Ruth 3:9–11
Ruth and Boaz: two loyal people recognize each other
Study it word by word9He said, “Who are you?” And she said, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread the edge of your cloak over your servant, for you are a kinsman-redeemer.”
10And he said, “Blessed be you by YHWH, my daughter. You have made your last loyal love better than the first, by not going after the young men, whether poor or rich.
11And now, my daughter, do not be afraid. All that you say I will do for you, for all the gate of my people knows that you are a woman of worth.
In its context
7Boaz ate and drank, and his heart was glad, and he went to lie down at the end of the heap. Then she came quietly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.
8And it happened at midnight that the man trembled and turned over, and look, a woman was lying at his feet.
…
12And now, it is true that I am a kinsman-redeemer; but also there is a kinsman-redeemer closer than I.
13Spend this night here, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him redeem. But if he does not want to redeem you, then I will redeem you, as YHWH lives. Lie down until the morning.”
Its words in the original
- יֹּאמֶרyomer· say
Say, speak. The most common verb for bringing in what someone says; sometimes "think" (say to oneself) or "command".
- רוּתrut· Ruth
Ruth, a Moabite woman, wife of Mahlon and later of Boaz; great-grandmother of King David (Ruth 4:17) and named among the ancestors of Jesus (Matthew 1:5). The name may mean "friend" or "companion."
- אֲמָתֶamate· female slave, maidservant
Female slave, maidservant.
- פָרַשְׂתָּfarasta· spread out
Spread out: hands in prayer, wings, a net, a cloth or a tent.
- כְנָפֶchenafe· wing
Wing of a bird. Also the edge or corner of something (of a cloak, of the earth).
- גֹאֵלgoel· redeem; redeemer
Redeem: recover, by paying whatever is needed, a relative who sold himself or the land he lost; take responsibility for him. Of God, deliver his people. The one who does it is the "redeemer" (kinsman-redeemer).
- בְּרוּכָהberucha· bless, kneel
Bless. When God blesses, he gives good: life, children, fruit, prosperity. When a person "blesses God", he gives him nothing: he praises and thanks him. Between people, it is wishing the other the good that comes from God; also greet. The root also means kneel.
- יהוָהyhva· YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
- בִּתִּbiti· daughter
Daughter; also granddaughter. In the plural, also the women of a people or place ("daughters of Canaan"); "daughter of Zion" stands for a city and its people.
- הֵיטַבְתְּhetavt· do well, be good
Do well, act well; go well for someone; please. Also set something right, prepare it.
- חַסְדֵּchasde· loyal love
"Chesed": love that stays faithful to a commitment. It is kindness that does not remain a feeling: it acts in favor of the other and does not abandon him. The Bible says it above all of God's love for his people.
- אַחֲרוֹןacharon· last, behind
Last, coming behind; later, future. Also western.
- רִאשׁוֹןrishon· first
First, in place, time or rank; former.
- לֶכֶתlechet· go, walk
Go, walk, depart; in the causative form, lead or bring.
- בַּחוּרִיםbachurim· young man
A young man in the prime of life.
- דַּלdal· poor, weak
Poor, weak: one who has little and little strength to defend himself.
- עָשִׁירashir· rich
Rich.
- תִּירְאִיtiri· fear
Fear. It can be fright before a danger or deep reverence before God ("fear YHWH"). In some forms, be fearsome, awesome.
- אֶעֱשֶׂהeese· do, make
Do, make, in the widest sense: build, produce, carry out, keep (a command), prepare.
- יוֹדֵעַyodea· know
Know. Not only having a fact: it is knowing by experience and closely; also recognize, care for, make known. So Hebrew also uses it for the intimate union of a man and his wife ("he knew his wife").
- שַׁעַרshaar· gate
Gate of a city. It was also the open place where the elders met, business was done and disputes were judged.
- עַמִּami· people
People: a human group joined by kinship, history and destiny. "My people", said by God, is Israel. Also the people as a crowd, or troops.
- אֵשֶׁתeshet· woman, wife
Woman; with a possessive ("his woman"), wife. In Hebrew it is "ishah", which sounds like "ish", man.
- חַיִלchayil· strength; wealth, army
Strength, ability; depending on the passage, wealth, an army, or valor.