Ruth and Boaz at the Threshing Floor

Ruth 3

1 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, a shall I not seek b security 1 for you, that it may be well with you? 2 "Now Boaz, c whose young women you were with, is he not our relative? In fact, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. 3 "Therefore wash yourself and d anoint yourself, put on your best garment and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 "Then it shall be, when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies; and you shall go in, uncover his feet, and lie down; and he will tell you what you should do." 5 And she said to her, "All that you say to me I will do."

6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law instructed her. 7 And after Boaz had eaten and drunk, and e his heart was cheerful, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came softly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. 8 Now it happened at midnight that the man was startled, and turned himself; and there, a woman was lying at his feet. 9 And he said, "Who are you?" So she answered, "I am Ruth, your maidservant. f Take 2 your maidservant under your wing, for you are g a 3 close relative." 10 Then he said, h "Blessed are you of the LORD, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than i at the beginning, in that you did not go after young men, whether poor or rich. 11 "And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman. 12 "Now it is true that I am a j close relative; however, k there is a relative closer than I. 13 "Stay this night, and in the morning it shall be that if he will l perform the duty of a close relative for you - good; let him do it. But if he does not want to perform the duty for you, then I will perform the duty for you, m as the LORD lives! Lie down until morning."

14 So she lay at his feet until morning, and she arose before one could recognize another. Then he said, n "Do not let it be known that the woman came to the threshing floor." 15 Also he said, "Bring the 4 shawl that is on you and hold it." And when she held it, he measured six ephahs of barley, and laid it on her. Then 5 she went into the city. 16 When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, 6 "Is that you, my daughter?" Then she told her all that the man had done for her. 17 And she said, "These six ephahs of barley he gave me; for he said to me, 'Do not go empty-handed to your mother-in-law.' " 18 Then she said, o "Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day."

  1. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 7:36
    But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of youth, and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let them marry.
    1 Timothy 5:8
    But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
  2. Cross References
    Ruth 1:9
    The LORD grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband." So she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.
  3. Cross References
    Ruth 2:3
    Then she left, and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.
    Ruth 2:8
    Then Boaz said to Ruth, "You will listen, my daughter, will you not? Do not go to glean in another field, nor go from here, but stay close by my young women.
  4. Cross References
    2 Samuel 14:2
    And Joab sent to Tekoa and brought from there a wise woman, and said to her, "Please pretend to be a mourner, and put on mourning apparel; do not anoint yourself with oil, but act like a woman who has been mourning a long time for the dead.
  5. Cross References
    Judges 19:6
    So they sat down, and the two of them ate and drank together. Then the young woman's father said to the man, "Please be content to stay all night, and let your heart be merry.
    Judges 19:9
    And when the man stood to depart - he and his concubine and his servant - his father-in-law, the young woman's father, said to him, "Look, the day is now drawing toward evening; please spend the night. See, the day is coming to an end; lodge here, that your heart may be merry. Tomorrow go your way early, so that you may get home.
    Judges 19:22
    As they were enjoying themselves, suddenly certain men of the city, perverted men, surrounded the house and beat on the door. They spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, "Bring out the man who came to your house, that we may know him carnally!
    2 Samuel 13:28
    Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, "Watch now, when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, 'Strike Amnon!' then kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant.
    Esther 1:10
    On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus.
  6. Cross References
    Ezekiel 16:8
    When I passed by you again and looked upon you, indeed your time was the time of love; so I spread My wing over you and covered your nakedness. Yes, I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine," says the Lord GOD.
  7. Cross References
    Ruth 2:20
    Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, "Blessed be he of the LORD, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!" And Naomi said to her, "This man is a relation of ours, one of our close relatives.
    Ruth 3:12
    Now it is true that I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I.
  8. Cross References
    Ruth 2:20
    Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, "Blessed be he of the LORD, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!" And Naomi said to her, "This man is a relation of ours, one of our close relatives.
  9. Cross References
    Ruth 1:8
    And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go, return each to her mother's house. The LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.
  10. Cross References
    Proverbs 12:4
    An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, But she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones.
    Proverbs 31:10 - 31
    Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.
  11. Cross References
    Ruth 3:9
    And he said, "Who are you?" So she answered, "I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative.
  12. Cross References
    Ruth 4:1
    Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there; and behold, the close relative of whom Boaz had spoken came by. So Boaz said, "Come aside, friend, sit down here." So he came aside and sat down.
  13. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 25:5 - 10
    If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the widow of the dead man shall not be married to a stranger outside the family; her husband's brother shall go in to her, take her as his wife, and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her.
    Ruth 4:5
    Then Boaz said, "On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also buy it from Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance.
    Ruth 4:10
    "Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, I have acquired as my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brethren and from his position at the gate. You are witnesses this day."
    Matthew 22:24
    Saying: "Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.
  14. Cross References
    Judges 8:19
    Then he said, "They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the LORD lives, if you had let them live, I would not kill you.
    Jeremiah 4:2
    And you shall swear, 'The LORD lives,' In truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; The nations shall bless themselves in Him, And in Him they shall glory.
    Jeremiah 12:16
    And it shall be, if they will learn carefully the ways of My people, to swear by My name, 'As the LORD lives,' as they taught My people to swear by Baal, then they shall be established in the midst of My people.
  15. Cross References
    Romans 12:17
    Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
    Romans 14:16
    Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil.
    1 Corinthians 10:32
    Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God.
    2 Corinthians 8:21
    Providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
    1 Thessalonians 5:22
    Abstain from every form of evil.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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