Ruth 2 · Verse 23

Ruth 2:23

So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law.
Ruth 2:23, King James Version

Ruth 2:23 in other translations

BSBSo Ruth stayed close to the servant girls of Boaz to glean grain until the barley and wheat harvests were finished. And she lived with her mother-in-law.
WEBSo she stayed close to the maidens of Boaz, to glean to the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and she lived with her mother-in-law.
ASVSo she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz, to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and she dwelt with her mother-in-law.
YLTAnd she cleaveth to the young women of Boaz to glean, till the completion of the barley-harvest, and of the wheat-harvest, and she dwelleth with her mother-in-law.
DARBYSo she kept with the maidens of Boaz to glean, until the end of the barley-harvest and of the wheat-harvest. And she dwelt with her mother-in-law.
BBESo she kept near the servant-girls of Boaz to take up the grain till the cutting of the early grain and the cutting of the late grain were ended; and she went on living with her mother-in-law.
WebsterSo she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean to the end of barley-harvest and of wheat-harvest; and dwelt with her mother-in-law.

What does Ruth 2:23 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 23 And of wheat harvest - That is, she was to continue gleaning in the farm of Boaz to the end of the barley harvest; and then, when the wheat harvest began, to continue to its conclusion in the same way. In the interim, as well as each night, she lodged with her mother-in-law. 1. Ruth seems to have been a woman of a very amiable mind: she was modest, and she was industrious, and most probably a comely woman; and all these things served to attract the attention of Boaz, and to engage his affection. Her attachment also to her mother-in-law could not fail to secure his esteem. All these things worked together in the course of Providence, to bring about a matrimonial connection, which in its issue was intimately connected with the salvation of a lost world; for, from this very line, Jesus Christ, according to the flesh, sprang; and Ruth showed herself as worthy to be one of His progenitors as the Virgin Mary was to be His mother. See the notes on Matthew 1:1-16 (note). 2. We should carefully attend to the leadings and to the workings of God's providence; it is our duty and our interest to do both, for the path of duty is ever the way of safety. Had not Ruth acted thus, how dreary and uncomfortable must her life have been! but she followed God fully, and in a path apparently dangerous, and yet, not only sustained no injury, but succeeded well in all things: from this, as well as from innumerable other circumstances, we see the truth of that word, Acknowledge him in all thy ways, and he will direct thy steps; and with this we may ever connect, Trust in the Lord with thy whole heart, and lean not to thy own understanding. Whosoever follows God in simplicity of heart, will most assuredly be guided into all truth.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ruth 2:17-23

It encourages industry, that in all labour, even that of gleaning, there is profit. Ruth was pleased with what she gained by her own industry, and was careful to secure it. Let us thus take care that we lose not those things which we have wrought, which we have gained for our souls' good, 2Jo 1:8. Parents should examine their children, as Naomi did, not to frighten or discourage them, so as to make them hate home…

Read the full comment on Ruth 2:17-23 →

Ruth 2:23 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַתִּדְבַּ֞קva.tid.Bakand she stayedH1692
בְּנַעֲר֥וֹתbe.na.'a.Rotwith [the] female servants ofH5291
בֹּ֙עַז֙bo.'azBoazH1162
לְלַקֵּ֔טle.la.Ketto gleanH3950
עַד\־'ad-untilH5704
כְּל֥וֹתke.Lotwas completeH3615
קְצִֽיר\־ke.tzir-[the] harvest ofH7105
הַשְּׂעֹרִ֖יםha.se.'o.Rimthe barley<s>H8184
וּקְצִ֣ירu.ke.Tzirand [the] harvest ofH7105
הַֽחִטִּ֑יםha.chi.Timthe wheat<s>H2406
וַתֵּ֖שֶׁבva.Te.shevand she dweltH3427
אֶת\־'et-withH854
חֲמוֹתָֽהּ\׃cha.mo.Tahmother-in-law herH2545

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ruth 2:23

  • Ephesians 6:1-3

    Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

  • Deuteronomy 16:9

    Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: begin to number the seven weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn.

  • Proverbs 6:6-8

    Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:33

    Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

  • Proverbs 13:20

    He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

  • Proverbs 13:1

    A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Pr 6:6-8; 13:1,20; 1Co 15:33; Eph 6:1-3

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Ruth 2:22

    And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter in law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field.

  • Ruth 2:23

    So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law.

Read all of Ruth 2

Ruth 2:23 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Estuvo pues junta con las mozas de Booz espigando, hasta que la siega de las cebadas y la de los trigos fué acabada; mas con su suegra habitó.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et elle se tint auprès des jeunes filles de Boaz, pour glaner, jusqu’à ce que la moisson des orges et la moisson des froments soit achevée; et elle habitait avec sa belle-mère.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und so hielt sie sich zu den Dirnen des Boas, um aufzulesen, bis die Gerstenernte und die Weizenernte beendigt waren. Und sie wohnte bei ihrer Schwiegermutter.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Juncta est itaque puellis Booz: et tamdiu cum eis messuit, donec hordea et triticum in horreis conderentur.