Ruth 2:18 kjv
And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed.
Ruth 2:18 nkjv
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.
Ruth 2:18 niv
She carried it back to town, and her mother-in-law saw how much she had gathered. Ruth also brought out and gave her what she had left over after she had eaten enough.
Ruth 2:18 esv
And she took it up and went into the city. Her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. She also brought out and gave her what food she had left over after being satisfied.
Ruth 2:18 nlt
She carried it back into town and showed it to her mother-in-law. Ruth also gave her the roasted grain that was left over from her meal.
Ruth 2 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 19:9-10 | When you reap the harvest... you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings... you shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner... | Foundation of gleaning law |
| Deut 24:19 | When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf... you shall not go back to get it. It shall be for the sojourner, for the fatherless, and for the widow... | Gleaning law for the needy |
| Ruth 1:6 | Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the Lord had visited His people in giving them food. | God's provision promised to Israel |
| Ruth 1:21 | I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty... | Naomi's prior bitterness and lack |
| Ruth 2:17 | So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. | The sheer quantity of Ruth's gleaning |
| Gen 45:18 | Eat the fat of the land, and you will feast on the abundance of the land. | Assurance of plentiful provision |
| Psa 23:5 | You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. | God's overflowing provision |
| Psa 37:25 | I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. | God's care for the righteous |
| Isa 58:10 | If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness... | Virtue of generous giving |
| Matt 6:26 | Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? | Trust in God's daily provision |
| Phil 4:19 | And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. | God's comprehensive supply |
| 2 Cor 9:8 | And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. | Grace leading to abundance and good works |
| Eph 3:20 | Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us... | God's exceeding generosity |
| Deut 8:3 | Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. | Spiritual and physical sustenance |
| Ruth 3:15 | Bring the cloak you are wearing and hold it out... He measured out six measures of barley and put them on her... | Boaz's continued abundant generosity |
| Prov 11:25 | Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and whoever waters will himself be watered. | Reward for generosity |
| 1 Sam 2:7 | The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up; He raises up the poor from the dust... | God's sovereignty over circumstances |
| Luke 12:48 | Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required... | Responsibility with provision |
| Acts 20:35 | It is more blessed to give than to receive. | Emphasis on giving |
| Lam 3:22-23 | The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. | God's faithfulness in trials |
| Heb 13:5 | Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” | Trust in God's presence and provision |
Ruth 2 verses
Ruth 2 18 Meaning
Ruth 2:18 depicts Ruth's return to Naomi after a day of gleaning in Boaz's field. It highlights Naomi's surprise at the abundant provision Ruth received and Ruth's act of sharing the generous surplus given by Boaz. The verse symbolizes a turning point from destitution to provision, demonstrating divine favor working through human kindness. It reveals the unfolding of God's care for Naomi and Ruth, hinting at future restoration and the meticulous detail of God's provision even in unexpected ways.
Ruth 2 18 Context
Ruth 2:18 occurs at the close of a pivotal day for Ruth and Naomi. Having returned to Bethlehem destitute, Naomi had expressed her bitterness and emptiness. Ruth, demonstrating unwavering loyalty, went to glean in the fields, a humble and often difficult task reserved for the very poor. Unbeknownst to her, she "happened" upon the field of Boaz, a wealthy kinsman-redeemer of Elimelech's family. Boaz, having heard of Ruth's devotion to Naomi, showed her extraordinary kindness, extending provisions beyond what the Mosaic law required for gleaning. He specifically instructed his reapers to leave extra grain for her and even allowed her to eat with them. This verse marks Ruth's return home, showcasing the tangible result of Boaz's benevolence, prompting Naomi's surprise and a glimmer of hope. It shifts the narrative from scarcity to a significant, unexpected abundance. Historically, this highlights the social welfare system mandated by God through gleaning, yet demonstrates the profound impact of individual righteousness and compassion in exceeding mere legal obligation, foreshadowing the concept of grace.
Ruth 2 18 Word analysis
- So she took it up (ותשּׂא, va-tisa): The verb implies lifting and carrying, often denoting a significant burden or object. Here, it refers to the considerable amount of barley (an ephah, approximately 20-30 pounds, a significant load for one person to carry on her own for a sustained distance), emphasizing the scale of her provision. It signifies effort on Ruth's part to bring this blessing home.
- and went into the city (ותבֹא הָעִירָה, va-tavo ha'irah): "Came to the city." The journey into Bethlehem, the house of bread, symbolizes their physical return to their community and their spiritual journey towards restoration after a time of hardship in Moab. The destination is Bethlehem, a place named for abundance of food.
- Her mother-in-law saw (וַתֵּרֶא חֲמוֹתָהּ, va-tere hamotah): "And her mother-in-law saw." The verb ra'ah (see) implies not just physical sight but also perception and understanding. Naomi is astounded by the visible evidence of God's unexpected grace.
- what she had gleaned (אֶת־אֲשֶׁר לִקְּטָהּ, et-asher liketah): "That which she had gathered." This refers to the enormous amount of barley Ruth collected, far exceeding expectations for a single day's gleaning, particularly for a newcomer. It signals an extraordinary act of divine blessing facilitated by Boaz.
- And she brought out (וַתּוֹצֵא, va-totsi): "And she caused to come out" or "took out." Ruth presents a portion of what Boaz had given her, separate from the main gleanings. This act highlights Ruth's thoughtfulness and a desire to share, establishing a theme of generous reciprocal giving.
- and gave to her (וַתִּתֶּן־לָהּ, va-titen-lah): "And she gave to her." This emphasizes the direct act of gifting, not just leaving something for Naomi to find.
- what she had reserved (שֶׁהוֹתִירָה, she-hotirah): "That which she had caused to remain" or "what she had left over/extra." This Hebrew verb yatar indicates a surplus or abundance beyond what was consumed, explicitly the roasted grain Boaz gave her at mealtime. This isn't just about leftover food, but a special provision made for Ruth specifically. It points to Boaz's generous command (Ruth 2:14) to give her grain to eat and to keep some over.
- after she had eaten enough (אַחֲרֵי שָׂבְעָה, acharei sav'ah): "After her being satisfied/full." The root s-b-ʿ means to be satisfied, satiated, to have enough or even more than enough. This detail underscores the lavish nature of Boaz's provision – Ruth was not merely given food to survive, but enough to be completely satisfied and to have a surplus for Naomi. It symbolizes a shift from hunger and emptiness to satiety and abundance for both women.
Ruth 2 18 Bonus section
The amount of barley, an ephah (approximately 20-30 lbs or 15-22 liters), was not just a daily meal but represented about 10-15 days' worth of food for a family, an immense provision for one day's work. This amount emphasizes Boaz's extravagant generosity, far exceeding the minimal requirements of the gleaning law, hinting at his role as a loving kinsman-redeemer. It also demonstrates God's abundant faithfulness, transforming destitution into plentiful supply in a single day, setting the stage for future blessings. The act of sharing the reserved (left-over) food indicates not a stingy portion but a substantial surplus that testifies to the goodness experienced, an early sign of Boaz's abundant heart. This small detail underscores the personal, attentive nature of his provision beyond the expected field gleaning.
Ruth 2 18 Commentary
Ruth's arrival back in Bethlehem, laden with an extraordinary amount of barley, marks a crucial turning point for Naomi. Her earlier bitter pronouncement of having been brought back "empty" by the Lord (Ruth 1:21) is directly contrasted by the visible abundance Ruth carries. The sheer volume of the gleanings, a full ephah, far exceeded what typical gleaners collected, demonstrating Boaz’s exceptional generosity, inspired by God’s favor upon Ruth. The extra, cooked grain that Ruth had "reserved" or kept over, a special kindness from Boaz’s own meal, served as an immediate, warm offering to Naomi. This act of bringing out the reserved food symbolizes not only Ruth's faithfulness to Naomi but also the tangible evidence of God's active, personal provision, beyond the expected. It shifts Naomi's perspective from despair to dawning hope, as she recognizes the Lord’s hand working through the kindness of Boaz, prompting her pivotal question in the next verse, "Where did you glean today? And where did you work? Blessed be the man who took notice of you!" This verse thus showcases divine provision, the beauty of shared blessings, and the transformative power of kindness in overcoming despondency.