Self-interpreting Bible

« back to list of books

« back to list of chapters

Ruth 3

1By Naomi's instruction, 6Ruth layeth herself in the night at the feet of Boaz; who acknowledgeth the duty of a kinsman, but telleth her of one who had a prior claim. 14He sendeth her home in the morning with six measures of barley.


1 THEN Naomi her mother in law said unto her, aMy daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?

2 And bnow is not Boaz of our ckindred, dwith whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor.

3 eWash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy *raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.

4 And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and 1uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.

  • 1: Or, lift up the clothes that are on his feet, Ju. 3.24. Ro. 13.14. , Ju. 3:24 , Ro. 13:14

5 And she said unto her, fAll that thou sayest unto me I will do.

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

  • *: bade-told.

7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and ghis heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she hcame softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down.

8 ¶And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and 2turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet.

  • 2: Or, took hold on.

9 And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth ithine handmaid: jspread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art 3a near kinsman.

10 And he said, kBlessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast shewed lmore kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.

11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou *requirest: for all the 4city of my people doth know that thou art a mvirtuous woman.

12 And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit nthere is a kinsman nearer than I.

13 Tarry this night, and it shall be oin the morning, that pif he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, qas the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning.

14 ¶And she rlay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, sLet it not be known that a woman came into the floor.

15 Also he said, Bring the 5vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, the measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city.

16 And when she came to her mother in law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her.

    17 And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law.

      18 Then said she, uSit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.