Ruth 3:2 kjv
And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor.
Ruth 3:2 nkjv
Now Boaz, whose young women you were with, is he not our relative? In fact, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor.
Ruth 3:2 niv
Now Boaz, with whose women you have worked, is a relative of ours. Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor.
Ruth 3:2 esv
Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor.
Ruth 3:2 nlt
Boaz is a close relative of ours, and he's been very kind by letting you gather grain with his young women. Tonight he will be winnowing barley at the threshing floor.
Ruth 3 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ruth 1:16-17 | "Where you go I will go, and where you lodge..." | Ruth's unwavering loyalty and commitment to Naomi and her God. |
| Ruth 2:20 | "Blessed be he by the LORD, whose kindness has not forsaken..." | Naomi recognizes Boaz's kindness and notes his kinship earlier. |
| Ruth 3:1 | "My daughter, shall I not seek security for you..." | Naomi's deep love and intention to secure Ruth's future. |
| Ruth 3:5 | "All that you say to me I will do." | Ruth's immediate and faithful obedience to Naomi's difficult instructions. |
| Ruth 2:8-9 | "Do not go to glean in another field, or leave this one..." | Boaz's initial protection and care for Ruth on his farm. |
| Ruth 2:22-23 | "It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women..." | Reinforces the safe and favorable environment Boaz had already provided Ruth. |
| Lev 25:25 | "If one of your brothers becomes poor...then his kinsman..." | Establishes the legal framework and duty of a kinsman-redeemer (Goel). |
| Lev 25:48-49 | "...one of his kinsmen may redeem him." | Expands the goel concept to include redeeming a relative from slavery. |
| Num 35:19 | "The avenger of blood shall himself put the murderer to death..." | Shows the protective and retaliatory aspect of the goel role concerning justice. |
| Deut 25:5-10 | "If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son..." | Defines the law of levirate marriage, fundamental to Naomi's plan. |
| Jer 32:6-8 | "...Hanameel my uncle's son came to me..." | Example of a relative's right and duty to redeem land. |
| Prov 16:9 | "The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps." | Illustrates divine providence guiding human strategic actions. |
| Psa 37:3-5 | "Trust in the LORD, and do good..." | Echoes Ruth's demonstrated trust and righteous obedience. |
| Eph 1:7 | "In him we have redemption through his blood..." | Points to Christ as the ultimate kinsman-redeemer for humanity. |
| Col 1:13-14 | "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us..." | Highlights the spiritual redemption through Jesus Christ. |
| Matt 1:5 | "and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth..." | Confirms Boaz's pivotal place in the ancestral lineage of Jesus Christ. |
| Luke 3:32 | "...the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon..." | Further validates Boaz's position in the lineage of David and Jesus. |
| Prov 31:10-31 | Description of the noble wife. | Ruth embodies the qualities of a "woman of valor" sought by Boaz (Ruth 3:11). |
| Gen 24:3-4 | Abraham seeks a wife for Isaac from his kinsmen. | Underscores the ancient Israelite emphasis on marrying within kinship lines. |
| Isa 44:22 | "I have blotted out your transgressions...redeem yourself..." | Broad spiritual theme of redemption and restoration by God. |
| Gen 48:16 | "The Angel who has redeemed me from all evil..." | Jacob's testimony recognizing God as his personal Redeemer. |
| Gal 4:4-5 | "God sent forth his Son...to redeem those who were under the law..." | The ultimate redemptive act of God sending Jesus to redeem His people. |
| Isa 59:20 | "And a Redeemer will come to Zion..." | Prophetic declaration of God sending a Redeemer to His people. |
| 1 Pet 5:7 | "Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." | Relates to Naomi seeking provision and security through wise action rooted in trust. |
| Neh 5:8 | "We have ransomed our Jewish brothers who had been sold..." | Example of an act of redemption performed by one of their own people. |
Ruth 3 verses
Ruth 3 2 Meaning
Naomi reminds Ruth of Boaz's established familial relationship as their relative, a vital piece of information foundational to her proposed plan. This verse serves as Naomi's logical starting point, re-establishing Boaz's connection to them and reminding Ruth of the positive experiences she already had with his servants, laying the groundwork for her bold instruction regarding the threshing floor.
Ruth 3 2 Context
This verse appears in Ruth Chapter 3, a pivotal turning point following Ruth's consistent labor in Boaz's field (Chapter 2). Naomi, having recognized Boaz as a potential kinsman-redeemer (goel) after hearing Ruth's report in 2:20, now takes the initiative to secure Ruth's future and lineage for their family line. Historically, Israelite society placed high importance on family lineage and the protection of widows through laws like the levirate marriage and the kinsman-redeemer, which preserved property and provided heirs. Naomi's carefully calculated instructions to Ruth, starting with Boaz's identity as "our kinsman," leverage these societal structures to achieve security for Ruth and a future for the line of Elimelech, who was Ruth's deceased father-in-law.
Ruth 3 2 Word analysis
And now (וְעַתָּה, v'attah): This transitional phrase signals a logical progression or conclusion based on previous information, particularly Ruth's report about Boaz's kindness and the recognition of his kinship. It indicates Naomi's strategic shift from passively accepting divine provision (through gleaning) to actively pursuing the legal and social mechanism of redemption and securing a future for Ruth. It marks a moment of intentional planning and action.
is not (הֲלֹוא, Hă-lo): This is a rhetorical question that anticipates and strongly expects an affirmative answer, meaning "Is it not true...?" Naomi uses it to bring a known and accepted fact—Boaz's kinship—to the forefront of Ruth's mind, emphasizing its undeniable truth and pivotal importance for the unfolding plan. It shows Naomi is reasoning with Ruth based on shared understanding.
Boaz (בֹּעַז, Bo'az): A proper name, commonly understood to mean "in him is strength" or "swiftness." Boaz embodies the ideal qualities for a kinsman-redeemer: strength, wealth, righteousness, generosity, and integrity. His very name seems to foreshadow his robust character and vital role in the redemptive narrative. He is presented as a strong, capable man divinely positioned in the lineage of King David and, ultimately, Christ.
our kinsman (לָנוּ הוּא מוֹדַעַת, lanu hu' mōḏaʿat): The Hebrew term moda'ath here specifically refers to an "acquaintance," "relative," or "one known." While not the technical legal term goel (kinsman-redeemer), it explicitly states Boaz's established familial relationship to Naomi and Ruth. By emphasizing this tie, Naomi establishes the legitimate and culturally understood basis for their subsequent actions, invoking the informal duties and, implicitly, the legal obligations associated with close kinship in Israelite society. This connection is fundamental for the concept of redemption to be formally invoked later.
with whose young women you were: This phrase brings to mind Boaz's previous protective actions and gracious provision for Ruth (Ruth 2:8-9, 22-23). It serves to reassure Ruth, establishing that Boaz is not a stranger but someone who has already demonstrated kindness, honor, and care for her well-being. This past interaction reinforces his good character, makes him approachable, and lays a foundation for the trust necessary for Naomi's bold plan to proceed.
Words-group analysis:
- "And now, is not Boaz our kinsman?": This strategic opening is a direct, persuasive appeal by Naomi to Ruth, grounded in an undeniable fact of kinship. It skillfully shifts the narrative's focus from mere survival to intentional family restoration and redemption, immediately establishing the cultural and legal basis for the unconventional plan Naomi is about to reveal.
- "our kinsman, with whose young women you were?": This combination connects the abstract idea of family relation (moda'ath) with concrete, positive experiences. It underlines that Boaz is not merely a distant relative, but one who has already proven his integrity and care for Ruth's welfare, making him the suitable and trustworthy candidate for the crucial kinsman-redeemer role Naomi desires him to fill.
Ruth 3 2 Bonus section
The Hebrew word moda'ath in Ruth 3:2, meaning "relative" or "acquaintance," is carefully chosen by Naomi. It sets the groundwork for the more technical legal term goel (kinsman-redeemer), which will be used in Ruth 3:9 and subsequent verses. Naomi begins by establishing the general familial connection before progressively moving towards the specific, actionable legal obligation of the goel. This linguistic precision indicates that Naomi's plan is not an impulsive act, but a calculated strategy within the parameters of Israelite law and custom, demonstrating her wisdom in restoring the household of Elimelech through lawful means and strategic action. This intentional phrasing allows for a natural progression in Boaz's understanding and acceptance of his redemptive duty.
Ruth 3 2 Commentary
Ruth 3:2 represents a crucial turning point, signaling Naomi's intentional move from grieving loss to active intervention for her family's future. By affirming Boaz's indisputable kinship with a rhetorical question, Naomi provides a necessary cultural and legal justification for her bold strategy at the threshing floor. Her plan, while seemingly unconventional for the time, is rooted deeply in the levirate law and the kinsman-redeemer concept, demonstrating her shrewd wisdom and profound love for Ruth. This verse underscores the divine providence operating through human initiative and existing societal structures, setting the stage for the dramatic, yet pure, redemption that will unfold, culminating in the restoration of a family line crucial to salvation history.