Ruth 3 9

Ruth 3:9 kjv

And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.

Ruth 3:9 nkjv

And he said, "Who are you?" So she answered, "I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative."

Ruth 3:9 niv

"Who are you?" he asked. "I am your servant Ruth," she said. "Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family."

Ruth 3:9 esv

He said, "Who are you?" And she answered, "I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer."

Ruth 3:9 nlt

"Who are you?" he asked. "I am your servant Ruth," she replied. "Spread the corner of your covering over me, for you are my family redeemer."

Ruth 3 verses

Ruth 3 9 Meaning

Ruth 3:9 encapsulates Ruth's bold yet humble request for Boaz to assume the role of kinsman-redeemer for her and Naomi, symbolizing a plea for protection, provision, and marriage. Her actions, guided by Naomi's counsel, initiate the process for securing their future and preserving the family line through the vital covenant responsibility of the go'el. This moment is a pivot point where faith, covenant law, and divine providence converge to ensure their restoration.

Ruth 3 9 Context

Ruth 3:9 takes place on the threshing floor, a site of harvest and common labor, where Boaz sleeps near his valuable grain. Naomi, astute in her cultural understanding and concerned for Ruth's future, orchestrated this nocturnal encounter. She instructs Ruth to uncover Boaz’s feet and lie there, a symbolic gesture signifying vulnerability and a respectful appeal within the customary framework. Ruth's actions, though bold for a single woman approaching a man at night, are driven by pious obedience to Naomi and an earnest desire for a legitimate future. Her words are not an act of seduction, but a direct appeal for Boaz to exercise his go'el responsibility—a legally and morally binding role for the closest male relative to protect and redeem family land and lineage. This context sets up a critical moment for the preservation of Elimelech’s lineage and the larger redemptive plan of God leading to King David.

Ruth 3 9 Word analysis

• And she said, “I am Ruth, your servant.”

  • "I am Ruth": Direct, simple identification, yet profound. It emphasizes her foreign background but also her present loyal commitment (Ruth 1:16-17, 2:11), and aligns with Boaz's previous knowledge of her (Ruth 2:11).
  • "your servant": Ruth positions herself humbly (āmāh, אָמָה), a female servant or bondwoman. This reflects humility, submissiveness, and acknowledges Boaz's social status and authority. It sets the tone for a respectful plea, not a demand.

• "Spread your cloak over your servant"

  • "Spread": The verb pāras (פָּרַשׂ) means to spread out, extend, or stretch out. It implies an act of covering or encompassing.
  • "your cloak": The Hebrew word kānāp (כָּנָף) literally means "wing," "extremity," or "border." In this context, it refers to the "skirt" or "corner" of Boaz's garment, a piece of fabric often used symbolically.
    • Significance 1: Protection & Refuge: Just as birds protect their young under their wings (Psa 91:4, Ruth 2:12), the spreading of the cloak symbolizes an act of shelter, protection, and provision. Ruth, as a vulnerable widow, seeks this security.
    • Significance 2: Marital Proposal & Covenant: The act of spreading one's cloak over a woman was a well-established custom, signifying the public claim of a man over a woman, specifically a proposal of marriage and taking her into his protection as his wife. Eze 16:8 is a powerful biblical parallel where God says to Israel, "I spread my cloak over you and covered your nakedness; indeed, I swore to you and entered into a covenant with you." Thus, Ruth is proposing marriage by seeking to be united with Boaz under his marital and protective covering.

• "for you are a redeemer."

  • "for you are": The causal particle kī (כִּי) "for" introduces the foundational reason for her request.
  • "a redeemer": The key Hebrew term is go'el (גֹּאֵל). This is not merely a "relative" but a specific kinsman who had legal and moral obligations within Israelite society.
    • Function: The go'el was responsible for defending family honor and rights. This included redeeming property lost by a family member (Lev 25:25), avenging blood (Num 35:19), and, critically in this context, perpetuating the family name of a deceased relative, particularly through levirate marriage if there was no son (Deut 25:5-10).
    • Significance in Ruth: Ruth’s plea specifically invokes Boaz's responsibility as the go'el to raise up offspring for the deceased Elimelech (Naomi's late husband), thus ensuring the continuation of his family line and providing a rightful heir for their inheritance. This position links the human act of redemption directly to the broader theological concept of God as the ultimate Redeemer (Isa 43:1).

Ruth 3 9 Bonus section

The seemingly precarious situation of Ruth at Boaz’s feet on the threshing floor could be misinterpreted as immoral. However, a careful reading of the Hebrew text and cultural context clarifies that this was a carefully orchestrated, symbolic act within Israelite social and legal norms, signifying a humble request for marriage and go'el duties, rather than seduction. Boaz's immediate and righteous response confirms that he understood the pure intent behind Ruth's appeal, appreciating her virtue and fidelity. This entire sequence is a beautiful illustration of the principle that genuine piety often involves stepping out in faith within the boundaries of God's covenant principles, trusting in His provision even through seemingly vulnerable positions.

Ruth 3 9 Commentary

Ruth 3:9 is the climax of Ruth's faithful obedience and Naomi's shrewd strategy. Ruth's bold request on the threshing floor, though audacious, was a profoundly humble and culturally understood appeal rooted in her deep trust in Boaz's righteous character and the legal framework of the go'el system. Her statement, "Spread your cloak over your servant, for you are a redeemer," seamlessly intertwines a desperate plea for protection and provision with an unequivocal marriage proposal within the honorable, divinely appointed role of the kinsman-redeemer. It reveals Ruth's commitment not only to her own future but also to Naomi's and the preservation of Elimelech's lineage. Boaz’s reaction in the subsequent verses confirms his understanding of her pure intentions and her unwavering character, ultimately paving the way for the lineage of King David and, ultimately, Christ, illustrating divine providence at work through human faithfulness and established legal customs.