History · Chapter 3 of 4

Ruth 3

Naomi sends Ruth to the threshing floor at night to ask Boaz to act as kinsman-redeemer. Ruth quietly lies at his feet, and when he wakes she asks him to spread his covering over her. Boaz blesses her loyalty and agrees to help, but reveals there is a nearer kinsman with first claim. He sends her home with barley and a promise to settle the matter that very day.

What happens in Ruth 3

Naomi, longing to secure a home for Ruth, devises a bold plan. She tells Ruth to wash, anoint herself, and go down to the threshing floor where Boaz is winnowing barley, but to stay hidden until he has finished eating and lies down. Ruth obeys exactly. When Boaz has eaten and his heart is merry, he sleeps at the end of the grain heap, and Ruth comes softly, uncovers his feet, and lies down. At midnight he wakes startled to find a woman there.

Ruth identifies herself and asks him to spread his skirt over her, for he is a near kinsman, a request for marriage and redemption. Boaz blesses her, praising her kindness, and promises to do all she asks. But he honestly tells her a nearer kinsman exists who must be given the opportunity. He guards her reputation, sends her home before dawn with six measures of barley, and Naomi assures her Boaz will settle it that day.

Ruth 3 in context

In Israel, a kinsman-redeemer, or goel, was a near relative responsible for rescuing a family in distress, redeeming lost land and raising up an heir for a dead relative. Naomi and Ruth, widowed and landless, need such a redeemer.

This chapter is Ruth's appeal to Boaz to take up that role. The threshing floor scene, though risky in a lawless age, is handled with striking purity by both Ruth and Boaz, who act with honor throughout.

Main themes of Ruth 3

Ruth 3 (KJV)

1Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee? 2And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor. 3Wash 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. 4And 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. 5And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do. 6And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her. 7And 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. 8And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet. 9And 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. 10And 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. 11And 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. 12And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I. 13Tarry 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. 14And 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. 15Also 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. 16And 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. 17And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law. 18Then 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.

Verses to carry from Ruth 3

“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

“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.”Ruth 3:11

“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.”Ruth 3:13

Reflection

Like Ruth, we approach our Redeemer empty-handed, asking only to be covered. There is no shame in that neediness, for it is the doorway to grace. Where do you need to stop striving and simply come, resting your case in the hands of One who will not rest until He has secured your good? Come boldly, and wait on His faithfulness.

A prayer from Ruth 3