Ruth 2 19

Ruth 2:19 kjv

And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she showed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz.

Ruth 2:19 nkjv

And her mother-in-law said to her, "Where have you gleaned today? And where did you work? Blessed be the one who 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."

Ruth 2:19 niv

Her mother-in-law asked her, "Where did you glean today? Where did you work? Blessed be the man who took notice of you!" Then Ruth told her mother-in-law about the one at whose place she had been working. "The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz," she said.

Ruth 2:19 esv

And her mother-in-law said to her, "Where did you glean today? And where have you worked? Blessed be the man who 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."

Ruth 2:19 nlt

"Where did you gather all this grain today?" Naomi asked. "Where did you work? May the LORD bless the one who helped you!" So Ruth told her mother-in-law about the man in whose field she had worked. She said, "The man I worked with today is named Boaz."

Ruth 2 verses

Ruth 2 19 Meaning

Ruth 2:19 depicts a pivotal conversation where Naomi, observing Ruth's extraordinary gleanings, inquires about the benefactor who extended such favor. Her spontaneous blessing for the individual who "took notice" of Ruth highlights Naomi's immediate recognition of providential kindness. Ruth then identifies this generous man as Boaz, setting the stage for the narrative's central themes of redemption and God's hidden hand at work. This interaction marks a turning point from Naomi's previous despair to emerging hope, underscoring the divine provision even in dire circumstances.

Ruth 2 19 Context

Ruth chapter 2 unfolds the miraculous intertwining of divine providence and human kindness. Having recently arrived in Bethlehem with Naomi, Ruth, driven by necessity, sets out to glean in the fields to secure food for herself and her impoverished mother-in-law. Guided by the sovereign hand of God, Ruth "happens" upon the field belonging to Boaz, a respected and wealthy relative of Naomi's late husband. Throughout the day, Boaz observes Ruth's diligent work and noble character, demonstrating exceptional kindness beyond the required gleaning laws: he ensures her safety, offers water and food, and instructs his reapers to leave extra grain for her. Ruth, humbled by this unprecedented generosity, returns home at evening with a remarkably large amount of grain (an ephah, roughly 3/5 of a bushel or 22 liters), a quantity that far exceeds the typical gleaning harvest. This exceptional abundance prompts Naomi's inquiry in Ruth 2:19, signifying the turning point where Naomi recognizes that a benevolent force—divinely guided human kindness—is at play, moving her from her earlier despair and bitterness toward renewed hope and faith in God's providence.

Ruth 2 19 Word analysis

• And her mother-in-law (וַתֹּאמֶר לָהּ חֲמוֹתָהּ - vaṭōʾmer lāh ḥamōtāh): The bond between Naomi (the ḥamōt) and Ruth, tested in chapter 1, is affirmed. Naomi, as the elder and matriarch, holds a position of counsel and concern. Her question is borne out of care and observation of the substantial amount of grain.
• said to her: Direct and immediate communication, reflecting a close relationship and urgent inquiry.
• Where have you gleaned today? (אֵיפֹה לִקַּטְּ תּ י הַיּ וֹ ם - ʾēpōh liqqaṭṭet hayyōm): Naomi's first question focuses on the source of the exceptional harvest. Liqṭṭū refers to the specific act of gathering leftovers after harvesters, a provision for the poor mandated by God's Law (Lev 19:9-10; Deut 24:19). The large amount Ruth brought back clearly indicated a departure from ordinary gleaning, prompting Naomi's surprise and investigation into the extraordinary favor shown to Ruth.
• And where have you worked? (וְאָן עָשִׂית - vəʾān ʿāśît): This second question is broader, indicating Naomi's desire to understand the entirety of Ruth's day's activity. ʿĀśît means "to do" or "to work." It suggests more than just passive gleaning, implying involvement in the harvest or a specific benefactor's arrangements. It reflects Naomi's astuteness in seeking details beyond the mere act of gleaning.
• Blessed be the one (בָּרוּךְ הַמַּכִּיר אֹתָךְ - bārûkh hammaḥḥîr ʾōtākh): Naomi's spontaneous exclamation signifies her recognition of divine favor. Bārûkh is "blessed," often used in the context of praising God or wishing God's favor upon someone. This expresses a deep sense of gratitude, immediately linking the generosity shown to God's hand, echoing Israel's practice of acknowledging divine blessing in human acts of kindness.
• who took notice of you (הַמַּכִּיר אֹתָךְ - hammaḥḥîr ʾōtākh): The verb nakar (hikkīrēḵ) means "to recognize, acknowledge, discern," but also "to distinguish, to show favor or special attention." It suggests more than a passing glance; it implies intentional and benevolent regard. Naomi recognizes that someone specifically singled out Ruth and showed her preferential treatment, signifying that Ruth's circumstances had dramatically shifted for the better. This hints at God's hidden providential "recognition" of Ruth through human instruments.
• And she told her mother-in-law (וַתַּגֵּד כַּלָּתָהּ לַחֲמוֹתָהּ - vaṭṭaggeḏ kallātāh laḥamōtāh): Ruth's respectful and transparent answer to Naomi's questions, demonstrating her continuing obedience and trust in her mother-in-law.
• with whom she had worked (אֶת־אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂית עִמּוֹ - ʾet-ʾašer ʿāśît ʿimmô): Ruth's language mirrors Naomi's second question, emphasizing her interaction and not just her individual labor.
• The name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz (שֵׁם הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתִי עִמּוֹ הַיּוֹם בֹּעַז - šēm hāʾîš ʾašer ʿāśîtî ʿimmô hayyôm Bōʿaz): The crucial revelation. Naming Boaz shifts the narrative focus and allows Naomi to strategize their future. The name Boaz (בֹּעַז) is believed to mean "in him is strength" or "swiftness," a fitting description for a strong and generous man who would become central to the strength and future of Naomi's lineage. Ruth's emphasis on "the man" and "with whom I worked" highlights the personal nature of the kindness received, leading to the dramatic disclosure.

Ruth 2 19 Bonus section

This verse vividly illustrates the transition in Naomi's emotional and spiritual state. In chapter 1, she bitterly laments her misfortune, telling the women of Bethlehem to call her "Mara" (bitter) because the Almighty had dealt harshly with her. Here, in Ruth 2:19, her exclamation, "Blessed be the one who took notice of you," is a spontaneous outpouring of gratitude and a nascent recognition of God's renewed favor. This marks her first utterance of blessing (a form of baruch) since returning to Bethlehem, signaling a shift from despair to hopeful anticipation of God's continued kindness, setting the tone for Ruth 2:20 where her blessing extends to the Lord Himself for Boaz's ongoing faithfulness to the living and the dead. This dialogue also reveals Naomi's inherent spiritual shrewdness; she immediately connects Ruth's good fortune not just to chance, but to an act of kindness by an individual, which she quickly deduces to be divinely blessed. The specificity of her questions ("where did you glean? where did you work?") indicates her practical wisdom in navigating their dire economic circumstances and assessing opportunities.

Ruth 2 19 Commentary

Ruth 2:19 serves as a hinge verse, pivoting the narrative from Ruth's industrious gleaning to Naomi's reawakened hope and the unveiling of Boaz's character. Naomi's astute questions are more than mere curiosity; they represent a cautious inquiry into the unexpected abundance. Her spontaneous blessing is highly significant, showing that despite her previous despair, she still recognized God's hand in kindness shown. This immediate blessing, rather than directed to Ruth's effort, is for the one who "took notice," signaling that Naomi perceives the source of blessing not merely as human generosity, but as divinely orchestrated favor.

Ruth's humble and direct response in naming Boaz confirms the specific source of their changing fortune. This seemingly simple exchange establishes Boaz as the central male figure and sets in motion Naomi's plans for their future, particularly concerning a kinsman-redeemer. The verse subtly underscores that God's providence often operates not through dramatic miracles, but through the everyday acts of righteous and kind individuals who obey divine precepts, as Boaz exemplified by honoring the gleaning laws and exceeding them in generosity. It's a powerful lesson that hope can arise even in desperate situations through human connection fostered by God's guiding hand.