Ruth 2
23 verses
Ruth gleans in the fields of Boaz, a kinsman of Elimelech, working among the grain left for the poor and the sojourner—a practice mandated by Torah (Leviticus 19:9-10, Deuteronomy 24:19) and central to Israel's covenantal ethic of justice toward the vulnerable. Boaz notices Ruth, praises her kindness toward Naomi, and welcomes her to glean in his fields (2:8-9), offering her protection and provision; when Ruth asks why he has shown her such favor (2:10), Boaz responds that her actions and reputation have come to his attention (2:11-12), suggesting that Ruth's ḥesed (covenant loyalty) is visible and rewarded even in a land where she is a foreigner. The chapter portrays Boaz as a man of integrity and kindness ('mighty man of valor,' 2:1, combining strength with virtue), and Ruth's industriousness (she gleaned an ephah of grain, a substantial amount) demonstrates her character as one who refuses idleness and contributes to the household's sustenance. The narrative illustrates the principle that covenant fidelity (Ruth's loyalty to Naomi, her faithful labor) generates blessing and that providence works through human decency and social justice, not through miraculous intervention.
VERSES IN THIS CHAPTER
1
And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.
0 2Open verse page →
We bring nothing; He provides everything.. Reading the Psalms alongside this gives a fuller picture of what the author w...
2
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.
1 4Open verse page →
3
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.
0 2Open verse page →
4
And, behold, Boaz came from Beth–lehem, and said unto the reapers, The Lord be with you. And they answered him, The Lord bless thee.
0 0Open verse page →
5
Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this?
0 1Open verse page →
6
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:
0 0Open verse page →
7
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.
0 0Open verse page →
8
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:
0 0Open verse page →
9
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.
0 1Open verse page →
10
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?
0 0Open verse page →
My grandmother used to quote this verse every morning. Now I understand why — it's a daily declaration of dependence on ...
11
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.
1 1Open verse page →
12
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.
0 1Open verse page →
13
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.
0 2Open verse page →
14
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.
0 0Open verse page →
15
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:
0 0Open verse page →
16
And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.
0 0Open verse page →
17
So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.
0 0Open verse page →
18
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.
0 1Open verse page →
19
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.
0 1Open verse page →
God is faithful in every circumstance.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. ...
20
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.
1 1Open verse page →
21
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.
0 2Open verse page →
22
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.
0 1Open verse page →
23
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.
0 0Open verse page →
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
No notes on this chapter yet. Be the first to write one!