Ruth 3 · Verse 1

Ruth 3:1

Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?
Ruth 3:1, King James Version

Ruth 3:1 in other translations

BSBOne day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek a resting place for you, that it may be well with you?
WEBNaomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?
ASVAnd Naomi her mother-in-law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?
YLTAnd Naomi her mother-in-law saith to her, ‘My daughter, do not I seek for thee rest, that it may be well with thee?
DARBYAnd Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?
BBEAnd Naomi, her mother-in-law, said to her, My daughter, am I not to get you a resting-place where you may be in comfort?
WebsterThen Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?

What does Ruth 3:1 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

Naomi's advice to Ruth, how to procure herself a marriage with Boaz, Rut 3:1-5. She acts according to her mother-in-law's direction, and is kindly received by Boaz, who promises to marry her, should her nearer kinsman refuse, Rut 3:6-13. He gives her six measures of barley, and sends her away privately to her mother-in-law, who augurs favorably of the issue of the plan she had laid, Rut 3:14-18. Verse 1 Shall I not seek rest for thee - That is, Shall I not endeavor to procure thee a proper husband? See Rut 1:9, and the observations at the end of that chapter.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ruth 3:1-5
Ruth's return to her mother-in-law. (14-18) Verses 1-5 The married state should be a rest, as much as any thing upon earth can be so, as it ought to fix the affections and form a connexion for life. Therefore it should be engaged in with great seriousness, with earnest prayers for direction, for the blessing of God, and with regard to his precepts. Parents should carefully advise their children in this important concern, that it may be well with them as to their souls. Be it always remembered, That is best for us which is best for our souls. The course Naomi advised appears strange to us; but it was according to the laws and usages of Israel. If the proposed measure had borne the appearance of evil, Naomi would not have advised it. Law and custom gave Ruth, who was now proselyted to the true religion, a legal claim upon Boaz. It was customary for widows to assert this claim, De 25:5-10. But this is not recorded for imitation in other times, and is not to be judged by modern rules. And if there had been any evil in it, Ruth was a woman of too much virtue and too much sense to have listened to it.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Ruth 3:1 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.

וַתֹּ֥אמֶרva.To.merand she saidH559
לָ֖הּlahto <the> her
נָעֳמִ֣יno.'o.MiNaomiH5281
חֲמוֹתָ֑הּcha.mo.Tahmother-in-law herH2545
בִּתִּ֞יbi.TiO daughter myH1323
הֲלֹ֧אha.Lo'¿ notH3808
אֲבַקֶּשׁ\־'a.va.kesh-will I seekH1245
לָ֛ךְlakhfor <the> you
מָנ֖וֹחַma.No.acha resting placeH4494
אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherthatH834
יִֽיטַב\־yi.tav-it will go wellH3190
לָֽךְ\׃Lakhfor <the> you

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

Cross references for Ruth 3:1

  • Ruth 1:9

    The Lord grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.

  • 1 Timothy 5:8

    But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

  • Psalms 128:2

    For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.

  • 1 Timothy 5:14

    I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:36

    But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.

  • Deuteronomy 4:40

    Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, for ever.

  • Jeremiah 22:15-16

    Shalt thou reign, because thou closest thyself in cedar? did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, and then it was well with him? He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? saith the Lord.

  • Genesis 40:14

    But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house:

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 By Naomi's instruction.
5 Ruth lies at Boaz's feet.
8 Boaz acknowledges the right of a kinsman.
14 He sends her away with six measures of barley.

shall I not.
1:9; 1Co 7:36; 1Ti 5:8,14
may be.
Ge 40:14; De 4:40; Ps 128:2; Jer 22:15,16

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

Context

  • Ruth 3:1

    Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?

  • Ruth 3:2

    And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor.

Read all of Ruth 3

Ruth 3:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y DÍJOLE su suegra Noemi: Hija mía, ¿no te tengo de buscar descanso, que te sea bueno?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		*Et Naomi, sa belle-mère, lui dit: Ma fille, ne te chercherai-je pas du repos, afin que tu sois heureuse?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Noomi, ihre Schwiegermutter, sprach zu ihr: Meine Tochter, sollte ich dir nicht Ruhe suchen, daß es dir wohl gehe?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Postquam autem reversa est ad socrum suam, audivit ab ea: Filia mea, quæram tibi requiem, et providebo ut bene sit tibi.