Paragraph 2:8–13

In this paragraph, Boaz told Ruth that she should stay and glean in his field along with his other women workers. He told her that he had instructed the young men not to bother her. He also said that she should feel free to drink from the water jars that the young men had filled. Ruth asked Boaz why he was being so kind to her. He replied that he had heard about everything she had done for her mother-in-law. He had also heard about her decision to leave her homeland and come to live with people she did not previously know.

2:8a

Then Boaz said to Ruth: After hearing from his foreman who Ruth was and understanding her situation, he responded in 2:8–9 with kind instructions to Ruth.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

So Boaz said to Ruth (New International Version)
-or-
Boaz went over and said to Ruth (New Living Translation (2004))

Listen: Boaz spoke to Ruth gently but forcefully. He wanted her to be sure to follow his instructions in 2:8–9, which were for her own good.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

Listen carefully, my dear! (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Let me give you some advice. (Good News Translation)

my daughter: Boaz was older than Ruth and had greater social status than her, but he spoke to her in a gentle way and addressed her as a father to a daughter. You should use a term that shows respect and kindness from a man, older and more important, to a younger woman.

One way to use the word daughter and avoid the literal meaning is to use a simile. For example:

You are like a daughter to me

Although daughter may be appropriate in some languages, a different term such as “little sister” may be better in others.

In some languages, it may not be appropriate to use a kinship term at all because Boaz was only related to her by marriage. If it is not appropriate for you to use a kinship term, here are some other ways to translate this:

You are a woman whom I respect.
-or-
Dear young lady,

2:8b

Do not go and glean in another field, and do not go away from this place: Boaz told Ruth to stay in his fields. He did not want her to glean in any fields that belonged to other people. Notice that these two clauses have essentially the same meaning. This is good Hebrew style. The repetition adds emphasis to Boaz’s instruction that Ruth should glean only in his fields.

The verb form used in the second clause strengthens the meaning of the first. It may imply that Ruth should be sure not to cross boundary markers to go into someone else’s field.

Here are some other ways to translate these clauses:

Do not leave to gather grain in another field. You need not go beyond the limits of this field. (NET Bible)
-or-
Don’t gather grain anywhere except in this field. (Good News Translation)
-or-
Don’t go in any other field to gather grain, and don’t even leave this one. (God’s Word)

2:8c

but stay here close to my servant girls: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as stay here close to could also be translated as “keep close.” Boaz wanted Ruth to stay near his other female workers. This had two advantages for her. First, being close to the women who work for him would be a safe place for her. Second, it was probably an advantage and special privilege for Ruth to glean so close to the harvest workers. Gathering grain among those who were bundling and tying the stalks meant that she would gather more than a usual gleaner.

my servant girls: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as my servant girls is literally “my young women.” These were probably hired workers, mostly young adults. Normally, the men would cut the grain and place it in piles on the ground. Women workers would then gather it into bundles, tie them, and take them to the threshing floor.

Here are some other ways to translate this verse part:

stay close to my servant-girls (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Stay right behind the young women working in my field. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
continue following closely behind my women workers (New Century Version)

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