Ruth Meets Boaz

Ruth 2

1 There was a a relative of Naomi's husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of b Elimelech. His name was c Boaz. 2 So Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, "Please let me go to the d field, and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight I may find favor." And she said to her, "Go, my daughter." 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. 4 Now behold, Boaz came from e Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, f "The LORD be with you!" And they answered him, "The LORD bless you!" 5 Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, "Whose young woman is this?" 6 So the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered and said, "It is the young Moabite woman g who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. 7 "And she said, 'Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.' So she came and has continued from morning until now, though she rested a little in the house."

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. 9 "Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn." 10 So she h fell on her face, bowed down to the ground, and said to him, "Why have I found i favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?" 11 And Boaz answered and said to her, "It has been fully reported to me, j all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before. 12 k "The LORD repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the LORD God of Israel, l under whose wings you have come for refuge." 13 Then she said, m "Let me find favor in your sight, my lord; for you have comforted me, and have spoken 1 kindly to your maidservant, n though I am not like one of your maidservants."

14 Now Boaz said to her at mealtime, "Come here, and eat of the bread, and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar." So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed parched grain to her; and she ate and o was satisfied, and kept some back. 15 And when she rose up to 2 glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, "Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not 3 reproach her. 16 "Also let grain from the bundles fall purposely for her; leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her."

17 So she gleaned in the field until evening, and beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of p barley. 18 Then she took it up and went into the city, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. So she brought out and gave to her q what she had kept back after she had been satisfied. 19 And her mother-in-law said to her, "Where have you gleaned today? And where did you work? Blessed be the one who r took notice of you." So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said, "The man's name with whom I worked today is Boaz." 20 Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, s "Blessed be he of the LORD, who t has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!" And Naomi said to her, "This man is a relation of ours, u one of 4 our close relatives." 21 Ruth the Moabitess said, "He also said to me, 'You shall stay close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest.' " 22 And Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, "It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, and that people do not 5 meet you in any other field." 23 So she stayed close by the young women of Boaz, to glean until the end of barley harvest and wheat harvest; and she dwelt with her mother-in-law.

  1. Cross References
    Ruth 3:2
    Now Boaz, whose young women you were with, is he not our relative? In fact, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor.
    Ruth 3:12
    Now it is true that I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I.
  2. Cross References
    Ruth 1:2
    The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion - Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there.
  3. Cross References
    Ruth 4:21
    Salmon begot Boaz, and Boaz begot Obed.
  4. Cross References
    Leviticus 19:9
    When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest.
    Leviticus 19:10
    And you shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather every grape of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I am the LORD your God.
    Leviticus 23:22
    'When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field when you reap, nor shall you gather any gleaning from your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the stranger: I am the LORD your God.'"
    Deuteronomy 24:19
    When you reap your harvest in your field, and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
  5. Cross References
    Ruth 1:1
    Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.
  6. Cross References
    Psalms 129:7
    With which the reaper does not fill his hand, Nor he who binds sheaves, his arms.
    Psalms 129:8
    Neither let those who pass by them say, "The blessing of the LORD be upon you; We bless you in the name of the LORD!
    Luke 1:28
    And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!
    2 Thessalonians 3:16
    Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.
  7. Cross References
    Ruth 1:22
    So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. Now they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.
  8. Cross References
    1 Samuel 25:23
    Now when Abigail saw David, she dismounted quickly from the donkey, fell on her face before David, and bowed down to the ground.
  9. Cross References
    1 Samuel 1:18
    And she said, "Let your maidservant find favor in your sight." So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.
  10. Cross References
    Ruth 1:14 - 18
    Then they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.
  11. Cross References
    1 Samuel 24:19
    For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him get away safely? Therefore may the LORD reward you with good for what you have done to me this day.
    Psalms 58:11
    So that men will say, "Surely there is a reward for the righteous; Surely He is God who judges in the earth.
  12. Cross References
    Ruth 1:16
    But Ruth said: "Entreat me not to leave you, Or...
    Psalms 17:8
    Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under...
    Psalms 36:7
    How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! The...
    Psalms 57:1
    Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! Fo...
    Psalms 61:4
    I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will...
    Psalms 63:7
    Because You have been my help, Therefore in the...
    Psalms 91:4
    He shall cover you with His feathers, And under...
  13. Cross References
    Genesis 33:15
    And Esau said, "Now let me leave with you some of the people who are with me." But he said, "What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.
    1 Samuel 1:18
    And she said, "Let your maidservant find favor in your sight." So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.
  14. Cross References
    1 Samuel 25:41
    Then she arose, bowed her face to the earth, and said, "Here is your maidservant, a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.
  15. Cross References
    Ruth 2:18
    Then she took it up and went into the city, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. So she brought out and gave to her what she had kept back after she had been satisfied.
  16. Cross References
    Ruth 1:22
    So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. Now they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.
  17. Cross References
    Ruth 2:14
    Now Boaz said to her at mealtime, "Come here, and eat of the bread, and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar." So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed parched grain to her; and she ate and was satisfied, and kept some back.
  18. Cross References
    Ruth 2:10
    So she fell on her face, bowed down to the ground, and said to him, "Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?
    Psalms 41:1
    Blessed is he who considers the poor; The LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
  19. Cross References
    Ruth 3:10
    Then he said, "Blessed are you of the LORD, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, in that you did not go after young men, whether poor or rich.
    2 Samuel 2:5
    So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, and said to them, "You are blessed of the LORD, for you have shown this kindness to your lord, to Saul, and have buried him.
  20. Cross References
    Proverbs 17:17
    A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.
  21. 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.
    Ruth 4:4
    "And I thought to inform you, saying, 'Buy it back in the presence of the inhabitants and the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if you will not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know; for there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am next after you.' " And he said, "I will redeem it."
    Ruth 4:6
    And the close relative said, "I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I ruin my own inheritance. You redeem my right of redemption for yourself, for I cannot redeem it.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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