Ruth 2

Ruth Meets Boaz

¹Naomi had a relative of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech, and his name was Boaz.

²Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Let me now go to the field, and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I find favor.” She said to her, “Go, my daughter.”

³She went, and came and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.

⁴Behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, “May the LORD be with you.” They answered him, “May the LORD bless you.”

⁵Then Boaz said to his servant who was set over the reapers, “Whose young lady is this?”

⁶The servant who was set over the reapers answered, “It is the Moabite lady who came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab.

⁷She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ So she came, and has continued even from the morning until now, except that she rested a little in the house.”

Boaz's Kindness to Ruth

⁸Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Don’t go to glean in another field, and don’t go from here, but stay here close to my maidens.

⁹Let your eyes be on the field that they reap, and go after them. Haven’t I commanded the young men not to touch you? When you are thirsty, go to the vessels, and drink from that which the young men have drawn.”

¹⁰Then she fell on her face and bowed herself to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your sight, that you should take knowledge of me, since I am a foreigner?”

¹¹Boaz answered her, “I have been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father, your mother, and the land of your birth, and have come to a people that you didn’t know before.

¹²May the LORD repay your work, and a full reward be given to you from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”

¹³Then she said, “Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, because you have comforted me, and because you have spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not as one of your servants.”

¹⁴At meal time Boaz said to her, “Come here, and eat some bread, and dip your morsel in the vinegar.” She sat beside the reapers, and they passed her parched grain. She ate, was satisfied, and left some of it.

¹⁵When she had risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and don’t reproach her.

¹⁶Also pull out some for her from the bundles, and leave it. Let her glean, and don’t rebuke her.”

Ruth Reports to Naomi

¹⁷So she gleaned in the field until evening; and she beat out that which she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.

¹⁸She took it up, and went into the city. Then her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned; and she brought out and gave to her that which she had left after she had enough.

¹⁹Her mother-in-law said to her, “Where have you gleaned today? Where have you worked? Blessed be he who noticed you.” She told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, “The man’s name with whom I worked today is Boaz.”

²⁰Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the LORD, who has not abandoned his kindness to the living and to the dead.” Naomi said to her, “The man is a close relative to us, one of our near kinsmen.”

²¹Ruth the Moabitess said, “Yes, he said to me, ‘You shall stay close to my young men until they have finished all my harvest.’”

²²Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his maidens, and that they not harm you in any other field.”

²³So she stayed close to the maidens of Boaz, to glean to the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and she lived with her mother-in-law.

Previous Ruth 1

Next Ruth 3

Ruth begins gleaning in the fields to provide for herself and Naomi, and by divine providence works in the field of Boaz, a wealthy relative of Elimelech. Boaz shows extraordinary kindness to Ruth, protecting her, providing food, and instructing his workers to leave extra grain for her after learning of her devotion to Naomi. Ruth returns home with an abundant harvest and the news of Boaz's generosity, leading Naomi to recognize God's continued faithfulness to their family.

Context

This chapter introduces the solution to the destitution established in chapter 1, setting up the redemption story that will unfold in chapters 3-4.

Key Themes

Outline

1-3
Ruth Goes to Glean Ruth seeks permission to glean and providentially arrives at Boaz's field.
4-7
Boaz Notices Ruth Boaz arrives and inquires about the foreign woman working diligently in his field.
8-13
Boaz's Protection and Blessing Boaz offers Ruth protection, provision, and blessing, praising her loyalty to Naomi.
14-17
Extraordinary Generosity Boaz shares his meal with Ruth and secretly instructs workers to leave extra grain.
18-23
Ruth Reports to Naomi Ruth returns with abundant grain and news of Boaz, whom Naomi recognizes as their kinsman-redeemer.

Ruth Meets Boaz

2:1–2:7

narrative dialogue hopeful

Ruth begins gleaning in the fields and providentially comes to work in the field of Boaz, a wealthy relative of Elimelech.

person_contrast

Naomi's immediate blessing "Go, my daughter" marks her first supportive response to Ruth's initiative, contrasting sharply with her earlier bitter resistance to Ruth's loyalty.

Boaz's Kindness to Ruth

2:8–2:16

narrative dialogue tender

Boaz shows extraordinary kindness to Ruth, protecting her, providing for her needs, and blessing her for her loyalty to Naomi and faith in God.

person_contrast

Boaz's fivefold protection of Ruth—forbidding harassment, providing water, offering meals, commanding extra grain, and ensuring safety—transforms him from mere kinsman into active guardian before any marriage discussion occurs.

Ruth Reports to Naomi

2:17–2:23

narrative narration hopeful

Ruth returns to Naomi with a generous harvest from gleaning in Boaz's field. Naomi recognizes God's providence in connecting them with their kinsman Boaz and blesses him for his kindness.

person_contrast

Naomi's blessing of Boaz for his "kindness to the living and the dead" reveals her theological shift from bitter complaint against God to recognizing divine faithfulness through human compassion.

Insight Character Study

Naomi's immediate blessing "Go, my daughter" marks her first supportive response to Ruth's initiative, contrasting sharply with her earlier bitter resistance to Ruth's loyalty.

Insight Character Study

Naomi's blessing of Boaz for his "kindness to the living and the dead" reveals her theological shift from bitter complaint against God to recognizing divine faithfulness through human compassion.

Cross-References

Connected passages across Scripture

Ruth 2:1 5 references

Lexicals 5

Ruth 4:9 Lexical

Boaz said to the elders and to all the people, “You are witnesses today, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, an…

Ruth 2

Ruth Meets Boaz

Boaz's Kindness to Ruth

Ruth Reports to Naomi

Ruth Meets Boaz

Boaz's Kindness to Ruth

Ruth Reports to Naomi

Insights

Cross-References

Ruth 2:1 5 references

Ruth 2:2 5 references

Ruth 2:3 5 references

Ruth 2:6 4 references

Ruth 2:7 1 reference

Ruth 2:8 1 reference

Ruth 2:10 2 references

Ruth 2:11 1 reference

Ruth 2:13 5 references

Ruth 2:14 1 reference

Ruth 2:17 1 reference

Ruth 2:20 2 references

Ruth 2:21 4 references

Ruth 2:22 2 references

Ruth 2:23 4 references

Interlinear

Historical Context