The big picture
Ruth, a widow from Moab, seeks food for herself and her widowed mother-in-law Naomi. Moab is a country outside the nation of Israel. They live in Beth-lehem, a town where harvest has begun. Boaz, a wealthy relative of Naomi's dead husband, owns the field Ruth enters. She expects to gather what the reapers leave behind. His welcome gives her more than leftover grain, and Naomi begins to see a connection that Ruth did not know when she set out.
In this chapter
- Ruth Begins Work in an Unknown Field Ruth 2:1-7
Ruth asks Naomi's leave to gather fallen grain behind the reapers.
- Boaz Gives Safety Food and Kind Words Ruth 2:8-16
Boaz tells Ruth to stay with his women workers and use the drinking water.
- Naomi Learns Whose Field Supplied the Grain Ruth 2:17-23
Ruth gathers until evening and beats out a large measure of barley.
Central truth
Boaz answers Ruth's vulnerable position with protection and generous food, while Naomi recognises a family connection within the kindness they receive.
Scripture beside the summary
Ruth · King James Version · 23Ruth 2:1-7
Ruth Begins Work in an Unknown Field
Ruth asks Naomi's leave to gather fallen grain behind the reapers. She hopes to find an owner who will allow it. She happens to enter a field belonging to Boaz, a relative of Naomi's husband Elimelech. Boaz arrives and exchanges blessings with his workers. He notices Ruth and asks about her. The overseer identifies her as the Moabite woman who came with Naomi. He explains that she asked permission and has worked since morning with little rest. Boaz learns about the stranger through both her family tie and her labour.
In everyday life
A newcomer to a community garden asks to collect vegetables left after the shared harvest. She works carefully along the rows while volunteers finish. The coordinator notices her and asks how she came to the garden. A small request opens a conversation about a larger need. Ruth's field owner is already a relative of her late husband's family.
Notice
Ruth 2:3 Ruth reaches Boaz's field without first naming him as her intended helper. Readers learn the family connection before she learns what that connection may mean for them.
Ruth 2:1-7
King James Version1And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.
2And 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.
3And 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.
4And, behold, Boaz came from Beth-lehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee.
5Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this?
6And 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:
7And 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.
Ruth 2:8-16
Boaz Gives Safety Food and Kind Words
Boaz tells Ruth to stay with his women workers and use the drinking water. He has ordered the men not to touch her. She asks why he shows such care to a foreigner. He has heard how she stayed with Naomi and left her own land. He asks God to reward her trust under his wings, a picture of shelter. At the meal, he gives her enough food with some left over. He also tells the reapers to leave extra grain for her and not rebuke her.
In everyday life
The bakery manager invites a struggling neighbour to collect unsold bread after closing. He tells staff to treat her respectfully and sets aside fresh loaves as well. His welcome includes clear action to prevent shame, not only a friendly greeting. She leaves with enough to share at home. Boaz also speaks of Ruth seeking shelter under Israel's God.
Notice
Ruth 2:16 Boaz orders his workers to leave grain deliberately for Ruth. His kindness changes their working practice so that her day's gathering will yield more food.
Ruth 2:8-16
King James Version8Then 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:
9Let 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.
10Then 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?
11And 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.
12The 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.
13Then 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.
14And 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.
15And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not:
16And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.
Ruth 2:17-23
Naomi Learns Whose Field Supplied the Grain
Ruth gathers until evening and beats out a large measure of barley. Back in town, she gives Naomi both grain and food saved from the meal. Naomi asks where she worked and blesses the man who noticed her. When Ruth names Boaz, Naomi blesses God and speaks of kindness to the living and the dead. She explains that Boaz is a close relative. Ruth reports his invitation to stay through harvest. Naomi urges her to remain with his women for safety. Ruth does so through the barley and wheat harvests.
In everyday life
A home care assistant returns with supplies donated by a shop owner. The older woman she helps recognises the name as someone linked to her late husband. What first looked like an anonymous kindness gains a personal meaning. She encourages the assistant to keep using the safe arrangement. Naomi recognises a relative with a possible role in preserving the family.
Notice
Ruth 2:20 Naomi names Boaz as a near relative only after seeing the day's food. The practical gift becomes a reason to recognise kindness extending to a bereaved household.
Ruth 2:17-23
King James Version17So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.
18And 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.
19And 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.
20And 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.
21And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.
22And 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.
23So 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.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Ruth 2:1 begins with “And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.”
Where the chapter turns
Ruth 2:13 forms a natural hinge: “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…”
The final note
Ruth 2:23 leaves the reader with “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.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Boaz, field, glean, LORD, mother, Naomi help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Music and video connected to the passage
Related media appears when its Scripture reference overlaps this study. Music and video can illuminate a theme while the biblical text remains the foundation.
