SIL Translator’s Notes on Ruth 2024

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ruth 1:14

1:14a

There is a Hebrew conjunction that introduces the next event in the story. Many English versions, including the Berean Standard Bible, do not translate this conjunction.

Again they wept aloud: The pronoun they refers to Ruth and Orpah.

Here are some other ways to translate this verse part:

Again they started crying. (Good News Translation)
-or-
Then Ruth and Orpah started crying again (Translation for Translators)

1:14b

Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye: There is a textual issue in this verse part:

(1) The Hebrew text says “And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law.” For example:

Orpah kissed her mother-in-law (New Revised Standard Version)

Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law and took her leave (Revised English Bible)

(2) The Septuagint says “And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law and returned to her people.” For example:

Orpah then kissed her mother-in-law and went back to her people. (New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with most versions and commentaries.

However, the information that Orpah returned home is clearly implied in 1:15a. You may wish to include this as implied information for clarity.

goodbye: The Hebrew text does not have the word goodbye. The Berean Standard Bible has added this word as implied information. Naomi’s statement in 1:15 makes it clear that Orpah is taking her leave.

Here is another way to translate this verse part:

Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law Naomi good-bye (New Century Version)
-or-
Then Orpah said farewell/goodbye to her mother-in-law

1:14c

but Ruth clung to her: The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but introduces a contrast between what Orpah decided to do and what Ruth decided to do.

Ruth clung to her: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as clung means “hold onto something tightly.” Ruth may have taken hold of Naomi’s arm or put her arms around her and held her close, indicating she wanted to stay with her.

Here are some other ways to translate this verse part:

but Ruth held onto her tightly (New Century Version)
-or-
But Ruth stayed with her. (New Jerusalem Bible)

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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SIL Translator’s Notes on Ruth 3:1

Section 3:1–18

Ruth asked Boaz to help her and Naomi

Life for widows in ancient Israel was difficult, especially for those who had no grown sons, because women depended on men to protect and provide for them. This fourth section tells how Naomi wanted to find a new husband for Ruth so that she could have a better living situation. So, she instructed Ruth to go and meet Boaz secretly at night. Ruth followed Naomi’s plan and asked him to take her into his care as his wife. She told him that this was his duty as a relative of her dead husband.

Boaz was happy to do this, but there was a problem. There was another relative who was more closely related to Naomi and Ruth than he was. If that man did not want to marry Ruth, Boaz promised that he would marry her. When Ruth returned home and told Naomi what had happened, Naomi assured her that Boaz would work hard to take care of the situation that very day.

Here are some other examples of a heading for this section:

Naomi’s Plan for Ruth’s Marriage (God’s Word)
-or-
Ruth and Boaz at the Threshing Floor (New International Version)
-or-
Ruth asked Boaz to marry her

Paragraph 3:1–5

3:1a

One day: In Hebrew, this chapter begins with a conjunction that introduces a new major event in the story. Some versions do not use a conjunction or time phrase here.

Here are some other ways to introduce this event:

Then (English Standard Version)
-or-
Some time later (Good News Translation)
-or-
After a while

Consider the natural way in your language to introduce a new major event in the story. If you use a word or phrase that refers to a period of time, be sure that it can refer to an indefinite amount of time, perhaps a few weeks. By this time, the barley harvest was finished.

Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “Naomi her mother-in-law.”

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

her mother-in-law Naomi (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Naomi (Good News Translation)

Ruth is such an important character in this story that the author did not think it was necessary to mention her here by name. Instead, the Hebrew text only refers to her by the pronoun “her.” But Naomi is mentioned both by her name and by her relationship to Ruth, because Naomi is about to do something important in the story. These different ways of referring to the main characters in the story follow the pattern of Hebrew stories.

In some languages, it will not be necessary or natural to refer to Naomi here by both her name and her relationship to Ruth as mother-in-law. If this is true in your language, consider following the Contemporary English Version and some others by simply referring to her as Naomi.

said to her: This clause introduces a direct quotation of Naomi to Ruth.

In some languages, it may be natural to mention Ruth by name. For example:

said to Ruth (Good News Translation)

In other languages, it may already be obvious whom Naomi is talking to, so it would not be necessary to use any form of reference. For example:

Naomi then said (New Jerusalem Bible)

3:1b

My daughter: Ruth was not Naomi’s daughter, but the word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as My daughter is a natural way for mothers-in-law to address daughters-in-law in Hebrew culture. It expresses Naomi’s affection for Ruth. You should translate these words the same way as in 2:2c.

Here are some other ways to translate these words:

Daughter (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-

⌊ My⌋daughter-in-law
-or-

⌊ My dear⌋daughter
-or-

⌊ My⌋child

In some languages, it may be more natural for Naomi to not use any form of address to Ruth. The Contemporary English Version and Good News Translation do not include an explicit translation of these words.

Translate this form of address in a way that is natural and appropriate in your language.

should I not seek a resting place for you, that it may be well with you?: This is a rhetorical question. It emphasized the responsibility she felt to find a better living situation for Ruth.

Here are two ways to translate this rhetorical question:

• Use a rhetorical question. For example:

should I not try to find a home for you, where you will be well provided for? (New International Version (1984))
-or-
Is it not my duty to see you happily settled? (New Jerusalem Bible)

• Use a statement. For example:

I must find a suitable home for you (New Century Version)
-or-
it’s time that I found a permanent home for you (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
I must find a husband for you, so that you will have a home of your own. (Good News Translation)
-or-
I think I should try to arrange for you to have a husband who will…provide for you. (Translation for Translators)

seek: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as seek means “search out.”

a resting place for you: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as resting place is literally “rest” or “place of rest.” But here it is a figure of speech that means “a secure future.” See how you translated the related word “rest” in 1:9.

Naomi wanted Ruth to have a quiet, settled, permanent situation in which to live the rest of her life. Such a situation could only come about through marriage. Naomi’s use of the phrase resting place here is an indirect reference to marriage.

Naomi seemed to deliberately avoid being explicit, so you should keep the reference to marriage indirect if possible. Translate this phrase in a natural and meaningful way in your language.

that it may be well with you: The Hebrew clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as that it may be well with you is literally “which will be good for you.” In this context, it refers to being in a good, secure situation, with a husband who will provide the food, clothes, and home she needed.

Most versions translate this part of 3:1b as a purpose clause. For example:

so that it may be well with you (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
so that you will be taken care of (CSB)

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

that will be good for you (New Century Version)
-or-
so you will be secure (NET Bible)

It may be more natural in some languages to combine the two phrases “a resting place for you” and that it may be well with you into one phrase. For example:

a good home for you
-or-
a better life for you ⌊in the future⌋

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ruth 4:15

4:15a

He will renew your life: The women used this Hebrew idiom to express their hope that Naomi’s grandson would give her new joy and delight in life. Now Naomi could look forward to seeing the boy grow up and have children of his own so that her husband’s family line would not end.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

The child will be a comfort to you (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Because of him, you(sing) will feel as if you have new life in you.
-or-
He will encourage you (NET Bible)

4:15b

and sustain you in your old age: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as sustain means that Naomi’s grandson would “provide for” her as she grew old. He would probably provide Naomi with food, clothing, and a place to live when she would be too old to take care of herself.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

and care for you in your old age (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
He’ll take care of you when you are old (New International Reader’s Version)

4:15c

For your daughter-in-law, who loves you…has given him birth: The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For introduces the reason why the women expected that the baby would bring Naomi such joy. The reason was that he was the child of her daughter-in-law, Ruth. Since Ruth loved Naomi very much, the women were sure that her son would love her too.

and is better to you than seven sons: The general attitude of the people of Israel was that sons were more valuable or more important than daughters were. The Israelites thought that a family that had seven sons was an ideal family. When the women said that Ruth was more valuable to Naomi than seven sons, they were saying that Ruth was a very special daughter-in-law.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

because he is the son of your daughter-in-law. And she loves you more than seven sons of your own would love you. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
She helps you(sing) more than seven sons would help you

General Comment on 4:15a-c

Some languages require that the reason be stated before the result. In 4:15 this would mean that the verse would begin with the clauses in 4:15c. This would then be followed by 4:15a-b. For example:

Your daughter-in-law loves you, and has done more for you than seven sons. And now she has given you a grandson, who will bring new life to you and give you security in your old age. (Good News Translation)

See 4:15a-c (combined/reordered) in the Display for another example.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ruth 2:3

Paragraph 2:3

2:3a

So: After receiving permission from Naomi, Ruth went and began to glean. The Berean Standard Bible (and other English versions) connects 2:3 to 2:2 with the conjunction So to indicate that what Ruth did was as a result of what Naomi said in 2:2c (“Go”). Connect these verses in a way that is natural in your language.

Ruth departed and went out into the field and gleaned: Ruth left her home in the village and went out to the fields. She chose a field in which to work and started to gather the leftover grain there.

gleaned: See the translation advice at 2:2 under “and glean heads of grain.”

after the harvesters: This means that Ruth walked along picking up grain after and behind the workers who were harvesting the grain.

harvesters: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as harvesters refers to workers who cut or reap grain or grass using some type of cutting tool. The harvesters in Ruth’s time would have used a curved knife called a sickle. Here the term may be used to include all the workers who had a part in the harvest, both the cutters and those who followed behind to gather the cut grain.

2:3b

And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz: The Hebrew words that the Berean Standard Bible translate as she happened to are more literally “her chance chanced upon.” Of the many fields in which she could have chosen to glean, Ruth happened to go to one that belonged to Boaz, a relative of her deceased father-in-law, Elimelech. From a human point of view, this was an accidental or unplanned event. It appears that Ruth did not know who owned the field in which she worked. At the same time, the reader of the book of Ruth can understand that God was behind the choice of field.

You should translate this in a way that indicates that Ruth’s choice of this particular field was not intentional on her part. It was coincidental. Here are some other ways to translate these words:

and, as luck would have it, it was the piece of land belonging to Boaz (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
-or-
Chance led her to a plot of land belonging to Boaz (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
It just so happened that the field belonged to Boaz (New Century Version)

2:3c

who was from the clan of Elimelech: Boaz was from the same clan or extended family as Elimelech, Ruth’s father-in-law. This is repeated here for emphasis.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ruth 3:12

3:12a

Boaz continued to speak to Ruth. He began to explain that there was another closer relative who could be the guardian-redeemer.

Yes, it is true: The Hebrew adverb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as it is true means “indeed” or “no doubt.” Boaz acknowledged that Ruth was correct.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

But now, though it is true (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Yes, it is true…but (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Even though it is true that

that I am a kinsman-redeemer: See how you translated this term in 3:9d.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

It is true that I am a close relative of yours (God’s Word)
-or-
It is true that I am a close relative and am responsible for you (Good News Translation)
-or-
Although it is true that I am a close relative and have a duty to help/protect the family
-or-
Although I am indeed a relative who has the duty to take care of you

3:12b

but there is a redeemer nearer than I: Boaz told Ruth that there was one other man who was related more closely to Elimelech than he was. That man had to decide if he wanted to act as kinsman-redeemer before Boaz could legally do that.

It appears that the nearest male relative was expected to act as the kinsman-redeemer. However, if the nearest male relative could not or would not redeem (buy back) property for his relative, then another close relative would sometimes take that responsibility.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

but there is someone who is an even closer relative (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
there is another man who is more closely related to you than I am (New Living Translation (2004))

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ruth 1:4

1:4a

who took Moabite women as their wives: This verse part introduces two Moabite women (women from the country of Moab) as additional characters in the story. Some versions make it clear that the referent is the two sons. For example:

The two sons married Moabite women. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-

Each son married a woman from Moab. (God’s Word)

1:4b

one named Orpah and the other named Ruth: This verse part gives the names of the Moabite women. Scholars do not agree about the meaning of the names Orpah and Ruth. The meanings of the names are probably not important to the story.

It is recommended that you follow the majority of versions that transliterate the names as Orpah and Ruth. In some languages, it may be necessary to indicate which wife married which son. If that is true in your language, then you may indicate that Ruth was the wife of Mahlon and Orpah was the wife of Chilion. See Ruth 4:10.

1:4c

And after they had lived in Moab about ten years: There are two interpretation issues about 1:4c. The first issue is about the referent of this verse part:

(1) This verse part refers to the two sons (or the two sons, their wives, and Naomi). The ten year period refers to the time that the sons (or the two sons, their wives, and Naomi) lived in Moab after they married Orpah and Ruth. For example:

And they continued to live there about ten years. (NET Bible)

(Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, New Living Translation (2004))

(2) This verse part refers to the family of Elimelech. The ten year period refers to the entire time that the family had lived in Moab. For example:

Naomi and her sons had lived in Moab about ten years (New Century Version)

(New Century Version)

Many versions are ambiguous. It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with more versions and commentaries.

A second issue is about the syntax of this verse part:

(1) This verse part is an independent clause. 1:5 starts a new clause. For example:

and they lived there about ten years. 1:5 Then those two—Mahlon and Chilion—also died (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

(2) This verse part begins a clause that continues in 1:5. For example:

About ten years later, 1:5 Mahlon and Chilion also died (Contemporary English Version)

The Display will follow interpretation (1). However, you may also follow interpretation (2). There is no difference in meaning caused by the choice of syntax.

Indicate the connection of this verse part to the surrounding clauses in a natural way in your language.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ruth 2:14

Paragraph 2:14–16

2:14a

At mealtime Boaz said to her: The phrase At mealtime indicates the time when Boaz next spoke to Ruth. It would probably have been about noon.

Come over here: Boaz invited Ruth to join his workers. The word here refers to the general area where Boaz and his hired workers, both males and females, were eating. You may wish to translate this as an invitation or as a polite command. Consider how a landowner or employer would speak kindly to his workers. For example:

You may come and join us
-or-
Come, eat with us. (Contemporary English Version)

2:14b

have some bread: Again, this can be translated as an invitation or as a polite command. The Hebrew word meaning bread is used here to refer to the ordinary food served at the noon meal. Bread was the main food in Ruth’s time. If the speakers of your language do not eat bread every day and think of it as a special or luxury food, then use your own common word for “food.” For example:

and have some food (NET Bible)
-or-
and help yourself to some food (New Living Translation (2004))

and dip it into the vinegar sauce: Apparently the vinegar sauce was some kind of tasty sauce, probably fermented. Boaz was offering Ruth something that tasted good. Here are some other ways to translate this:

Dip your bread in the vinegar. (NET Bible)
-or-
You can dip your bread in the sour wine. (New Living Translation (2004))

If people in your culture do not dip bread in a sauce, or if you have referred to food in general in the previous clause, you may need to translate this in a different way. For example:

Help yourself to the sauce.
-or-
2:14c

So: The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So indicates that what happened next is the result of Boaz’s invitation in 2:14a.

she sat down beside the harvesters, and he offered her roasted grain: The two verbs she sat down and he offered refer to two consecutive actions. Here are some other ways to translate them:

So she sat down beside the harvesters. Then he handed her some roasted grain. (NET Bible)
-or-
So she sat beside the reapers, and he handed her some roasted grain. (God’s Word)

she sat down beside the harvesters: The harvesters, both men and women, were sitting eating together, and Ruth joined them.

and he offered her roasted grain: The Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as offered is not found anywhere else in the Old Testament. In this context, it seems to indicate that Boaz handed or gave Ruth some grain.

roasted grain: This refers to fresh grain that the workers had roasted over the fire. Probably it was some of the barley that they had just harvested.

2:14d

and she ate and was satisfied: Ruth ate until she was satisfied and was no longer hungry. Here are some other ways to translate this:

She ate until she was full (God’s Word)
-or-
She ate all she wanted (New International Version)

and had some left over: Boaz gave Ruth more roasted grain than she was able to eat. Though this verse does not mention it, Ruth saved this extra food, and she later took the leftover grain home to Naomi.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

and she still had some food left over (Good News Translation)
-or-
she even had some food left over (New Century Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ruth 4:5

4:5a

Then Boaz said: The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Then introduces a significant and unexpected addition to what Boaz told the other relative.

On the day you buy the land from Naomi: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as On the day means “when” or “whenever.” At the same time that the man bought the land from Naomi, he would also acquire Ruth (4:5b).

Here are some other ways to translate this verse part:

Boaz continued: “On the day you take over the field from Naomi (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Then Boaz explained, “When you buy the land from Naomi (New Century Version)

4:5b

and also from Ruth the Moabitess, you must also acquire: There is a textual problem with this part of the verse. Scholars suggest two ways to understand the Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as from Ruth :

(1) It should say “Ruth.” The word “Ruth” is the object of the verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as you…acquire. When the man acquired the land, he would also acquire Ruth. For example:

you also acquire Ruth the Moabitess (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
you will also assume responsibility for the Moabite Ruth (God’s Word)
-or-
you must also marry Ruth the Moabite (New Century Version)

(2) It should say “from Ruth.” Ruth as well as Naomi was the seller of the land. For example:

On the day you buy the land from Naomi and from Ruth, you acquire (New International Version (1984))

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with a majority of versions.

the widow of the deceased: The Hebrew phrase the Berean Standard Bible translates as the widow of the deceased is literally “the wife of the dead man.” It refers here to Ruth. The dead man is Mahlon, Elimelech’s son.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

the dead man’s wife (New Century Version)

4:5c

in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance: The custom of marrying a dead relative’s widow was intended to provide an heir for the dead man. The first male child born to the widow and the redeemer would be considered the heir of the man who had died. The land and the family name of the one who had died would belong to this son. In this case, people would consider Elimelech and Mahlon to be the ancestors of the first son born to Ruth and the redeemer.

the deceased: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the deceased is singular and primarily refers to Mahlon.

Here is one way to clarify that the name of the dead will be maintained:

This keeps the inheritance in the dead man’s name. (God’s Word)

his inheritance: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as inheritance refers here to the land that a man left to his son as an inheritance.

Here are some other ways to translate this verse part:

to maintain the dead man’s name on his inheritance (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
so that the field will stay in the dead man’s family (Good News Translation)

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Ruth 2024

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ruth 1:14

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ruth 3:1

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ruth 4:15

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ruth 2:3

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ruth 3:12

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ruth 1:4

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ruth 2:14

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ruth 4:5

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