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Ruth 2:10 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

10 Then she fell H5307 on her face, H6440 and bowed H7812 herself to the ground, H776 and said H559 unto him, Why have I found H4672 grace H2580 in thine eyes, H5869 that thou shouldest take knowledge H5234 of me, seeing I am a stranger? H5237

Cross Reference

1 Samuel 25:23 STRONG

And when Abigail H26 saw H7200 David, H1732 she hasted, H4116 and lighted off H3381 the ass, H2543 and fell H5307 before H639 David H1732 on her face, H6440 and bowed H7812 herself to the ground, H776

2 Samuel 9:8 STRONG

And he bowed H7812 himself, and said, H559 What is thy servant, H5650 that thou shouldest look H6437 upon such a dead H4191 dog H3611 as I am?

Romans 12:10 STRONG

Be kindly affectioned G5387 one to another G1519 G240 with brotherly love; G5360 in honour G5092 preferring G4285 one another; G240

Genesis 18:2 STRONG

And he lift up H5375 his eyes H5869 and looked, H7200 and, lo, three H7969 men H582 stood H5324 by him: and when he saw H7200 them, he ran H7323 to meet H7125 them from the tent H168 door, H6607 and bowed H7812 himself toward the ground, H776

Ruth 2:2 STRONG

And Ruth H7327 the Moabitess H4125 said H559 unto Naomi, H5281 Let me now go H3212 to the field, H7704 and glean H3950 ears of corn H7641 after H310 him in whose sight H5869 I shall find H4672 grace. H2580 And she said H559 unto her, Go, H3212 my daughter. H1323

Ruth 2:13 STRONG

Then she said, H559 Let me find H4672 favour H2580 in thy sight, H5869 my lord; H113 for that thou hast comforted H5162 me, and for that thou hast spoken H1696 friendly H3820 unto thine handmaid, H8198 though I be not like unto one H259 of thine handmaidens. H8198

2 Samuel 19:28 STRONG

For all of my father's H1 house H1004 were but H3808 dead H4194 men H582 before my lord H113 the king: H4428 yet didst thou set H7896 thy servant H5650 among them that did eat H398 at thine own table. H7979 What right H6666 therefore have H3426 I yet to cry H2199 any more unto the king? H4428

Isaiah 56:3-8 STRONG

Neither let the son H1121 of the stranger, H5236 that hath joined H3867 himself to the LORD, H3068 speak, H559 saying, H559 The LORD H3068 hath utterly H914 separated H914 me from his people: H5971 neither let the eunuch H5631 say, H559 Behold, I am a dry H3002 tree. H6086 For thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 unto the eunuchs H5631 that keep H8104 my sabbaths, H7676 and choose H977 the things that please H2654 me, and take hold H2388 of my covenant; H1285 Even unto them will I give H5414 in mine house H1004 and within my walls H2346 a place H3027 and a name H8034 better H2896 than of sons H1121 and of daughters: H1323 I will give H5414 them an everlasting H5769 name, H8034 that shall not be cut off. H3772 Also the sons H1121 of the stranger, H5236 that join H3867 themselves to the LORD, H3068 to serve H8334 him, and to love H157 the name H8034 of the LORD, H3068 to be his servants, H5650 every one that keepeth H8104 the sabbath H7676 from polluting H2490 it, and taketh hold H2388 of my covenant; H1285 Even them will I bring H935 to my holy H6944 mountain, H2022 and make them joyful H8055 in my house H1004 of prayer: H8605 their burnt offerings H5930 and their sacrifices H2077 shall be accepted H7522 upon mine altar; H4196 for mine house H1004 shall be called H7121 an house H1004 of prayer H8605 for all people. H5971 The Lord H136 GOD H3069 which gathereth H6908 the outcasts H1760 of Israel H3478 saith, H5002 Yet will I gather H6908 others to him, beside those that are gathered H6908 unto him.

Matthew 15:22-28 STRONG

And, G2532 behold, G2400 a woman G1135 of Canaan G5478 came G1831 out of G575 the same G1565 coasts, G3725 and cried G2905 unto him, G846 saying, G3004 Have mercy G1653 on me, G3165 O Lord, G2962 thou Son G5207 of David; G1138 my G3450 daughter G2364 is grievously G2560 vexed with a devil. G1139 But G1161 he answered G611 her G846 not G3756 a word. G3056 And G2532 his G846 disciples G3101 came G4334 and besought G2065 him, G846 saying, G3004 Send G630 her G846 away; G630 for G3754 she crieth G2896 after G3693 us. G2257 But G1161 he answered G611 and said, G2036 I am G649 not G3756 sent G649 but G1508 unto G1519 the lost G622 sheep G4263 of the house G3624 of Israel. G2474 Then G1161 came she G2064 and worshipped G4352 him, G846 saying, G3004 Lord, G2962 help G997 me. G3427 But G1161 he answered G611 and said, G2036 It is G2076 not G3756 meet G2570 to take G2983 the children's G5043 bread, G740 and G2532 to cast G906 it to dogs. G2952 And G1161 she said, G2036 Truth, G3483 Lord: G2962 yet G2532 G1063 the dogs G2952 eat G2068 of G575 the crumbs G5589 which G3588 fall G4098 from G575 their G846 masters' G2962 table. G5132 Then G5119 Jesus G2424 answered G611 and said G2036 unto her, G846 O G5599 woman, G1135 great G3173 is thy G4675 faith: G4102 be it G1096 unto thee G4671 even as G5613 thou wilt. G2309 And G2532 her G846 daughter G2364 was made whole G2390 from G575 that very G1565 hour. G5610

Matthew 25:35 STRONG

For G1063 I was an hungred, G3983 and G2532 ye gave G1325 me G3427 meat: G5315 I was thirsty, G1372 and G2532 ye gave G4222 me G3165 drink: G4222 I was G2252 a stranger, G3581 and G2532 ye took G4863 me G3165 in: G4863

Luke 1:43 STRONG

And G2532 whence G4159 is this G5124 to me, G3427 that G2443 the mother G3384 of my G3450 Lord G2962 should come G2064 to G4314 me? G3165

Luke 1:48 STRONG

For G3754 he hath regarded G1914 G1909 the low estate G5014 of his G846 handmaiden: G1399 for, G1063 behold, G2400 from G575 henceforth G3568 all G3956 generations G1074 shall call G3106 me G3165 blessed. G3106

Luke 7:6-7 STRONG

Then G1161 Jesus G2424 went G4198 with G4862 them. G846 And G1161 when he G846 was G568 now G2235 not G3756 far G3112 from G575 the house, G3614 the centurion G1543 sent G3992 friends G5384 to G4314 him, G846 saying G3004 unto him, G846 Lord, G2962 trouble G4660 not G3361 thyself: G4660 for G1063 I am G1510 not G3756 worthy G2425 that G2443 thou shouldest enter G1525 under G5259 my G3450 roof: G4721 Wherefore G1352 neither G3761 thought I G515 myself G1683 worthy G515 to come G2064 unto G4314 thee: G4571 but G235 say G2036 in a word, G3056 and G2532 my G3450 servant G3816 shall be healed. G2390

Luke 17:16-18 STRONG

And G2532 fell down G4098 on G1909 his face G4383 at G3844 his G846 feet, G4228 giving G2168 him G846 thanks: G2168 and G2532 he G846 was G2258 a Samaritan. G4541 And G1161 Jesus G2424 answering G611 said, G2036 Were there G2511 not G3780 ten G1176 cleansed? G2511 but G1161 where G4226 are the nine? G1767 There are G2147 not G3756 found G2147 that returned G5290 to give G1325 glory G1391 to God, G2316 save G1508 this G3778 stranger. G241

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Keil & Delitzsch Commentary » Commentary on Ruth 2

Commentary on Ruth 2 Keil & Delitzsch Commentary


Introduction

Ruth Gleans in the Field of Boaz - Ruth 2

Ruth went to the field to glean ears of corn, for the purpose of procuring support for herself and her mother-in-law, and came by chance to the field of Boaz, a relative of Naomi, who, when he heard that she had come with Naomi from Moabitis, spoke kindly to her, and gave her permission not only to glean ears in his field and even among the sheaves, but to appease her hunger and thirst with the food and drink of his reapers (vv. 1-16), so that in the evening she returned to her mother-in-law with a plentiful gleaning, and told her of the gracious reception she had met with from this man, and then learned from her that Boaz was a relation of her own (Ruth 2:17-23).


Verses 1-7

The account of this occurrence commences with a statement which was necessary in order to make it perfectly intelligible, namely that Boaz, to whose field Ruth went to glean, was a relative of Naomi through her deceased husband Elimelech. The Kethibh מידע is to be read מידּע , an acquaintance (cf. Psalms 31:12; Psalms 55:14). The Keri מודע is the construct state of מודע , lit . acquaintanceship, then an acquaintance or friend (Proverbs 7:4), for which מודעת occurs afterwards in Ruth 3:2 with the same meaning. That the acquaintance or friend of Naomi through her husband was also a relation, is evident from the fact that he was “of the family of Elimelech. ” According to the rabbinical tradition, which is not well established however, Boaz was a nephew of Elimelech. The ל before אישׁהּ is used instead of the simple construct state, because the reference is not to the relation, but to a relation of her husband; at the same time, the word מודע has taken the form of the construct state notwithstanding this ל (compare Ewald , §292 , a ., with § 289, b .). חיל גּבּור generally means the brave man of war (Judges 6:12; Judges 11:1, etc.); but here it signifies a man of property. The name Boaz is not formed from עז בּו , in whom is strength, but from a root, בּעז , which does not occur in Hebrew, and signifies alacrity .

Ruth 2:2-3

Ruth wished to go to the field and glean at (among) the ears, i.e., whatever ears were left lying upon the harvest field (cf. Ruth 2:7), אשׁר אחר , behind him in whose eyes she should find favour. The Mosaic law (Leviticus 19:9; Leviticus 23:22, compared with Deuteronomy 24:19) did indeed expressly secure to the poor the right to glean in the harvest fields, and prohibited the owners from gleaning themselves; but hard-hearted farmers and reapers threw obstacles in the way of the poor, and even forbade their gleaning altogether. Hence Ruth proposed to glean after him who should generously allow it. She carried out this intention with the consent of Naomi, and chance led her to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, a relation of Elimelech, without her knowing the owner of the field, or being at all aware of his connection with Elimelech. מקרה ויּקר , lit., “ her chance chanced to hit upon the field .”

Ruth 2:4-7

When Boaz came from the town to the field, and had greeted his reapers with the blessing of a genuine Israelites, “ Jehovah be with you ,” and had received from them a corresponding greeting in return, he said to the overseer of the reapers, “ Whose damsel is this? ” to which he replied, “ It is the Moabitish damsel who came back with Naomi from the fields of Moab, and she has said (asked), Pray, I will glean (i.e., pray allow me to glean) and gather among the sheaves after the reapers, and has come and stays (here) from morning till now; her sitting in the house that is little .” מאז , lit . a conjunction, here used as a preposition, is stronger than מן , “ from then ,” from the time of the morning onwards (see Ewald , §222, c.). It is evident from this answer of the servant who was placed over the reapers, (1) that Boaz did not prohibit any poor person from gleaning in his field; (2) that Ruth asked permission of the overseer of the reapers, and availed herself of this permission with untiring zeal from the first thing in the morning, that she might get the necessary support for her mother-in-law and herself; and (3) that her history was well known to the overseer, and also to Boaz, although Boaz saw her now for the first time.


Verse 8-9

The good report which the overlooker gave of the modesty and diligence of Ruth could only strengthen Boaz in his purpose, which he had probably already formed from his affection as a relation towards Naomi, to make the acquaintance of her daughter-in-law, and speak kindly to her. With fatherly kindness, therefore, he said to her (Ruth 2:8, Ruth 2:9), “ Dost thou hear, my daughter? (i.e., 'thou hearest, dost thou not?' interrogatio blande affirmat ;) go not to reap in another field, and go not away from here, and keep so to my maidens (i.e., remaining near them in the field). Thine eyes (directed) upon the field which they reap, go behind them (i.e., behind the maidens, who probably tired up the sheaves, whilst the men-servants cut the corn). I have commanded the young men not to touch thee (to do thee no harm); and if thou art thirsty ( צמת , from צמה = צמא : see Ewald , §195, b .), go to the vessels, and drink of what the servants draw.


Verse 10

Deeply affected by this generosity, Ruth fell upon her face, bowing down to the ground (as in 1 Samuel 25:23; 2 Samuel 1:2; cf. Genesis 23:7), to thank him reverentially, and said to Boaz, “ Why have I found favour in thine eyes, that thou regardest me, who am only a stranger? ” הכּיר , to look at with sympathy or care, to receive a person kindly (cf. Ruth 2:19).


Verse 11-12

Boaz replied, “ Everything has been told me that thou hast done to ( את , prep. as in Zechariah 7:9; 2 Samuel 16:17) thy mother-in-law since the death of thy husband, that thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and thy kindred, and hast come to a people that thou knewest not heretofore ” (hast therefore done what God commanded Abraham to do, Genesis 12:1). “ The Lord recompense thy work, and let thy reward be perfect (recalling Genesis 15:1) from the Lord the God of Israel, to whom thou hast come to seek refuge under His wings! ” For this figurative expression, which is derived from Deuteronomy 32:11, compare Psalms 91:4; Psalms 36:8; Psalms 57:2. In these words of Boaz we see the genuine piety of a true Israelite.


Verse 13

Ruth replied with true humility, “ May I find favour in thine eyes; for thou hast comforted me, and spoken to the heart of thy maiden (see Judges 19:3), though I am not like one of thy maidens, ” i.e., though I stand in no such near relation to thee, as to have been able to earn thy favour. In this last clause she restricts the expression “thy maiden.” Carpzov has rightly pointed this out: “But what am I saying when I call myself thy maiden? since I am not worthy to be compared to the least of thy maidens.” The word אמצא is to be taken in an optative sense, as expressive of the wish that Boaz might continue towards her the kindness he had already expressed. To take it as a present, “I find favour” ( Clericus and Bertheau ), does not tally with the modesty and humility shown by Ruth in the following words.


Verse 14

This unassuming humility on the part of Ruth made Boaz all the more favourably disposed towards her, so that at meal-time he called her to eat along with his people ( לה without Mappik , as in Numbers 32:42; Zechariah 5:11; cf. Ewald , §94, b . 3). “ Dip thy morsel in the vinegar. Chomez , a sour beverage composed of vinegar (wine vinegar or sour wine) mixed with oil; a very refreshing drink, which is still a favourite beverage in the East (see Rosenmüller , A. and N. Morgenland, iv. p. 68, and my Bibl. Archäologie, ii. p. 16). “ And he reached her parched corn. ” The subject is Boaz, who, judging from the expression “come hither,” either joined in the meal, or at any rate was present at it. קלי are roasted grains of wheat (see at Leviticus 2:14, and my Bibl. Arch. ii. p. 14), which are still eaten by the reapers upon the harvest field, and also handed to strangers.

(Note: Thus Robinson (Pal. ii. p. 394) gives the following description of a harvest scene in the neighbourhood of Kubeibeh: “In one field nearly two hundred reapers and gleaners were at work, the latter being nearly as numerous as the former. A few were taking their refreshment, and offered us some of their 'parched corn.' In the season of harvest, the grains of wheat not yet fully dry and hard, are roasted in a pan or on an iron plate, and constitute a very palatable article of food; this is eaten along with bread, or instead of it.”)

Boaz gave her an abundant supply of it, so that she was not only satisfied, but left some, and was able to take it home to her mother (Ruth 2:18.)


Verse 15-16

When she rose up to glean again after eating, Boaz commanded his people, saying, “ She may also glean between the shaves (which was not generally allowed), and ye shall not shame her (do her any injury, Judges 18:7); and ye shall also draw out of the bundles for her, and let them lie (the ears drawn out), that she may glean them, and shall not scold her, ” sc., for picking up the ears that have been drawn out. These directions of Boaz went far beyond the bounds of generosity and compassion for the poor; and show that he felt a peculiar interest in Ruth, with whose circumstances he was well acquainted, and who had won his heart by her humility, her faithful attachment to her mother-in-law, and her love to the God of Israel, - a face important to notice in connection with the further course of the history.


Verses 17-23

Thus Ruth gleaned till the evening in the field; and when she knocked out the ears, she had about an ephah (about 20-25 lbs.) of barley.

Ruth 2:18

This she brought to her mother-in-law in the city, and “ drew out (sc., from her pocket, as the Chaldee has correctly supplied) what she had left from her sufficiency, ” i.e., of the parched corn which Boaz had reached her (Ruth 2:14).

Ruth 2:19-20

The mother inquired, “ where hast thou gleaned to-day, and where wroughtest thou? ” and praised the benefactor, who, as she conjecture from the quantity of barley collected and the food brought home, had taken notice of Ruth: “ blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee! ” When she heard the name of the man, Boaz, she saw that this relative of her husband had been chosen by God to be a benefactor of herself and Ruth, and exclaimed, “ Blessed be he of the Lord, that he has not left off (withdrawn) his favour towards the living and the dead! ” On חסדּו עזב see Genesis 24:27. This verb is construed with a double accusative here; for את cannot be a preposition, as in that case מאת would be used like מעם in Gen. l.c . “ The living, ” etc., forms a second object: as regards (with regard to) the living and the dead, in which Naomi thought of herself and Ruth, and of her husband and sons, to whom God still showed himself gracious, even after their death, through His care for their widows. In order to enlighten Ruth still further upon the matter, she added, “ The man (Boaz) is our relative, and one of our redeemers. ” He “ stands near to us, ” sc., by relationship. גּאלנוּ , a defective form for גּאלינוּ , which is found in several MSS and editions. On the significance of the goël , or redeemer, see at Leviticus 25:26, Leviticus 25:48-49, and the introduction to Ruth 3.

Ruth 2:21

Ruth proceeded to inform her of his kindness: כּי גּם , “ also (know) that he said to me, Keep with my people, till the harvest is all ended. ” The masculine הנּערים , for which we should rather expect the feminine נערות in accordance with Ruth 2:8, Ruth 2:22, Ruth 2:23, is quite in place as the more comprehensive gender, as a designation of the reapers generally, both male and female; and the expression לי אשׁר in this connection in the sense of my is more exact than the possessive pronoun: the people who belong to my house, as distinguished from the people of other masters.

Ruth 2:22

Naomi declared herself fully satisfied with this, because Ruth would be thereby secured from insults, which she might receive when gleaning in strange fields. “ That they meet thee not, lit . “that they do not fall upon thee.” בּ פּגע signifies to fall upon a person, to smite and ill-treat him.

Ruth 2:23

After this Ruth kept with the maidens of Boaz during the whole of the barley and wheat harvests gleaning ears of corn, and lived with her mother-in-law, sc., when she returned in the evening from the field. In this last remark there is a tacit allusion to the fact that a change took place for Ruth when the harvest was over.