Ruth

Ruth 3:6–13

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!

⁹“Who are you?” he asked.

“I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your garment^a over me, for you are a kinsman-redeemer.^b”

¹⁰Then Boaz said, “May the LORD bless you, my daughter. You have shown more kindness now than before, because you have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. ¹¹And now do not be afraid, my daughter. I will do for you whatever you request, since all my fellow townspeople know that you are a woman of noble character. ¹²Yes, it is true that I am a kinsman-redeemer, but there is a redeemer nearer than I.^c ¹³Stay here tonight, and in the morning, if he wants to redeem you, good. Let him redeem you. But if he does not want to redeem you, as surely as the LORD lives, I will. Now lie here until morning.”

Footnotes

a 3:9 Or Spread your wing; the word for wing can also mean corner of a garment; see Ruth 2:12|RUT 2:12.
b 3:9 The Hebrew word for kinsman-redeemer or guardian-redeemeris a legal term for the kinsman who redeems or vindicates a relative; similarly in verses 12 and 13; see Leviticus 25:25–55|LEV 25:25-55.
c 3:12 That is, more closely related

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 3:6

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

Ruth 3:9

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Who	מִי־	mî-	Interrogative	H4310 who?
are you	אָ֑תּ	ʾå̄t	Pronoun - second person feminine singular	H859 thou
he asked	וַיֹּ֖אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
I	אָנֹכִי֙	’ā·nō·ḵî	Pronoun - first person common singular	H595 I
your servant	אֲמָתֶ֔ךָ	’ă·mā·ṯe·ḵā	Noun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H519 maid, handmaid
Ruth	ר֣וּת	rūṯ	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H7327 Ruth
she replied	וַתֹּ֗אמֶר	wat·tō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H559 utter, say
Spread	וּפָרַשְׂתָּ֤	ū·p̄ā·raś·tā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular	H6566 spread out, spread
the corner of your garment	כְנָפֶ֙ךָ֙	ḵə·nā·p̄e·ḵā	Noun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H3671 wing, extremity
over	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
me	אֲמָ֣תְךָ֔	’ă·mā·ṯə·ḵā	Noun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H519 maid, handmaid
for	כִּ֥י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
you	אָֽתָּה׃	’āt·tāh	Pronoun - second person masculine singular	H859 thou
are a kinsman-redeemer	גֹאֵ֖ל	ḡō·’êl	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H1350 redeem, act as kinsman

Ruth 3:10

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then	וַיֹּ֗אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
May the LORD	לַֽיהוָה֙	Yah·weh	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
bless	בְּרוּכָ֨ה	bə·rū·ḵāh	Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular	H1288 kneel, bless
you	אַ֤תְּ	’at	Pronoun - second person feminine singular	H859 thou
my daughter	בִּתִּ֔י	bit·tî	Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common singular	H1323 daughter
You have shown	הֵיטַ֛בְתְּ	hê·ṭaḇt	Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person feminine singular	H3190 be good, well, glad, pleasing
more kindness	חַסְדֵּ֥ךְ	ḥas·dêḵ	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person feminine singular	H2617 goodness, kindness
now	הָאַחֲר֖וֹן	hā·’a·ḥă·rō·wn	Article; Adjective - masculine singular	H314 coming after
than	מִן־	min-	Preposition	H4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
before	הָרִאשׁ֑וֹן	hā·ri·šō·wn	Article; Adjective - masculine singular	H7223 former, first, chief
because you have not	לְבִלְתִּי־	lə·ḇil·tî-	Preposition-l	H1115 not, except
run	לֶ֗כֶת	le·ḵeṯ	Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H1980 go, come, walk
after	אַחֲרֵי֙	’a·ḥă·rê	Preposition	H310 behind
the younger men	הַבַּ֣חוּרִ֔ים	hab·ba·ḥū·rîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H970 young man
whether	אִם־	’im-	Conjunction	H518 if
rich	עָשִֽׁיר׃	‘ā·šîr	Adjective - masculine singular	H6223 rich
or	וְאִם־	wə·’im-	Conjunction	H518 if
poor	דַּ֖ל	dal	Adjective - masculine singular construct	H1800 low, weak, poor, thin

Ruth 3:11

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
And now	וְעַתָּ֗ה	wə·‘at·tāh	Conjunctive waw; Adverb	H6258 now
do not	אַל־	’al-	Adverb	H408 prohibition, do not . . ., let not . . .
be afraid	תִּ֣ירְאִ֔י	tî·rə·’î	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singular	H3372 fear
my daughter	בִּתִּי֙	bit·tî	Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common singular	H1323 daughter
I will do	אֶֽעֱשֶׂה־	’e·‘ĕ·śeh-	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular	H6213 do, make
for you	לָּ֑ךְ	lāḵ	Preposition; second person feminine singular
whatever	כֹּ֥ל	kōl	Noun - masculine singular	H3605 the whole, all
you request	תֹּאמְרִ֖י	tō·mə·rî	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singular	H559 utter, say
since	כִּ֤י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
all	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
my fellow townspeople	עַמִּ֔י	‘am·mî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H5971 people
know	יוֹדֵ֙עַ֙	yō·w·ḏê·a‘	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H3045 know
that	כִּ֛י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
you	אָֽתְּ׃	’āt	Pronoun - second person feminine singular	H859 thou
are a woman	אֵ֥שֶׁת	’ê·šeṯ	Noun - feminine singular construct	H802 woman, wife, female
of noble character	חַ֖יִל	ḥa·yil	Noun - masculine singular	H2428 strength, efficiency, wealth, army

Ruth 3:12

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Yes	כִּ֣י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
it is true	אָמְנָ֔ם	’ā·mə·nām	Conjunction	H551 verily, truly
that	כִּ֥י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
I	אָנֹ֑כִי	’ā·nō·ḵî	Pronoun - first person common singular	H595 I
a kinsman-redeemer	גֹאֵ֖ל	ḡō·’êl	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H1350 redeem, act as kinsman
but	וְגַ֛ם	wə·ḡam	Conjunction	H1571 also, moreover, yea
there is	יֵ֥שׁ	yêš	Adverb	H3426 being, substance, existence
a redeemer	גֹּאֵ֖ל	gō·’êl	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H1350 redeem, act as kinsman
nearer	קָר֥וֹב	qā·rō·wḇ	Adjective - masculine singular	H7138 near
than I	מִמֶּֽנִּי׃	mim·men·nî	Preposition; first person common singular	H4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not

Ruth 3:13

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Stay here tonight	לִ֣ינִי׀	lî·nî	Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular	H3885 lodge, pass the night
and in the morning	בַבֹּ֙קֶר֙	ḇab·bō·qer	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1242 morning
if	אִם־	’im-	Conjunction	H518 if
he wants to redeem you	יִגְאָלֵ֥ךְ	yiḡ·’ā·lêḵ	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular; second person feminine singular	H1350 redeem, act as kinsman
good	טוֹב֙	ṭō·wḇ	Adjective - masculine singular	H2896 pleasant, agreeable, good
Let him redeem you	יִגְאָ֔ל	yiḡ·’āl	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1350 redeem, act as kinsman
But if	וְאִם־	wə·’im-	Conjunction	H518 if
he does not	לֹ֨א	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
want	יַחְפֹּ֧ץ	yaḥ·pōṣ	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H2654 delight in
to redeem you	לְגָֽאֳלֵ֛ךְ	lə·ḡā·’o·lêḵ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; second person feminine singular	H1350 redeem, act as kinsman
as surely as the LORD	יְהוָ֑ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
lives	חַי־	ḥay-	Noun - masculine singular	H2416 alive, living
I	אָנֹ֖כִי	’ā·nō·ḵî	Pronoun - first person common singular	H595 I
will	וּגְאַלְתִּ֥יךְ	ū·ḡə·’al·tîḵ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular; second person feminine singular	H1350 redeem, act as kinsman
Now lie here	שִׁכְבִ֖י	šiḵ·ḇî	Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular	H7901 lie down
until	עַד־	‘aḏ-	Preposition	H5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
morning	הַבֹּֽקֶר׃	hab·bō·qer	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1242 morning