Ruth 3 6

Ruth 3:6 kjv

And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her.

Ruth 3:6 nkjv

So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law instructed her.

Ruth 3:6 niv

So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do.

Ruth 3:6 esv

So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her.

Ruth 3:6 nlt

So she went down to the threshing floor that night and followed the instructions of her mother-in-law.

Ruth 3 verses

Ruth 3 6 Meaning

Ruth 3:6 describes Ruth's faithful and obedient response to her mother-in-law Naomi's strategic command. She actively follows Naomi's instructions, taking a decisive step towards securing her future and continuing the family line, by approaching Boaz at the threshing floor under specific, discreet conditions. This verse is a pivotal moment, setting the stage for Boaz to act as a kinsman-redeemer.

Ruth 3 6 Context

Ruth chapter 3 initiates Naomi’s plan to secure a future for Ruth. Having gleaned in Boaz’s field in chapter 2, Ruth has already gained his favor. Naomi now takes the initiative, devising a strategic plan for Ruth to formally propose to Boaz in his capacity as a kinsman-redeemer (go’el). The setting is the threshing floor, a place typically outside the village where grain was separated from chaff during harvest. After the hard work, Boaz would likely sleep there to guard the harvested produce. Naomi's command involves a seemingly daring nighttime approach, emphasizing discretion and obedience, with the intent to invoke Boaz’s moral obligation and compassion. Verse 6 marks the beginning of Ruth's execution of this plan, highlighting her deep trust in Naomi and commitment to her family’s future, as she journeys to this specific, pivotal location.

Ruth 3 6 Word analysis

• So she went down
  • Meaning: Implies purposeful movement from the village to the threshing floor, which was typically located on a lower, flat area outside town.
  • Significance: It signifies Ruth's immediate and active response, demonstrating her resolve and lack of hesitation despite the unusual nature of the command. It's a physical embodiment of her obedience.
• to the threshing floor
  • Original Hebrew: גֹּרֶן ( gōren )
  • Meaning: An outdoor, leveled area, often made of hardened earth or rock, used for threshing and winnowing grain.
  • Significance: This specific location is crucial. During harvest, it was a place of abundance and a hub of activity. Boaz would be there with his workers, sleeping nearby to guard the valuable harvest. While it was a public work site by day, at night it offered a degree of privacy, suitable for Naomi's discreet plan. It also subtly ties into themes of provision and future abundance.
• and did just as
  • Meaning: Emphasizes exact and complete compliance. There was no deviation or partial fulfillment.
  • Significance: Ruth’s action shows unwavering loyalty and absolute trust in Naomi’s wisdom and intention. This unwavering obedience is a hallmark of her character throughout the book.
• her mother-in-law
  • Meaning: Naomi.
  • Significance: Underscores the continued theme of their deep familial bond and mutual loyalty. Ruth, despite her own foreign background, continues to fully embrace her commitment to Naomi.
• had commanded her
  • Original Hebrew: צִוְּתָהּ ( tsiwwətāh ), derived from the verb צָוָה ( tsāwāh )
  • Meaning: To give a firm instruction or order.
  • Significance: This was not a mere suggestion but a direct, authoritative instruction from Naomi, highlighting the serious and determined nature of the plan. Ruth's action, therefore, is an act of explicit obedience rather than just agreement. This demonstrates Ruth's submission and respect for Naomi’s counsel in securing her future.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "So she went down to the threshing floor": This phrase establishes the immediate execution of Naomi’s instructions and the precise location for the pivotal encounter. It marks Ruth's purposeful, physical movement towards the next stage of her destiny, driven by her trust in Naomi's plan. The threshing floor, being outside the village and a place of a specific, late-night agricultural routine, signifies the calculated risk and unique context of their plan.
• "and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her": This entire clause encapsulates the essence of Ruth's character—her unwavering faithfulness and obedience. It highlights her absolute submission to Naomi's counsel, confirming her role as a faithful participant in a potentially scandalous but honor-bound strategy. Her immediate and precise obedience is key to the unfolding of divine providence through human agency. This obedience is critical, as it underpins the entire sequence of events that follows, demonstrating Ruth's profound respect for Naomi and her commitment to securing a future for both of them within Israel.

Ruth 3 6 Bonus section

The threshing floor, traditionally a place of hard work, celebration, and abundant harvest, ironically becomes the secluded location where a marriage proposal, crucial for the continuity of a family line, unfolds. The narrative emphasizes Ruth's vulnerability and integrity; despite the unconventional setting and timing, her actions, guided by Naomi, maintain decorum. This moment is not about seduction, but about the activation of the kinsman-redeemer principle (go'el) in a time of desperation, appealing to honor and custom. Ruth’s faithful obedience, though risky, leads directly to divine favor and ultimately positions her in the lineage of David and, consequently, of Jesus Christ, highlighting how God often works through ordinary yet obedient human actions in extraordinary ways.

Ruth 3 6 Commentary

Ruth 3:6 is a verse of simple action yet profound significance, revealing Ruth’s complete and immediate obedience to Naomi’s detailed, daring instructions. Her journey to the threshing floor demonstrates her commitment to her family and her future, trusting completely in Naomi's wisdom despite the potential risks and unconventional nature of the plan. This obedience is not passive but an active, purposeful step that puts into motion the plan for redemption and security, setting the stage for Boaz's role as the kinsman-redeemer. It exemplifies the virtue of following counsel, even when it demands stepping out of one's comfort zone, underscoring Ruth’s unwavering faithfulness, which mirrors the greater story of God’s provision through obedient individuals.