Ruth 2 Footnotes

2:10 Ruth was not wrong in bowing down before Boaz. Falling down or bowing before another person was a common ancient gesture of honor, respect, gratitude or submission. The Bible condemns the offering of worship to any being (whether human or angelic) other than God (Lv 26:1; Dt 6:13-15; Jos 23:7; 2Kg 17:35-36; Rv 19:10; 22:8-9; see Ac 14:11-15), but gestures of respect in normal interpersonal relations are not “worship” in the usual sense.