3:10a

Then Boaz said, “May the LORD bless you, my daughter: In Hebrew, this sentence indicates that Boaz wanted the LORD to bless Ruth. See how you translated the word bless. in 2:19b and 2:20a and translate it the same way here.

Here are some other ways to translate this sentence:

Boaz replied, “May the LORD bless you, my daughter. (God’s Word)
-or-
Boaz replied: The LORD bless you! (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
After Ruth said this, Boaz answered, “May the LORD show you his favor.”

my daughter: Boaz addressed Ruth in a kind and polite way as my daughter. You should use the same term as in 2:8a.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

my dear (NET Bible)
-or-
dear young lady
-or-
young woman
-or-
you who are like my own daughter

3:10b

You have shown more kindness: The Hebrew word ḥesed that the Berean Standard Bible translates as kindness combines the ideas of love and loyalty. The Berean Standard Bible, like the Hebrew, does not say to whom Ruth was kind or loyal. However, in some languages it may be necessary to make this explicit. Boaz was speaking of Ruth’s kindness to Naomi and to Naomi’s family. Ruth was kind to Naomi because she was willing to marry Boaz. In that way, she made it possible for him to take care of Naomi and give her a grandchild as her kinsman-redeemer. See the notes in the “Introduction to Ruth” on ḥesed and refer to how you translated this term in 1:8c and 2:20b.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

this second act of faithful love (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
family loyalty in what you are doing now (Good News Translation)
-or-
This act of kindness (New Century Version)
-or-
devoted to the family (Revised English Bible)

now than before: This phrase means that the kindness that Ruth showed by seeking to marry Boaz was even better than her previous kindness to Naomi. Boaz mentioned those ways in 2:11.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

is greater than what you did before (NET Bible)
-or-
is better than the first (God’s Word)
-or-
is greater than the kindness you showed to Naomi in the beginning (New Century Version)
-or-
even greater…than in what you did for your mother-in-law (Good News Translation)

3:10c

because you have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor: This sentence gives the reason why Ruth’s second kindness was greater than her first. She could have tried to marry a younger man, but chose to marry Boaz instead to give Naomi a grandchild.

Here are some other ways to translate this sentence:

by not running after any young man, whether rich or poor (Revised English Bible)
-or-
because you have not pursued younger men, whether rich or poor (CSB)
-or-
You didn’t look for a young man to marry, either rich or poor. (New Century Version)
-or-
You could have looked for a younger man, either rich or poor, but you didn’t. (Contemporary English Version)

The Hebrew verb phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as run after is an idiom used commonly in the OT that means “seek to marry.” Boaz knew that Ruth was concerned about doing what was best for Naomi. She could have encouraged some younger man to marry her, but she had not done this. She had approached only someone who could act as Naomi’s kinsman-redeemer.

the younger men: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the younger men has the definite article as part of the word. It therefore refers to “the young men” of Bethlehem, meaning those who lived close by and whom Ruth could have married.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

one of the young men (NET Bible)
-or-
someone younger

whether rich or poor: The Berean Standard Bible has reversed the order of the Hebrew words meaning rich and poor because this sounds better in English. Use the order that is most natural in your language.

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