Ruth

Ruth 3:1–8

¹One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek a resting place for you, that it may be well with you? ²Now is not Boaz, with whose servant girls you have been working, a relative of ours? In fact, tonight he is winnowing barley on the threshing floor. ³Therefore wash yourself, put on perfume, and wear your best clothes. Go down to the threshing floor, but do not let the man know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. ⁴When he lies down, note the place where he lies. Then go in and uncover his feet, and lie down, and he will explain to you what you should do.”

⁵“I will do everything you say,” Ruth answered. ⁶So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law had instructed her to do.

⁷After Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then Ruth went in secretly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.

⁸At midnight, Boaz was startled, turned over, and there lying at his feet was a woman!

Read all of Ruth 3

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Ruth 3:1

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
One day Ruth’s mother-in-law	חֲמוֹתָ֑הּ	ḥă·mō·w·ṯāh	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person feminine singular	H2545 husband's mother
Naomi	נָעֳמִ֣י	nā·‘o·mî	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H5281 Noömi
said	וַתֹּ֥אמֶר	wat·tō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H559 utter, say
to her	לָ֖הּ	lāh	Preposition; third person feminine singular
My daughter	בִּתִּ֞י	bit·tî	Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common singular	H1323 daughter
should I not	הֲלֹ֧א	hă·lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
seek	אֲבַקֶּשׁ־	’ă·ḇaq·qeš-	Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular	H1245 seek
a resting place	מָנ֖וֹחַ	mā·nō·w·aḥ	Noun - masculine singular	H4494 resting-place, state, or condition of rest
for you	לָ֛ךְ	lāḵ	Preposition; second person feminine singular
that	אֲשֶׁ֥ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
it may be well	יִֽיטַב־	yî·ṭaḇ-	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3190 be good, well, glad, pleasing
with you	לָֽךְ׃	lāḵ	Preposition; second person feminine singular

Ruth 3:2

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Now	וְעַתָּ֗ה	wə·‘at·tāh	Conjunctive waw; Adverb	H6258 now
is not	הֲלֹ֥א	hă·lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
Boaz	בֹ֙עַז֙	ḇō·‘az	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1162 Boaz
with	אֶת־	’eṯ-	Preposition	H854 with
whose	אֲשֶׁ֥ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
servant girls	נַעֲרוֹתָ֑יו	na·‘ă·rō·w·ṯāw	Noun - feminine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H5291 girl, damsel
you have been	הָיִ֖ית	hā·yîṯ	Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
a relative of ours	מֹֽדַעְתָּ֔נוּ	mō·ḏa‘·tā·nū	Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common plural	H4130 kindred, kinship
In fact	הִנֵּה־	hin·nêh-	Interjection	H2009 lo! behold!
tonight	הַלָּֽיְלָה׃	hal·lā·yə·lāh	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3915 twist, night, adversity
he	ה֗וּא	hū	Pronoun - third person masculine singular	H1931 he, she
is winnowing	זֹרֶ֛ה	zō·reh	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H2219 scatter, fan, winnow
barley	הַשְּׂעֹרִ֖ים	haś·śə·‘ō·rîm	Article; Noun - feminine plural	H8184 barley
on the threshing floor	גֹּ֥רֶן	gō·ren	Noun - feminine singular construct	H1637 threshing-floor

Ruth 3:3

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Therefore wash yourself	וְרָחַ֣צְתְּ׀	wə·rā·ḥaṣt	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person feminine singular	H7364 wash, wash off, away, bathe
put on perfume	וָסַ֗כְתְּ	wā·saḵt	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person feminine singular	H5480 pour in anointing, anoint
and wear	וְשַׂ֧מְתְּ	wə·śamt	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person feminine singular	H7760 put, place, set
your best clothes	שִׂמְלֹתֵךְ	śim·lō·ṯēḵ	Noun - feminine plural construct; second person feminine singular	H8071 wrapper, mantle
Go down	וְיָרַדְתִּי	wə·yå̄·raḏ·tī	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person feminine singular	H3381 come or go down, descend
to the threshing floor	הַגֹּ֑רֶן	hag·gō·ren	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H1637 threshing-floor
but do not	אַל־	’al-	Adverb	H408 prohibition, do not . . ., let not . . .
let the man	לָאִ֔ישׁ	lā·’îš	Preposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
know	תִּוָּדְעִ֣י	tiw·wā·ḏə·‘î	Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - second person feminine singular	H3045 know
you are there until	עַ֥ד	‘aḏ	Preposition	H5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
he has finished	כַּלֹּת֖וֹ	kal·lō·ṯōw	Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct; third person masculine singular	H3615 be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, spent
eating	לֶאֱכֹ֥ל	le·’ĕ·ḵōl	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H398 eat
and drinking	וְלִשְׁתּֽוֹת׃	wə·liš·tō·wṯ	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H8354 drink

Ruth 3:4

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
When he lies down	בְשָׁכְב֗וֹ	ḇə·šā·ḵə·ḇōw	Preposition-b; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; third person masculine singular	H7901 lie down
note	וְיָדַ֙עַתְּ֙	wə·yā·ḏa·‘at	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person feminine singular	H3045 know
the place	הַמָּקוֹם֙	ham·mā·qō·wm	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4725 standing, spot, condition
where	אֲשֶׁ֣ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
he lies	יִשְׁכַּב־	yiš·kaḇ-	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7901 lie down
Then go in	וּבָ֛את	ū·ḇāṯ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person feminine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
and uncover	וְגִלִּ֥ית	wə·ḡil·lîṯ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - second person feminine singular	H1540 uncover, remove
his feet	מַרְגְּלֹתָ֖יו	mar·gə·lō·ṯāw	Noun - feminine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H4772 footpiece, at the foot, foot
and lie down	וְשָׁכָבְתִּי	wə·šå̄·ḵå̄·ḇə·tī	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person feminine singular	H7901 lie down
and he	וְהוּא֙	wə·hū	Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - third person masculine singular	H1931 he, she
will explain	יַגִּ֣יד	yag·gîḏ	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5046 be conspicuous
to you	לָ֔ךְ	lāḵ	Preposition; second person feminine singular
what	אֲשֶׁ֥ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
you should do	תַּעַשִֽׂין׃	ta·ʿa·śīn	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singular; Paragogic nun	H6213 do, make

Ruth 3:5

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
I will do	אֶֽעֱשֶֽׂה׃	’e·‘ĕ·śeh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular	H6213 do, make
everything	כֹּ֛ל	kōl	Noun - masculine singular	H3605 the whole, all
you say	תֹּאמְרִ֥יֵַ֖	tō·mə·ri·ya	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singular	H559 utter, say
answered	וַתֹּ֖אמֶר	wat·tō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H559 utter, say

Ruth 3:6

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So she went down	וַתֵּ֖רֶד	wat·tê·reḏ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H3381 come or go down, descend
to the threshing floor	הַגֹּ֑רֶן	hag·gō·ren	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H1637 threshing-floor
and did	וַתַּ֕עַשׂ	wat·ta·‘aś	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H6213 do, make
everything	כְּכֹ֥ל	kə·ḵōl	Preposition-k; Noun - masculine singular	H3605 the whole, all
her mother-in-law	חֲמוֹתָֽהּ׃	ḥă·mō·w·ṯāh	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person feminine singular	H2545 husband's mother
had instructed her	צִוַּ֖תָּה	ṣiw·wat·tāh	Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person feminine singular; third person feminine singular	H6680 lay charge (upon), give charge (to), charge, command, order

Ruth 3:7

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
After Boaz	בֹּ֤עַז	bō·‘az	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1162 Boaz
had finished eating	וַיֹּ֨אכַל	way·yō·ḵal	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H398 eat
and drinking	וַיֵּשְׁתְּ֙	way·yê·šət	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H8354 drink
and was in good spirits	וַיִּיטַ֣ב	way·yî·ṭaḇ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3190 be good, well, glad, pleasing
he went	וַיָּבֹ֕א	way·yā·ḇō	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
to lie down	לִשְׁכַּ֖ב	liš·kaḇ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H7901 lie down
at the end	בִּקְצֵ֣ה	biq·ṣêh	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H7097 end, extremity
of the heap of grain	הָעֲרֵמָ֑ה	hā·‘ă·rê·māh	Article; Noun - feminine plural	H6194 heap, sheaf
Then	וַתָּבֹ֣א	wat·tā·ḇō	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
uncovered	וַתְּגַ֥ל	wat·tə·ḡal	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H1540 uncover, remove
his feet	מַרְגְּלֹתָ֖יו	mar·gə·lō·ṯāw	Noun - feminine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H4772 footpiece, at the foot, foot
and lay down	וַתִּשְׁכָּֽב׃	wat·tiš·kāḇ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H7901 lie down

Ruth 3:8

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
At midnight	בַּחֲצִ֣י	ba·ḥă·ṣî	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular construct	H2677 half
Boaz	הָאִ֖ישׁ	hā·’îš	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
was startled	וַיֶּחֱרַ֥ד	way·ye·ḥĕ·raḏ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H2729 tremble, be terrified
turned over	וַיִּלָּפֵ֑ת	way·yil·lā·p̄êṯ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3943 twist, turn, grasp with a twisting motion
and there	וְהִנֵּ֣ה	wə·hin·nêh	Conjunctive waw; Interjection	H2009 lo! behold!
lying	שֹׁכֶ֖בֶת	šō·ḵe·ḇeṯ	Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular	H7901 lie down
at his feet	מַרְגְּלֹתָֽיו׃	mar·gə·lō·ṯāw	Noun - feminine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H4772 footpiece, at the foot, foot
was a woman	אִשָּׁ֔ה	’iš·šāh	Noun - feminine singular	H802 woman, wife, female