complete verse (Ruth 3:16 - 3:18)

Following are a number of back-translations of Ruth 3:16-18:

  • Noongar: “When Ruth came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked her, ‘How did everything turn out, my daughter?’ Then Ruth told Naomi all that Boaz had done for her. She said, ‘Boaz gave me six baskets of wheat because he said, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law holding nothing in your hands.’ ‘ Naomi replied, ‘Wait, my daughter, until you know what happens, because this man will not lie down this day, only when these things happen.’” (Source: Bardip Ruth-Ang 2020)
  • Eastern Bru: “Ruth went home to her mother in law, and her mother in law asked her: ‘How is it, child?’ And Ruth told her mother in law everything that Boaz had done. And Ruth said: ‘Here are six measures of grain he gave me to bring home to you. And he told me: ‘Don’t go home empty handed to your mother in law.’‘ Then Naomi answered: ‘ Child! Now we will wait until we know what will happen about this. Boaz is thinking about what to say to his kinsmen. But surely today he will finish this.’” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “When Ruth arrived to her mother-in-law, she was-asked, ‘How-are-you(sg), child?’ Then Ruth told her everything Boaz had-done to/for her. And Ruth also said, ‘Boaz does- not -want me to go-home to you empty-handed/[lit. without nothing to bring], so he gave me these approximately/roughly six kilos of barley.’ Noemi said, ‘You(sg) just wait, child, until you(sg) will-know what really will-happen, for Boaz will- not [emphasis marker] -stop until he can facilitate this very day what you(sg) had-asked-for from him.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “When Ruth arrived home, her mother-in-law asked her, ‘My daughter, how did things go/Boaz act toward you?’ Then Ruth told her everything that Boaz had done for her and said to her. She also said to Naomi, ‘He gave me all this barley, saying ‘I do not want you to return to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’’ Then Naomi said, ‘My daughter, just wait until we see what happens. I am sure that Boaz will take care of the matter of your marriage today.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Ruth 3:16 - 3:17

In Hebrew Naomi’s question to Ruth is “Who are you, my daughter?” This could be interpreted as Naomi’s question as Ruth knocked at her door. The Syriac version seems to have taken the question in this sense, as is clear from the answer added to the text: “And she answered her, ‘I am Ruth.’ ” That even early translators had difficulties in understanding the Hebrew, can be seen from the Septuagint text, which simply omits the question and maintains the word “daughter.” Gerleman (op. cit., ad loc.) takes mi as a question marker in the sense of Latin num, and defends this use in referring to Amos 7.2, 5. Compare also H. S. Nyberg, Hebreisk Grammatik, 1952, par. 28., note 2. Most scholars, however, believe that the interrogative pronoun “Who” is to be interpreted as a question about Ruth’s condition or circumstances. Such a meaning is already attested in the Rash Shamra texts: bʿl mt … my hmlt ʾatr bʿl (“Baal is dead … What of the multitudes, the followers of Baal?”). Hence, in English one could render this Hebrew question as How did you get along? “How did things go with you?” or “How did things turn out for you?” In some receptor languages it may even be necessary to employ a more specific question such as “How did Boaz receive you?” or “How did you make out with Boaz?”

As in other passages in the Book of Ruth, Naomi’s use of the expression daughter may need to be changed in some languages to “my daughter-in-law” or “my dear one.”

It is important to indicate that Ruth communicated more to Naomi than simply the contents of verse 17. Evidently she described to Naomi everything that Boaz had done for her, and then she added what is recorded in verse 17. For this reason Good News Translation introduces the direct quotation in verse 17 by She added. One may also use an expression such as “She also said,” “In addition she said,” or “Furthermore, she said.”

All this barley translates the Hebrew expression “these six measures of barley” (see comments on 3.15), and most modern translations follow a literal rendering of the Hebrew text. In this context the emphasis is not upon the exact measure, but upon the unusually large quantity of barley, thus symbolizing Boaz’s generosity and his concern for Ruth and Naomi. Some biblical scholars have even seen in this gift a kind of dowry. As suggested by Haller, op. cit., ad loc. For other explanations see Stasson, pages 97-98. In any case Naomi’s confidence in the happy ending to the events is certainly reinforced by this rich gift. In order to show the relation between the gift and Naomi’s confidence, it is important to emphasize the quantity: all this barley. One may also employ such expressions as “so much barley” or “this large load of barley.”

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 .