Ruth 2:1-7

Ruth Meets Boaz

1 Now Naomi had ¹a relative of her husband's, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was ²Boaz.

2 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, "Let me go to the field and ³glean among the ears of grain after him ⁴in whose sight I shall find favor." And she said to her, "Go, my daughter."

3 So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech.

4 And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem. And he said to the reapers, ⁵"The LORD be with you!" And they answered, "The LORD bless you."

5 Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, "Whose young woman is this?"

6 And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, "She is the young Moabite woman, ⁶who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab.

7 She said, 'Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers.' So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest."^[a]

Ruth 2:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO RUTH 2

In this chapter we have an account of Ruth's gleaning corn in the fields of Boaz, a relation of Naomi, Ru 2:1-3, and of Boaz coming to his reapers, whom he saluted in a very kind manner; and observing a woman gleaning after them, inquired of them who she was, and they informed him, Ru 2:4-9, upon which he addressed himself to her, and gave her leave to glean in his field, and desired her to go nowhere else, and bid her eat and drink with his servants, Ru 2:8-14 and gave directions to his servants to let her glean, and to let fall some of the handfuls on purpose, that she might gather them up, Ru 2:15-17 and then an account is given of her returning to her mother-in-law with her gleanings, to whom she related where she had gleaned, who was owner of the field, and what he had said to her, upon which Naomi gave her advice, Ru 2:18-23.

Cross References

• 1. Ruth 3:2, 12
• 2. Ruth 4:21; Matthew 1:5
• 3. [Deuteronomy 24:19]
• 4. ver. 10, 13
• 5. Psalms 129:7, 8
• 6. Ruth 1:22

Footnotes

• [a]. Compare Septuagint, Vulgate; the meaning of the Hebrew phrase is uncertain