Naomi

The Hebrew that is transliterated as “Naomi” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for “changed identity” referring to the many life changes that Naomi goes through in the book of Ruth. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Naomi” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

complete verse (Ruth 2:6 - 2:9)

Following are a number of back-translations of Ruth 2:6-2:9:

  • Noongar: “The boss of the wheat workers replied, ‘This one is from Moab. She returned with Naomi from Moab. The woman said, ‘Let me gather my wheat behind the wheat workers’, and she has worked here from sunrise and not stopped.’ Then Boaz said to Ruth, ‘Listen, my daughter, don’t go to another wheat field, don’t go away but stay close to my young women. Watch the wheat field and stay close to the wheat workers. I have told my young men not to bother you. If you must drink water, take the water my young men have brought.’” (Source: Bardip Ruth-Ang 2020)
  • Eastern Bru: “And the person who worked for him answered: ‘She is a Moabite. She came from the country of Moab with Naomi to come to this place. The young woman asked me to allow her to glean following those who are harvesting the grain. She asked to follow and pick up the grain from the bundles. She came very early. She has been working until now. She rested only briefly in that shelter.’ After that Boaz said to Ruth: ‘Young woman. Listen to what I say. Don’t go and glean in other fields, and don’t go far from this place. But you stay with the women who work for me. And you watch what field these women are harvesting. Then you follow them and go to that field also. I have told the men who work for me not to do anything to you. If you are thirsty, you can drink from the gourds that the men have drawn.'” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The servant replied, ‘She is the Moabnon who came-together with Noemi when she returned from Moab. She asked me to allow her to glean some of the remaining heads-of-grain of the harvesters. She really works steadily from (this) morning until now. She just rested for-a-short-time in the roofed-shelter.’ Boaz said to Ruth, ‘Day (an address to a young lady), you(sg) do- not -go anymore to another field to glean heads-of-grain. You(pl) just glean here with my female servant. Watch where my men are-harvesting and you(pl) follow-along-after the female servant. I have- already -told my men that they will- not -harm you(sg). And when you(sg) are thirsty, just drink from the jars that my men have-filled-with-water.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “The foreman replied, ‘She is the woman from Moab who returned from there with her mother-in-law Naomi. She said to me, ‘Please let me walk behind the men who are harvesting the grain and pick up some of the grain they leave behind.’ I gave her permission, and she went into the field, and she has been working from this morning until now. The only time she did not work was when she rested for a short time in the shelter.’ So Boaz went over to Ruth and said to her, ‘Young lady, listen to me. Don’t go and pick up grain in another field. Do not go away from here. Stay here with my servant girls. Watch where the men are harvesting, and follow along behind the servant girls. I will tell the men who are working not to touch/molest you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get some water to drink from the jars that the men have filled.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Ruth 2:6: A Cultural Commentary for Central Africa

The double reference to Ruth’s country of origin is somewhat awkward stylistically, especially in direct discourse. There does, however, seem to be a special emphasis on “Moab” in the book, and therefore the foregrounding effect of the repetition ought to be retained, if possible, in the translation (cp. also 1:6, 22). In this passage the reiteration also serves to stress Ruth’s foreign origin.

Source: Wendland 1987, p. 173.

Translation commentary on Ruth 2:6

In the Hebrew text The man is specifically identified as “the servant who was in charge of the reapers,” but in view of this context it is often not necessary to repeat what has already been said in verse 5. Therefore one may translate as The man answered or “He replied.” For the translators of the Syriac version and the Vulgate, an explicit subject was clearly a redundant feature as well as the use of two verbs of saying: “he answered … and he said.” Accordingly, they omitted the first verbal and nominal phrase. The same applies to a few Septuagint manuscripts.

The expression the foreign girl … from Moab is in Hebrew literally “a Moabite maiden.” In certain receptor languages, however, it may be important in this context to emphasize that the designation “Moabite” implies that she is “a foreigner.” Therefore this is made explicit in Good News Translation. The use of the definite article the with foreign girl seems fully justified (it is not without textual support Definite articles are found in many Septuagint manuscripts.) in view of the fact that there had been so much interest in the return of Naomi and Ruth to the town of Bethlehem, as recorded in 1.19.

For the expression who came back … with Naomi, see the comments on 1.10.

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 .