Ruth 2 14

Ruth 2:14 kjv

And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left.

Ruth 2:14 nkjv

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.

Ruth 2:14 niv

At mealtime Boaz said to her, "Come over here. Have some bread and dip it in the wine vinegar." When she sat down with the harvesters, he offered her some roasted grain. She ate all she wanted and had some left over.

Ruth 2:14 esv

And at mealtime Boaz said to her, "Come here and eat some bread and dip your morsel in the wine." So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed to her roasted grain. And she ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over.

Ruth 2:14 nlt

At mealtime Boaz called to her, "Come over here, and help yourself to some food. You can dip your bread in the sour wine." So she sat with his harvesters, and Boaz gave her some roasted grain to eat. She ate all she wanted and still had some left over.

Ruth 2 verses

Ruth 2 14 Meaning

Ruth 2:14 depicts a significant moment of grace and abundant provision. Boaz, the wealthy landowner, personally invites Ruth, a humble Moabite gleaner, to join him and his reapers for their meal. He not only offers her food but actively serves her, ensuring she eats until fully satisfied, with even a surplus remaining. This act signifies extraordinary favor, inclusion, and a glimpse into the lavish provision that would characterize her future through Boaz's redemption. It foreshadows a divine principle of God's overflowing care for the vulnerable and His drawing outsiders into His abundance.

Ruth 2 14 Context

Ruth 2:14 occurs during the barley harvest in Bethlehem. Ruth, having come with Naomi from Moab, is diligently gleaning in Boaz's field to provide for herself and her mother-in-law. Her humility, hard work, and loyalty to Naomi (Ruth 1:16-18) have already been recounted to Boaz (Ruth 2:11). This verse marks a crucial escalation in Boaz's gracious interaction with Ruth. Earlier, he had commanded his young men to protect her and allow her to glean freely, even among the sheaves, and had offered her water (Ruth 2:8-9). Now, at the shared mealtime in the field, Boaz extends an even more personal and intimate invitation, bringing her directly into the circle of his own workers and providing directly for her, illustrating the cultural custom of a patron's care and setting the stage for his eventual role as kinsman-redeemer.

Ruth 2 14 Word analysis

• And at mealtime: This specifies a designated time for sustenance, marking a pause from labor, and allowing for social interaction.
• Boaz said to her: Signifies a direct, personal address. It singles Ruth out, indicating his specific attention and authority to offer such a gesture.
• "Come here" (Hebrew: goshi halom): An imperative, direct command. It is a forceful but benevolent invitation, compelling Ruth from her lowly place as a gleaner to a position of intimate inclusion and fellowship with the reapers and Boaz himself. It removes her from the fringe to the center.
• "and eat some bread" (Hebrew: lakhmeck): While lakhmeck means "your bread," the context implies partaking of the bread provided by Boaz or eating with him. It is a shared meal, a gesture of integration rather than self-provision.
• "and dip your morsel in the wine" (Hebrew: khometz): Khometz specifically refers to "wine vinegar" or "sour wine," not high-quality, festive wine. This was a common, refreshing, and practical drink for field laborers in the heat, often diluted. The invitation to "dip" her bread in his (or the communal) vinegar indicates a profound act of sharing and communal eating, highlighting a closer fellowship and direct provision from Boaz's resources, which went beyond normal custom for a gleaner.
• So she sat beside the reapers: Ruth's humble obedience and immediate acceptance of the invitation, signifying her willingness to be included in this newly offered fellowship.
• and he passed her roasted grain (Hebrew: qali): He personally serving her underscores Boaz's exceptional care and thoughtfulness. Qali (parched or roasted grain) was a common field snack, simple but nourishing. Boaz ensuring she received it, directly from his hand, emphasizes his personal attention and provision.
• and she ate until she was satisfied (Hebrew: vatishba): Emphasizes not just meeting a need, but experiencing complete fullness, satiation, and contentment. Her hunger was entirely alleviated.
• and she had some left over (Hebrew: vattotar): This signifies super-abundance and surplus, going beyond mere adequacy. It indicates lavish provision, demonstrating Boaz's extreme generosity and anticipating the overflow of blessing she would experience.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And at mealtime Boaz said to her, "Come here and eat some bread and dip your morsel in the wine."": This phrase represents Boaz's initiation of radical hospitality and active provision. It’s a deliberate, direct invitation that crosses social boundaries, bringing the marginalized foreign woman into an intimate fellowship, sharing in the same simple sustenance as his own trusted laborers.
• "So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed her roasted grain,": This sequence highlights Ruth’s humble submission to Boaz's authority and invitation, immediately followed by Boaz’s tangible and personal act of service. He not only welcomed her but ensured she received nourishment specifically tailored to the harvest meal. This continuous act of giving solidifies her place of favor.
• "and she ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over.": This powerfully conveys the outcome of Boaz’s generosity: complete and overflowing provision. Ruth's deep hunger was not just met, but exceeded, providing a picture of not just survival, but thriving and abundance, far beyond what she, a poor gleaner, could ever expect.

Ruth 2 14 Bonus section

The communal sharing implied by dipping bread in the khometz signifies a bond beyond mere transactional charity. It was an act typically reserved for the closest companions or family, underscoring the extraordinary degree of favor Boaz was extending to Ruth, elevating her status in the eyes of his reapers and signaling his intentions towards her. This particular detail enhances the picture of the foreshadowing of our ultimate Redeemer, Christ, who not only invited outsiders but established the New Covenant by inviting disciples to eat His flesh and drink His blood, a profound and intimate act of spiritual communion and total identification.

Ruth 2 14 Commentary

Ruth 2:14 is a beautiful demonstration of grace and benevolent authority. Boaz's actions transcend typical societal expectations for a rich landowner dealing with a foreign, impoverished gleaner. His invitation to "Come here" (a strong imperative) signals a deliberate act of bringing the marginalized closer. By offering bread and urging her to dip it in the khometz (vinegar-wine), a staple field drink, he signifies intimate, shared communion rather than just charity. His personal service of the roasted grain and the subsequent detail that Ruth ate until satisfied and had left over speaks volumes. This is not just sustenance; it is overflowing, generous provision. This encounter foreshadows not only Boaz's role as Ruth's kinsman-redeemer, providing abundantly for her physical needs, but also hints at God’s ultimate redemptive love through Christ, who draws outsiders to His table, feeds them spiritually and physically, and provides exceeding abundant blessings beyond measure (Eph 3:20). It reminds us that God's care is not merely sufficient but often lavish.

• Practical Example: Just as Boaz included Ruth at his table, Christians are called to practice hospitality, welcoming strangers and those on the margins, sharing generously from their own abundance.
• Practical Example: Receiving Boaz's full provision is a type of learning to depend on God for not just needs but also His overflowing blessings, embracing that "with Him nothing is impossible" (Luke 1:37).