The Histories · Old Testament
Ruth 3
A request and an unresolved promise
General context
Naomi sends Ruth to the threshing floor where Boaz is working. At night, Ruth identifies herself and asks him to spread his garment over her, appealing to him as a near kinsman. Boaz agrees to act, but says another relative has the nearer claim. The chapter ends with Ruth back with Naomi, waiting for the matter to be settled.
Cited passages: Ruth 3:2, Ruth 3:6, Ruth 3:9, Ruth 3:11, Ruth 3:12, Ruth 3:13, Ruth 3:18, Ruth 3:16
Ruth 3 (KJV)
1Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?
2And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor.
3Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.
4And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.
5And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do.
6And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her.
7And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down.
8And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet.
9And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.
10And he said, Blessed be thou of the Lord, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.
11And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.
12And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.
13Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman’s part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the Lord liveth: lie down until the morning.
14And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.
15Also he said, Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city.
16And when she came to her mother in law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her.
17And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law.
18Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.
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Historical context
The setting is a threshing floor during barley processing. The dialogue explicitly makes kinship relevant to Ruth's request, and Boaz distinguishes his position from that of a nearer relative. These are details supplied by the narrative. The passage does not explain every social custom behind the scene, so those gaps should not be filled with certainty.
Literary context
The conversation changes the pace of the scene. Boaz first asks who is there; Ruth answers by naming herself and making a request. His positive reply is followed by a complication, the nearer relative. The scene closes with Naomi telling Ruth to wait. That unfinished business carries the reader into the next chapter.
For reflection
How does the mention of a nearer relative change what you expect to happen next?