Ruth 3:8-18

8 And it came to pass at midnight *, that the man was afraid , and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet.

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

10 And he said , Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst * not young men, whether poor or rich.

11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest : for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.

12 And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman : howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.

13 Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman , well; let him do the kinsman's part : but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning.

14 And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said , Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.

15 Also he said , Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city.

16 And when she came to her mother in law, 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 unto thy mother in law.

18 Then said she, Sit still , my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall : for the man will not be in rest , until he have finished the thing this day.

Ruth 3:8-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO RUTH 3

In this chapter we have a proposal of Naomi to Ruth, with advice and directions to get Boaz for her husband, Ru 2:1-4. Ruth's obedience to the instructions she gave her, Ru 2:5-7, the notice Boaz took of her, and the conversation that passed between them, Ru 2:8-13 the dismission of her in the morning to her mother-in-law with a gift, to whom she returned, and acquainted her with what had passed, Ru 2:14-18.

Footnotes

• [a]. turned: or, took hold on
• [b]. city: Heb. gate
• [c]. vail: or, sheet, or, apron