Ruth 3

Ruth and Boaz at the Threshing Floor

1 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, should I not seek k rest for you, that it may be well with you? 2 Is not Boaz l our relative, m with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. 3 n Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do." 5 And she replied, "All that you say I will do."

6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her. 7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and o his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down. 8 At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet! 9 He said, "Who are you?" And she answered, "I am Ruth, your servant. p Spread your wings 1 over your servant, for you are q a redeemer." 10 And he said, r "May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than s the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are t a worthy woman. 12 And now it is true that I am u a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I. 13 Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will v redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, w as the Lord lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning."

14 So she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one could recognize another. And he said, "Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor." 15 And he said, "Bring the garment you are wearing and hold it out." So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley and put it on her. Then she went into the city. 16 And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, "How did you fare, my daughter?" Then she told her all that the man had done for her, 17 saying, "These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said to me, 'You must not go back empty-handed to your mother-in-law.'" 18 She replied, "Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest but will settle the matter today."

  1. Cross References
    Ruth 1:9
    The Lord grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!" Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.
  2. Cross References
    Ruth 2:1
    Now Naomi had a relative of her husband's, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.
  3. Cross References
    Ruth 2:8
    Then Boaz said to Ruth, "Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women.
  4. Cross References
    2 Samuel 12:20
    Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate.
    2 Samuel 14:2
    And Joab sent to Tekoa and brought from there a wise woman and said to her, "Pretend to be a mourner and put on mourning garments. Do not anoint yourself with oil, but behave like a woman who has been mourning many days for the dead.
  5. Cross References
    Judges 19:6
    So the two of them sat and ate and drank together. And the girl's father said to the man, "Be pleased to spend the night, and let your heart be merry.
  6. Cross References
    Ezekiel 16:8
    When I passed by you again and saw you, behold, you were at the age for love, and I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness; I made my vow to you and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Lord God, and you became mine.
    Deuteronomy 22:30
    A man shall not take his father's wife, so that he does not uncover his father's nakedness.
  7. Cross References
    Ruth 2:20
    And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, "May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!" Naomi also said to her, "The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.
  8. Cross References
    Ruth 2:20
    And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, "May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!" Naomi also said to her, "The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.
  9. Cross References
    Ruth 1:8
    But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go, return each of you to her mother's house. May 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 brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.
    Proverbs 31:10
    An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.
  11. Cross References
    Ruth 4:1
    Now Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there. And behold, the redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. So Boaz said, "Turn aside, friend; sit down here." And he turned aside and sat down.
  12. Cross References
    Ruth 4:5
    Then Boaz said, "The day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead, in order to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance.
    Deuteronomy 25:5
    If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the dead man shall not be married outside the family to a stranger. Her husband's brother shall go in to her and take her as his wife and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her.
  13. Cross References
    Judges 8:19
    And he said, "They were my brothers, the sons o...
    1 Samuel 14:39
    For as the Lord lives who saves Israel, though ...
    2 Samuel 4:9
    But David answered Rechab and Baanah his brothe...
    2 Samuel 12:5
    Then David's anger was greatly kindled against ...
    2 Kings 2:2
    And Elijah said to Elisha, "Please stay here, f...
    2 Kings 2:6
    Then Elijah said to him, "Please stay here, for...
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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