Ruth 3:11

11 And now fear not, my daughter, whatever thou shalt say I will do to thee; for all the tribe of my people knows that thou art a virtuous woman.

Ruth 3:11 Meaning and Commentary

Ruth 3:11

And now, my daughter, fear not
Either of being forced and defiled, to which he had exposed herself by lying down at a man's feet, or of being reproached as an immodest woman for so doing, or of being despised as a poor woman, and of not succeeding in her suit and enterprise:

and I will do to thee all that thou requirest;
which could be done according to the law of God, and without injury to another person after mentioned:

for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman;
or righteous, as the Targum; a good woman, possessed of grace and virtue, having every agreeable qualification to recommend to the marriage state; and therefore, should they come to the knowledge of the step taken to obtain it, will never reproach thee for it, nor blame me for marrying a person, though poor, of such an excellent character, which, by her conduct and behaviour, was universally established. It is in the original text, "all the gate of my people" ^F21; meaning either all the people that pass through the gate of the city, that is, all the inhabitants of it, or the whole court of judicature, the elders of the city, that sit in judgment there, as was usual in gates of cities, see ( Ruth 4:1 Ruth 4:9 ) . So the Targum,

``it is manifest before all that sit in the gate of the great sanhedrim of my people that thou art a righteous woman''

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FOOTNOTES:

F21 (yme rev-lk) "tota porta populi mei", Montanus; so Vatablus, Tigurine version.

Ruth 3:11 In-Context

9 And he said, Who art thou? and she said, I am thine handmaid Ruth; spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid, for thou art a near relation.

10 And Booz said, Blessed thou of the Lord God, daughter, for thou hast made thy latter kindness greater than the former, in that thou followest not after young men, whether poor or rich.

11 And now fear not, my daughter, whatever thou shalt say I will do to thee; for all the tribe of my people knows that thou art a virtuous woman.

12 And now I am truly akin to thee; nevertheless there is a kinsman nearer than I.

13 Lodge for the night, and it shall be in the morning, if he will do the part of a kinsman to thee, well—let him do it: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, I will do the kinsman's part to thee, the Lord lives; lie down till the morning.