day;
which she concluded, partly from his known integrity and faithfulness, diligence and industry, and partly from his affection to Ruth, and her interest in it; for she perceived, she had got his heart, both by what he had said to her, and by the present he had sent by her, and she was satisfied he would not be easy until he knew whether he should have her or not.

Ruth 3:18 In-Context

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

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

18 Then she said, Be still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall; for the man will not rest until he have completed the matter this day.