Boaz

1Naomi had a relative on her husband's side of the family. He was rich and well respected. He came from the same family as Elimelech, Naomi's husband. His name was Boaz.

And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.

NoteA relative is someone in your family, like a cousin or uncle. Back then relatives were supposed to help each other. Elimelech was Naomi's husband, and he had died.

2Ruth came from the land of Moab. She said to Naomi, "Let me go out to the fields. I will pick up the grain the workers drop and leave behind. Maybe someone will be kind and let me do it." Naomi said, "Go ahead, my daughter."

And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.

NoteMoab was a country near Israel. Ruth grew up there, so people in Bethlehem saw her as a stranger. God had given Israel a rule to help hungry people. Farmers had to leave some grain in the field on purpose. Poor people could walk behind the workers and pick it up. That is called gleaning. The old Bible calls the grain "corn," but it does not mean corn on the cob. It means barley or wheat, the seeds bread is made from.

3So Ruth went out and picked up grain behind the workers. It happened that she came to a field that belonged to Boaz. Boaz was part of Elimelech's family.

And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.

NoteThe workers cut the tall grain with a curved knife called a sickle. Whatever they dropped stayed on the ground.

4Just then Boaz came out from Bethlehem. He said to the workers, "May the LORD be with you." They answered, "May the LORD bless you."

And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee.

NoteWhen you see LORD in big letters, it is God's own special name. "The LORD be with you" was a friendly hello, like "God bless you."

5Boaz asked the man in charge of the workers, "Who is that young woman?"

Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this?

6The man in charge said, "She is the young woman from Moab. She came back with Naomi from the land of Moab."

And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab:

7"She asked if she could pick up grain among the bundles, behind the workers. She has been working from morning until now. She only rested a short time in the house."

And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house.

NoteThe bundles are sheaves, cut grain tied up in bunches.

8Then Boaz said to Ruth, "Listen, my daughter. Do not go pick up grain in anyone else's field. Do not go away from here. Stay close to my servant girls."

Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens:

NoteBoaz calls Ruth "my daughter" because she is much younger. She is not really his daughter. It was a kind way to speak.

9"Watch the field where the men are cutting grain. Follow along behind the girls. I have told the young men not to bother you. When you are thirsty, go drink from the water jars they filled."

Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.

NoteThere were no faucets. Workers carried water from a well in big clay jars. Boaz told his men not to bother Ruth. A woman working alone in a strange field could be treated badly.

10Ruth bowed down low with her face to the ground. She said to him, "Why are you so kind to me? Why do you even notice me? I come from another country."

Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?

NoteBowing with your face to the ground was a way of saying a big thank you. It showed great respect to an important person.

11Boaz answered her, "People have told me all about you. I know what you have done for Naomi since your husband died. You left your own father and mother. You left the land where you were born. You came to live with people you did not know before."

And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.

NoteLeaving your own country then was a very big thing. Travel was slow and hard. Most people never saw their family again.

12"May the LORD pay you back for what you have done. May the God of Israel give you a full reward. You came to him for safety, the way a small bird hides under a wing."

The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.

NoteA mother bird spreads her wings over her babies to keep them safe. Boaz is saying God keeps Ruth safe the same way.

13Ruth said, "You are very kind to me, sir. Your words have comforted me. You spoke gently to me, and I am only a servant. I am not even one of your servant girls."

Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens.

NoteA servant did the work in someone's house or field. Ruth is saying she is not important, so Boaz did not have to be nice to her.

14At mealtime Boaz said to her, "Come over here. Have some bread. Dip it in the sour wine." So she sat down beside the workers. He handed her some roasted grain. She ate all she wanted, and there was still some left.

And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left.

NoteThis vinegar was sour wine mixed for dipping. People dipped bread in it, a little like dipping bread in sauce. Roasted grain was grain cooked over a fire. It was a common snack, crunchy like popcorn.

15When Ruth got up to gather grain again, Boaz gave his young men an order. He said, "Let her gather grain even close to the bundles. Do not say unkind things to her."

And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not:

NoteThe workers tied the cut grain into bundles called sheaves. Usually a person gleaning had to stay away from the bundles. Boaz let Ruth come close, which was extra kind.

16"Pull some grain out of the bundles on purpose. Leave it on the ground for her to pick up. Do not scold her."

And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.

17So Ruth gathered grain in the field until evening. Then she beat the grain loose from the stalks. She had about an ephah of barley.

So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.

NoteGrain seeds hold tight to the dry stalks. You hit the stalks with a stick to shake the seeds loose. An ephah was a measure, about as much grain as a big bucket holds. It weighed around thirty pounds. That was much more than one day of gleaning usually gave.

18She carried the grain into the town. Her husband's mother saw how much she had gathered. Ruth also gave her the food she had saved from her meal.

And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed.

19Naomi asked her, "Where did you gather grain today? Where did you work? May God bless the man who noticed you." So Ruth told her where she had worked. She said, "The man I worked with today is named Boaz."

And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man’s name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz.

20Naomi said to Ruth, "May the LORD bless him! He has kept on being kind to us. He is kind to the living and to those who have died." Then Naomi said, "That man is a close relative. He is one of the men who can help and protect our family."

And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.

NoteIn Israel a close relative had a special job. He could buy back family land that was lost. He could marry a widow so the family would not die out. Naomi means Boaz is one of those helpers. Being kind "to the dead" means caring for the family of people who had died.

21Ruth, the woman from Moab, said, "He told me something else too. He said, 'Stay close to my young men until they finish all my harvest.'"

And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.

22Naomi said to Ruth, "That is good, my daughter. Go out with his servant girls. Then no one will hurt you in some other field."

And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter in law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field.

NoteA woman gleaning alone in a strange field could be hurt or chased away. In Boaz's field the workers had orders to leave Ruth alone.

23So Ruth stayed close to the servant girls of Boaz. She gathered grain until the barley harvest and the wheat harvest were over. And she lived with Naomi, her husband's mother.

So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law.

NoteBarley was cut first, then wheat a few weeks later. Together the two harvests lasted about two or three months.

1Naomi was the mother of Ruth's husband. She said, "My daughter, let me find you a safe home. Then life will be good for you."

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

NoteIn those days a woman with no husband had a hard life. She had no way to earn food. The old word "rest" means a safe home of her own. Ruth's husband was Naomi's son. He had died earlier in this book.

2"Boaz is part of our family. You worked with the young women who work for him. Tonight he is at the threshing floor. He is tossing barley in the air so the wind blows the husks away."

And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor.

NoteA threshing floor was a flat, hard patch of ground outside. Farmers beat the grain there to knock the seeds loose. Barley is a grain that people ground up to make bread. Boaz slept beside his grain at night to keep it safe.

3"So wash yourself. Put on sweet-smelling oil. Put on your clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor. Do not let Boaz know you are there. Wait until he has finished eating and drinking."

Wash 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.

NotePeople rubbed sweet-smelling oil on their skin. It was like perfume today.

4"Watch where he lies down to sleep. Then go over, uncover his feet, and lie down there. He will tell you what to do next."

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

NoteLying down at a man's feet was a quiet way to ask him for help. Ruth is asking Boaz to marry her and care for her family.

5Ruth said to her, "I will do everything you say."

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

6So she went down to the threshing floor. She did just what Naomi had told her.

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

7Boaz finished eating and drinking, and he felt happy. He lay down at the end of the pile of grain. Ruth came in quietly. She uncovered his feet and lay down there.

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

NoteThe old words say "heap of corn." In 1611 "corn" meant any grain, like barley or wheat. It does not mean corn on the cob.

8In the middle of the night, Boaz woke up with a start. He turned over. A woman was lying at his feet.

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

9He said, "Who are you?" She said, "I am Ruth, your servant. Spread the corner of your coat over me. You are a close relative who can take care of me."

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.

Note"Handmaid" means a servant. Ruth says it to be polite. The old word "skirt" means the corner of his coat. Spreading your coat over someone meant "I will take care of you." A near kinsman was a close relative with a special job. He could buy back family land. He could also marry a widow so her family did not lose everything.

10Boaz said, "May the LORD bless you, my daughter. You have been even kinder now than you were before. You did not go after young men, rich or poor."

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

NoteWhen LORD is written in big letters, it stands for God's own name. Boaz calls Ruth "my daughter" because he is older. It is a kind way to speak.

11"Do not be afraid, my daughter. I will do everything you ask. Everyone in our town knows you are a good woman."

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

NoteThe old word "virtuous" means strong and good. Boaz is saying Ruth is brave and kind.

12"It is true that I am a close relative who can help you. But there is one man who is even closer in the family."

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

NoteThe rules said the closest relative got the first chance to help. So Boaz must ask that man first.

13"Stay here tonight. In the morning we will find out. If he will help you as your relative should, that is good. Let him do it. If he will not, then I will do it. I promise, as surely as the LORD lives. Now lie down until morning."

Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if 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, as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning.

Note"As the LORD liveth" was a very strong promise. It means "I really will do this."

14She lay at his feet until morning. She got up while it was still too dark to tell one person from another. Boaz said, "No one must know that a woman came to the threshing floor."

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.

15He also said, "Bring me the shawl you are wearing. Hold it open." She held it open. He poured six measures of barley into it and lifted it onto her. Then she went into the town.

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

NoteThe old word "vail" here means a shawl. It was a big cloth worn over the head and shoulders. It could also be held open like a bag. We do not know exactly how much six measures was. It was heavy, enough grain to feed Ruth and Naomi for many days.

16Ruth came back to Naomi. Naomi asked, "How did it go, my daughter?" Ruth told her everything Boaz had done for her.

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.

NoteThe old words say "Who art thou?" Naomi knows who Ruth is. It was her way of asking, "How did it go?"

17She said, "He gave me these six measures of barley. He said, 'Do not go back to your mother-in-law with empty hands.'"

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

NoteSending Ruth home with grain was a sign. It showed Boaz meant to keep his promise.

18Naomi said, "Wait, my daughter, until you know how this turns out. That man will not rest. He will settle it today."

Then said she, Sit 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.

Note"Sit still" means wait. Naomi is not telling Ruth to sit down.

1Boaz went to the town gate and sat down there. The close relative he had talked about came by. Boaz said, "Come over here, friend. Sit down." So the man came and sat down.

Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.

NoteThe town gate was like a town hall. People met there to buy, sell, and settle arguments. In Israel a close relative had a special job. He was supposed to help family members who were poor or in trouble.

2Boaz called ten of the town's leaders. He said, "Sit down here." So they sat down.

And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.

NoteThe town leaders were older men people trusted. Having ten of them watch made the deal official.

3Boaz said to the relative, "Naomi has come back from the land of Moab. She is selling the piece of land that belonged to our relative Elimelech.

And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech’s:

NoteMoab was a country next to Israel, across the Dead Sea. The people there were not Israelites. A family's land was supposed to stay in that family. If they had to sell it, a relative bought it back.

4I thought I should tell you. You can buy it back here, in front of these people and leaders. If you want to buy it, buy it. If you do not, tell me so I know. You are first in line to buy it, and I come next." The man said, "I will buy it."

And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.

Note"Buy it back" means paying money so the land returns to the family. That way the family does not lose it forever.

5Then Boaz said, "On the day you buy the land from Naomi, you also take Ruth. Ruth came from Moab, and her husband died. Her first son will carry the dead man's name and keep his land."

Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.

NoteThis was an old rule in Israel. If a man died with no children, a relative married his widow. Their first son was counted as the dead man's son. That son grew up and kept the dead man's land.

6The relative said, "Then I cannot buy it. It would hurt my own family land. You take my turn and buy it. I cannot."

And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.

NoteFathers passed their land down to their sons. This man was afraid he would have less land left for his own children. Family land was land handed down in a family, from parents to children.

7Long ago in Israel, people did something to make a deal certain. A man pulled off his sandal and handed it to the other man. That showed everyone the deal was final.

Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel.

NoteThere were no papers to sign back then. Handing over your sandal in front of people meant "this deal is done." It worked like writing your name today.

8So the relative said to Boaz, "Buy it yourself." And he pulled off his sandal.

Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe.

9Boaz said to the leaders and all the people, "You all saw this today. I have bought from Naomi everything that belonged to Elimelech, Chilion, and Mahlon.

And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi.

Note"You all saw this" means the people were witnesses. Their eyes and memories were the proof the deal really happened.

10I have also taken Ruth to be my wife. She came from Moab, and her husband Mahlon died. Her son will carry Mahlon's name and keep his land. So Mahlon's name will not be forgotten in his town. You all saw this today."

Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.

NotePeople wanted their family name to keep going after they died. A son carried that name on. Boaz promised that Mahlon's name would keep going.

11All the people at the gate and the leaders said, "We saw it. May the LORD make this woman like Rachel and Leah. Those two mothers built up the families of Israel. May you do well in Ephratah and be known in Bethlehem.

And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem:

NoteThe word LORD in capital letters is God's own name in this book. Rachel and Leah were two sisters long before this. Their children grew into the families of Israel. Ephratah was another name for the area around Bethlehem.

12Long ago Tamar had a son named Pharez, and Judah was his father. May your family grow strong like that family. May the LORD give you children by this young woman."

And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman.

NoteJudah was one of the sons of Israel long ago. Tamar was in his family, and their son was named Pharez. Pharez's family grew very large and strong.

13So Boaz married Ruth, and she became his wife. The LORD let her have a baby, and she gave birth to a son.

So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son.

14The women said to Naomi, "Praise the LORD! Today he gave you a family helper. May his name be known all over Israel.

And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.

NoteA family helper is a relative whose job was to take care of his family. The women mean this baby will grow up and care for Naomi.

15He will make you glad again. He will care for you when you are old. Your son's wife loves you. She is better to you than seven sons, and she gave him birth."

And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.

NoteBack then, having seven sons was the very best thing people could imagine. Saying Ruth is better than seven sons was very high praise.

16Naomi took the baby and held him close. She helped take care of him.

And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it.

NoteNaomi is the baby's grandmother. She held him and helped feed and care for him.

17The women next door gave him a name. They said, "Naomi has a son!" They called him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of David.

And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

NoteUsually the father chose a baby's name. Here the neighbor women gave the name, which was unusual. David grew up to be the most famous king of Israel.