Ruth 3 14

Ruth 3:14 kjv

And 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.

Ruth 3:14 nkjv

So she lay at his feet until morning, and she arose before one could recognize another. Then he said, "Do not let it be known that the woman came to the threshing floor."

Ruth 3:14 niv

So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before anyone could be recognized; and he said, "No one must know that a woman came to the threshing floor."

Ruth 3:14 esv

So she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one could recognize another. And he said, "Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor."

Ruth 3:14 nlt

So Ruth lay at Boaz's feet until the morning, but she got up before it was light enough for people to recognize each other. For Boaz had said, "No one must know that a woman was here at the threshing floor."

Ruth 3 verses

Ruth 3 14 Meaning

Ruth 3:14 describes a discreet transition at the threshing floor. Ruth remained at Boaz's side until the early hours of morning. She then departed while it was still dark, ensuring no one could clearly distinguish her identity. This secrecy was initiated by Boaz to safeguard both their reputations and prevent any rumor or scandal regarding a woman being found at his private sleeping place on the threshing floor, especially before the proper legal and social procedures for their union were completed. His actions demonstrate his integrity and his commitment to protecting Ruth's honor and the future of their redemption process.

Ruth 3 14 Context

Ruth 3:14 is set on the threshing floor during the barley harvest, following Naomi’s strategic instruction to Ruth to approach Boaz at night (Ruth 3:1-4). This encounter is a pivotal moment in Ruth’s quest for redemption and a home within Israel. Ruth has appealed to Boaz to act as a family redeemer, and she lay at his feet (Ruth 3:7), signaling her request for covering and marriage. The immediate verses (Ruth 3:10-13) reveal Boaz’s righteous response: he acknowledges Ruth's virtuous character, affirms his willingness to redeem her, but also identifies a closer kinsman-redeemer. Against the backdrop of a potentially compromising situation—a man and woman alone at night in a culturally significant yet vulnerable place like the threshing floor—Boaz acts with exceptional integrity. His instruction in Ruth 3:14 to keep the visit secret highlights his deep concern for honor and the avoidance of scandal, ensuring that the legal and social processes unfold without blemish on their reputations. This act further establishes Boaz as a man of great character and integrity.

Ruth 3 14 Word analysis

• She lay: vatishkav (ותִּשְׁכַּב). From the verb shakhav (שׁכף), meaning "to lie down," "sleep." In some biblical contexts, it can imply sexual relations, but here, the full context and Boaz's subsequent actions firmly rule out impropriety. Ruth's action is an act of submission, seeking protection and indicating her request for him to act as redeemer, in continuity with the action of "uncovering his feet" (Ruth 3:7). It represents her vulnerable and trusting appeal.
• at his feet: A posture of humble petition, seeking refuge, protection, and acknowledgment of a lord's authority or care. It signifies her seeking "covering" from him (Ruth 3:9), meaning a marital protection or security, underscoring her dependence and trust.
• until morning: Indicates a specific period of time, emphasizing the duration of her stay and implying Boaz's self-control and their shared waiting for the opportune moment for her departure.
• but arose: vatakam (ותָּקָם). From the verb qum (קום), "to rise up," "stand up." This signifies the active end of her submissive posture and the beginning of her journey home, dictated by the dawn and Boaz's command for discretion.
• before one could recognize another: This phrase implies lingering darkness or twilight. The Hebrew for "recognize" is nakar (נכר), meaning to perceive, to discern, to acknowledge. It points to the time when visual identification is difficult. This period ensures anonymity, vital for protecting their reputations. This direct phrasing emphasizes that the secrecy was for both of them, and for their standing within the community.
• for he said: This indicates that Boaz took the initiative and commanded the discretion. It reveals his concern for propriety and his decisive leadership in protecting Ruth and their future.
• 'Let it not be known: Emphasizes Boaz's concern for public perception and their reputation. The goren (threshing floor) was a site of communal work and harvest celebration, but it could also be isolated and prone to improper behavior, contrasting with Israelite laws of purity. Boaz's concern here is not for an illicit act to be hidden, but for the honorable process to proceed without any false accusations or appearances of impropriety that could ruin their "good name." This polemically demonstrates his purity in contrast to what could be expected from a non-Torah-abiding culture in similar situations (e.g., pagan harvest festivals with potential immorality).
• that the woman came to the threshing floor.': Specific focus on "the woman" (Ruth), highlighting her vulnerability and the potential for gossip or shame upon her. A woman found alone at a man's sleeping place, particularly at a threshing floor which had a reputation as a place where the unwary might stumble (as shown in Hosea 9:1, where threshing floors are associated with idolatry and prostitution), would bring severe disgrace in ancient society. Boaz's instruction protects Ruth's integrity, ensuring that no shadow of suspicion falls upon her character, which was crucial for a successful and honorable marriage proposal and for Naomi's strategic plan.

Ruth 3 14 Bonus section

• God's Sovereignty in Discretion: This verse highlights how God's divine plan can work through human discretion and uprightness. Boaz's secretive yet honorable action facilitates a public and legal redemption without compromising integrity, showcasing God working behind the scenes.
• Boaz as a Type: Boaz's protective and discreet actions align with the qualities of a good redeemer. He covers Ruth, takes responsibility, and protects her honor, providing a foreshadowing of Christ's redemptive and protective work for His Bride, the Church, by shielding her from shame.
• The Significance of Reputation: For a widowed foreign woman like Ruth, maintaining an impeccable reputation was paramount for her acceptance and marriage within the Israelite community. Boaz's concern underlines the critical value placed on social and moral standing in that culture, which directly impacts a person's future and perceived worthiness.

Ruth 3 14 Commentary

Ruth 3:14 serves as a testament to Boaz's unwavering righteousness and Ruth's unshakeable trust. In a situation rife with potential for scandal, Boaz demonstrates the highest moral character. He resists temptation, showing integrity consistent with a man devoted to God's law. His insistence on discretion before sunrise is not about hiding sin, but about preventing the appearance of evil and safeguarding the reputations of both Ruth and himself within their close-knit community. This act was crucial, as public opinion heavily influenced a person's standing, especially regarding marriage negotiations. By prioritizing honor and the avoidance of gossip, Boaz ensures the subsequent redemption process can unfold with dignity and transparency, allowing God’s providential plan to continue without human blemish. It showcases practical wisdom, ethical responsibility, and genuine care for the vulnerable, serving as a powerful counter-example to the moral laxity sometimes associated with harvest festivals in ancient pagan societies.