complete verse (Ruth 2:2 - 2:5)

Following are a number of back-translations of Ruth 2:2-2:5:

  • Noongar: “Ruth of Moab said to Naomi, ‘Let me go to the wheat-field and gather seed. I can go behind people who are kind to me.’ Naomi said to her, ‘Go, my daughter.’ So Ruth went to the wheat-fields and gathered wheat behind the wheat workers. Now, Boaz owned this wheat-field. He was Elimelech’s relative. Just then, Boaz arrived from Bethlehem. He said to the wheat workers, ‘God stays with you!’. They replied, ‘God bless you!’ Then Boaz asked the boss of the wheat workers, ‘This woman, who are her people?’” (Source: Bardip Ruth-Ang 2020)
  • Eastern Bru: “Ruth, the Moabite, said to Naomi: ‘Let me go glean in the fields. If the owner of the field is pleased with me, then I will glean in that field..’ And Naomi answered: ‘All right, child. Go, go.’ So Ruth went to glean in the fields following those who were harvesting. She did not know she had come to the field of Boaz. Boaz was from the clan of Elimelech. So Boaz came from Bethlehem, and he said to his harvesters: ‘God be with you.’ They answered: ‘Yes. And God give to you blessings also.’ Then Boaz asked the person who oversaw the people who harvested for him: ‘That young woman is whose child?’ (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: (verses 4-5) “Now, Boaz arrived from Betlehem and he greeted the harvesters, ‘May the LORD help you(pl)!’ The harvesters replied, ‘May the LORD bless you(sg)!’ Then Boaz asked the servant whom he entrusted to supervise the harvesters, ‘Who is that young lady/woman?’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “One day Ruth said to Naomi, ‘Let me go to the fields and pick up the grain left behind by the workers.’ Naomi replied, ‘Go ahead, my daughter.’ So Ruth went to the fields and began to pick up some of the left-over grain. And it happened that she was working in a field that belonged to Boaz, the man from the clan of her dead father-in-law, Elimelech! Just then, Boaz arrived from Bethlehem. He greeted the men who were harvesting the grain, saying, ‘I want Yahweh to bless you!’ They replied, ‘We want Yahweh to bless you, too!’ Then Boaz saw Ruth, and asked the foreman/man in charge of the other workmen, ‘Whose daughter is that young woman?’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Ruth 2:5: A Cultural Commentary for Central Africa

A literal translation of Boaz’ question, “Whose maiden (young woman — New American Standard Bible) is this?” would be very inappropriate in Chichewa, for it suggests that he is asking about whom she is married to (with an ulterior motive in mind). He would have to say, “Who is this lady?” (i.e., the assumption being that she is married, but the term used is one of respect).

Source: Wendland 1987, p. 173.

Translation commentary on Ruth 2:5

In Hebrew the term translated asked is simply “said,” but since a question follows, most languages require an introductory verb of speaking which indicates the kind of direct discourse, namely, a question.

The man in charge translates the Hebrew phrase: “his servant who had been appointed over the reapers.” This expression may be translated in some languages as “the head man of his reapers,” “the chief of his reapers,” or “the man who commanded his reapers.” New American Bible has “the overseer of his harvesters,” and Moffatt has “the foreman of the reapers in his service.” The man in charge may be translated as “the servant who worked for him” or “the servant who worked for Boaz,” and “his workers” may be “those who worked for him.” In other languages, however, a possessive case of reapers may be required. In some ancient versions, possessive constructions seem to have been considered as redundant in both cases. See Vulgate iuveni qui messoribus præerat and Septuagint.

Who is that young woman? is an attempt to focus properly upon the age of Ruth rather than to render literally “girl” as in some translations (New American Bible, New English Bible). There is no doubt about the emphasis upon her youth in the Hebrew reference to Ruth. At the same time, Ruth had been married, and her general appearance would certainly have merited the designation of “young woman.”

Some translators may wish to employ a question such as “Who is this girl?” but this is really not sufficient for translating the Hebrew text, since the emphasis here is upon Ruth’s relationship to some family or person. One may, therefore, employ a question such as “To which family does this young woman belong?” or “To which people does this young woman belong?” This is precisely the text according to the Targum.

Quoted with permission from de Waard, Jan and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Ruth. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1978, 1992. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ruth 2:5

2:5a

And Boaz asked the foreman of his harvesters: This refers to the man who was in charge of Boaz’s harvest workers. He was Boaz’s servant, but Boaz had made him the leader of the other harvesters.

Here are some other ways to translate this verse part:

Then Boaz asked his servant in charge of the workers (New Century Version)
-or-
Boaz asked the man in charge (Good News Translation)

2:5b

Whose young woman is this?: Boaz was asking to whom Ruth was related or associated. He was wondering whose wife or daughter she was, or perhaps whose servant she was.

Here are some other ways to translate this question:

To what family does that young woman belong?
-or-
To whom is that young woman related?”

young woman: We know from Ruth 1:4 that Ruth had married Mahlon about ten years before this time. So she may have been approximately twenty-five years old. Use a word for young woman that shows respect and is fitting for a woman of this age.

this: You should use a word for this which is natural in this context for a man to use in pointing out someone a short distance away.

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