Ruth 2 — Greek, Translation, Interlinear & Discourse

Discourse notes head each verse: relation · connective · clause-flow. Indentation marks prominence — flush-left = main line of argument; indented = supporting / subordinate material.

Καὶ τῇ Νωεμιν ἀνὴρ γνώριμος τῷ ἀνδρὶ αὐτῆς, καὶ ὁ ἄνθρωπος δυνατὸς ἰσχύι, ἐκ τῆς συγγενείας Αβιμελεχ, καὶ ὄνομα αὐτῷ Βοος.

And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband, and the man was mighty in strength, from the clan of Elimelech, and his name was Boaz.

Background / expositionΚαί

A nominal exposition clause introducing Boaz; no action verb drives the plot yet. The verse is narrative background establishing the kin-link that will resolve the story.

Word-by-word analysis· 21 words

Καὶandcoordinating conjunction (narrative opening)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Καὶ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

τῇto/forDativearticle with Νωεμιν (dative of possession)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.τῇ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

ΝωεμινNaomiDativedative of possession (indeclinable proper name)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Νωεμιν: indeclinable transliteration of Hebrew נָעֳמִי Naomi; the dative case is carried by the article τῇ alone.

ἀνὴρa manNominativesubject of verbless clause→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἀνήρ: 'man, husband'; here 'a kinsman/man' in the general sense before the kin-term γνώριμος qualifies it.

γνώριμοςknown, acquaintanceNominativepredicate adjective (in apposition to ἀνήρ)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.γνώριμος: 'known, familiar, acquaintance' — here functioning as a kin-relationship term rendering Hebrew מְיֻדָּע ('known one, kinsman'); LXX softens the legal weight of the Hebrew גֹּאֵל (redeemer) until v.20.

τῷof theDativearticle→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.τῷ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

ἀνδρὶhusbandDativedative of reference / relational dative→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἀνήρ (dat.): 'husband'; the γνώριμος relationship is measured relative to Naomi's deceased husband Elimelech.

αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.αὐτῆς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.καὶ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

ὁtheNominativearticle→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ὁ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

ἄνθρωποςmanNominativesubject of verbless predicate clause→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἄνθρωπος: 'man, human being'; used in apposition / resumption of ἀνήρ.

δυνατὸςmighty, powerfulNominativepredicate adjective→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.δυνατός: 'able, powerful, wealthy'; renders Hebrew גִּבּוֹר חַיִל, a social honorific — a man of substance and standing.

ἰσχύιin strengthDativedative of respect / manner→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἰσχύς: 'strength, power'; the phrase δυνατὸς ἰσχύι calques Hebrew גִּבּוֹר חַיִל, blending martial valor and economic means.

ἐκfrompreposition of origin/clan affiliation→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἐκ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.τῆς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

συγγενείαςclan, kindredGenitivegenitive of source (with ἐκ)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.συγγένεια: 'kinship group, clan'; renders Hebrew מִשְׁפַּחַת ('clan, family group'), the social unit larger than a household.

ΑβιμελεχElimelechgenitive of possession (indeclinable proper name in gen slot via συγγενείας)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Αβιμελεχ: Rahlfs' transliteration of אֱלִימֶלֶךְ (Elimelech); indeclinable; the case relation is supplied by context and the preceding article.

ὄνομαnameNominativesubject of verbless clause→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ὄνομα: 'name'; stock LXX formula for introducing a character's name (cf. Ruth 1:2).

αὐτῷto himDativedative of possession (verbless: 'his name was')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.αὐτῷ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

ΒοοςBoazpredicate nominative / name (indeclinable proper noun)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Βοος: indeclinable transliteration of Hebrew בֹּעַז Boʿaz; Rahlfs consistently uses this form throughout Ruth.

Καὶ εἶπεν Ρουθ ἡ Μωαβῖτις πρὸς Νωεμιν Πορευθῶ δὴ εἰς τὸν ἀγρὸν καὶ συλλέξω ἐν τοῖς στάχυσιν ὄπισθεν οὗ ἐὰν εὕρω χάριν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ. καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ Πορεύου, θύγατερ.

And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, 'Let me go now to the field and glean among the ears of grain behind whoever shows me favor.' And she said to her, 'Go, my daughter.'

Initiation of actionΚαί

Ruth's request sets the plot in motion; Naomi's one-word reply (Πορεύου θύγατερ) gives sanction. The particle δή ('now, indeed') adds urgency to the cohortative Πορευθῶ.

Word-by-word analysis· 30 words

Καὶandcoordinating conjunction (narrative sequence)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Καὶ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb of speech→ constative aorist (single speech act)λέγω: standard LXX verb of speech; the aorist regularly introduces direct discourse.

ΡουθRuthsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Ρουθ: indeclinable transliteration of רוּת; the LXX never inflects this name.

ἡtheNominativearticle (with ethnic epithet)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἡ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

ΜωαβῖτιςMoabitessNominativeappositive ethnic adjective→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Μωαβῖτις: feminine ethnic adjective 'Moabite woman'; the LXX marks Ruth's foreign identity at every introduction — a narrative device highlighting the book's boundary-crossing theme.

πρὸςtopreposition (addressee of speech)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.πρὸς: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

ΝωεμινNaomiAccusativeobject of πρός (indeclinable; acc slot)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Νωεμιν: indeclinable; the case relation is supplied entirely by the preposition πρός.

Πορευθῶlet me goAor Pass Subj 1 Sg · πορεύομαιhortatory subjunctive (request for permission)→ ingressive aorist (onset of movement)πορεύομαι: 'go, travel'; the passive deponent form is standard LXX; hortatory 1st-sg subj. makes a polite request.

δήnow, pleaseemphatic/urgency particle→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.δή: particle adding urgency or immediacy to the request; renders Hebrew נָא ('please, now').

εἰςintopreposition of direction→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.εἰς: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.τὸν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

ἀγρὸνfieldAccusativeobject of εἰς (directional)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἀγρός: 'field, agricultural land'; the generic word before Ruth discovers whose field it is.

καὶandcoordinating conjunction (purpose clause continuation)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.καὶ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

συλλέξωI will gleanFut Act Indic 1 Sg · συλλέγωfuture indicative (purpose / intent)→ predictive futureσυλλέγω: 'gather together, collect, glean'; the LXX's standard verb for gleaning (rendering Hebrew לָקַט), activating the Leviticus 19 law.

ἐνamongpreposition (sphere / location)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἐν: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

τοῖςtheDativearticle→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.τοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

στάχυσινears of grainDativedative of sphere (gleaning location)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.στάχυς: 'ear of grain, head of wheat/barley'; the object of gleaning activity.

ὄπισθενbehindadverb of position (gleaning behind reapers)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ὄπισθεν: 'behind, after'; the gleaner follows after the reapers — the legal provision of Lev 19:9.

οὗof whomGenitivegenitive relative pronoun (antecedent indefinite)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.οὗ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

ἐὰνif/everconditional particle (indefinite relative clause with subj.)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἐὰν: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

εὕρωI findAor Act Subj 1 Sg · εὑρίσκωsubjunctive in indefinite relative clause→ constative aorist (single finding)εὑρίσκω: 'find'; εὑρεῖν χάριν = 'to find favor' — a stock Hebrew idiom (מָצָא חֵן) calqued into Greek.

χάρινfavorAccusativedirect object of εὕρω→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.χάρις: 'grace, favor, goodwill'; in the idiom εὑρεῖν χάριν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ('find favor in the eyes of') it renders חֵן in a quintessentially Hebraic construction.

ἐνinpreposition (Hebraic idiom: 'in the eyes of')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἐν: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

ὀφθαλμοῖςeyesDativedative of sphere (Hebraic idiom)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ is a Hebraism rendering בְּעֵינָיו ('in his eyes'), signifying approval.

αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.αὐτοῦ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

καὶandcoordinating conjunction (resuming narrative)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.καὶ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb of speech (Naomi's reply)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.

αὐτῇto herDativedative (indirect object / addressee)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.αὐτῇ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

ΠορεύουGoPres Mid Impv 2 Sg · πορεύομαιimperative of permission/command→ present imperative (action in progress / general command)πορεύομαι: Naomi's laconic permission; the brevity of her response (two words in Greek) is narratively significant.

θύγατερdaughterVocativevocative of endearment→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.θυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; Naomi's term of endearment for Ruth throughout the book (cf. 2:8, 2:22, 3:1, 3:16, 3:18).

Καὶ ἐπορεύθη καὶ συνέλεξεν ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ ὄπισθεν τῶν θεριζόντων· καὶ περιέπεσεν περιπτώματι τῷ μερίδι τοῦ ἀγροῦ Βοος τοῦ ἐκ συγγενείας Αβιμελεχ.

And she went and gleaned in the field behind the reapers; and she happened to come upon the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech.

Narrative consequence / providential accidentΚαί

The narrator's formula περιέπεσεν περιπτώματι ('she happened by chance') is a figura etymologica (cognate accusative) rendering the Hebrew וַיִּקֶר מִקְרֶהָ — an ironic marker of providence operating through apparent coincidence.

Word-by-word analysis· 22 words

ἐπορεύθηshe wentAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (narrative action)→ ingressive aorist (onset of journey)πορεύομαι: deponent; straightforward narrative movement fulfilling Ruth's stated intention in v.2.

συνέλεξενshe gleanedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συλλέγωmain verb (narrative action)→ constative aorist (single episode of gleaning)συλλέγω: 'gather, glean'; same verb as Ruth's own intention in v.2 — the narrative confirms fulfillment.

ἐνinpreposition of location→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἐν: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

τῷtheDativearticle→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.τῷ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

ἀγρῷfieldDativedative of location→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἀγρός: same word as v.2; now a specific field, identified in the next clause.

ὄπισθενbehindadverb of position→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ὄπισθεν: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.τῶν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

θεριζόντωνreapersPres Act Ptc Gen Pl Masc · θερίζωsubstantival participle (object of ὄπισθεν)→ progressive present (ongoing reaping activity)θερίζω: 'reap, harvest'; the participle is articular and substantival, rendering Hebrew הַקֹּצְרִים ('the reapers').

περιέπεσενshe happened uponAor Act Indic 3 Sg · περιπίπτωmain verb→ constative aorist (single providential event)περιπίπτω: 'fall around, encounter, happen upon'; with the cognate noun below it forms a figura etymologica signaling providential chance.

περιπτώματιby chance / happeningDativecognate dative (figura etymologica)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.περίπτωμα: 'chance occurrence, coincidence'; renders Hebrew מִקְרֶה ('chance, fortune'); the figura etymologica (περιέπεσεν περιπτώματι) is an ironic marker — what appears accidental is providential.

μερίδιportion, plotDativedative of location / specification (= 'on the portion of the field')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.μερίς: 'portion, share, part'; renders Hebrew חֶלְקַת הַשָּׂדֶה ('portion of the field').

τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with ἀγροῦ)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.τοῦ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

ἀγροῦfieldGenitivegenitive of possession (the field of Boaz)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἀγρός: third occurrence in three verses — each slightly more specific.

ΒοοςBoazgenitive of ownership (indeclinable proper noun, in gen slot)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Βοος: indeclinable; the reader already knows who Boaz is from v.1; Ruth does not yet.

τοῦthe oneGenitivearticle (substantivizing following prep phrase)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.τοῦ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

ἐκfrompreposition of clan origin→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἐκ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

συγγενείαςclan ofGenitivegenitive of source (with ἐκ)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.συγγένεια: echoes v.1, tying the providential meeting to the kin-link established in the exposition.

ΑβιμελεχElimelechgenitive of possession (indeclinable proper name)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Αβιμελεχ: same transliteration as v.1; the echo of the opening verse closes the narrative frame of the scene-setting.

Καὶ ἰδοὺ Βοος ἦλθεν ἐκ Βαιθλεεμ καὶ εἶπεν τοῖς θερίζουσιν Κύριος μεθ᾽ ὑμῶν· καὶ εἶπαν αὐτῷ Εὐλογήσαι σε Κύριος.

And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers, 'The Lord be with you.' And they said to him, 'May the Lord bless you.'

New scene / arrivalΚαὶ ἰδοὺ

The presentative ἰδοὺ marks Boaz's dramatic entrance. The liturgical exchange (Κύριος μεθ᾽ ὑμῶν / Εὐλογήσαι σε Κύριος) is unparalleled in the Hebrew Bible outside Ruth and characterizes Boaz as a man of genuine piety.

Word-by-word analysis· 19 words

Καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Καὶ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle (marks dramatic entrance)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἰδού: imperative of εἴδω used as a discourse particle; renders Hebrew וְהִנֵּה, signaling a new, significant development.

ΒοοςBoazsubject (indeclinable proper noun, nom slot)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Βοος: indeclinable; first appearance of Boaz as an active subject in the narrative.

ἦλθενcameAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (narrative action)→ ingressive aorist (arrival)ἔρχομαι: 'come'; the aorist marks the decisive moment of arrival that changes the scene's dynamic.

ἐκfrompreposition of origin/source→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἐκ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

ΒαιθλεεμBethlehemobject of ἐκ (indeclinable place name)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Βαιθλεεμ: indeclinable transliteration of בֵּית לֶחֶם ('house of bread'); Boaz comes from the town, Naomi's hometown and the book's primary setting.

εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb of speech→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.

τοῖςto theDativearticle→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.τοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

θερίζουσινreapersPres Act Ptc Dat Pl Masc · θερίζωsubstantival participle (indirect object of εἶπεν)→ progressive present (ongoing reaping)θερίζω: same word as v.3; the reapers whom Ruth has been following are now Boaz's own workers.

ΚύριοςThe LordNominativesubject of verbless wish-clause→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Κύριος: LXX rendering of the divine name יְהוָה (YHWH); in LXX Ruth uniformly renders the Tetragrammaton.

μεθ᾽withpreposition (elided before rough breathing)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.μετά: 'with'; the greeting 'the Lord be with you' (יְהוָה עִמָּכֶם) is a liturgical formula unique in its harvest-field setting.

ὑμῶνyou (pl.)Genitivegenitive (object of μετά)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ὑμῶν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

εἶπανthey saidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb of speech (reply)→ constative aoristεἶπαν: 3rd pl. aorist form; the harvesters' collective reply.

αὐτῷto himDativedative (indirect object of εἶπαν)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.αὐτῷ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

Εὐλογήσαιmay he blessAor Act Opt 3 Sg · εὐλογέωoptative of wish (precative)→ constative aorist (complete act of blessing)εὐλογέω: 'bless'; the optative is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew precative perfect or jussive יְבָרֶכְךָ; the reapers return Boaz's greeting in kind.

σεyouAccusativedirect object of Εὐλογήσαι→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.σε: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

Κύριοςthe LordNominativesubject of optative clause→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Κύριος: YHWH again; the exchange is framed entirely in divine-name language — both greeting and response invoke Κύριος.

Καὶ εἶπεν Βοος τῷ παιδαρίῳ αὐτοῦ τῷ ἐφεστῶτι ἐπὶ τοὺς θερίζοντας Τίνος ἡ νεᾶνις αὕτη;

And Boaz said to his servant who was set over the reapers, 'To whom does this young woman belong?'

Inquiry / plot complicationΚαί

Boaz's question initiates the dialogue sequence that will define the rest of the chapter. The possessive τίνος frames Ruth as an unknown outsider — Boaz must learn her identity before he can act.

Word-by-word analysis· 15 words

τῷto theDativearticle→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.τῷ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

παιδαρίῳservant, ladDativedative (indirect object of εἶπεν)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.παιδάριον: diminutive of παῖς; 'boy, lad, young servant'; renders Hebrew הַנַּעַר ('the lad/servant'), the field overseer.

τῷthe oneDativearticle (substantivizing participle)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.τῷ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

ἐφεστῶτιstanding over, set overPf Act Ptc Dat Sg Masc · ἐφίστημιsubstantival participle (appositive to παιδαρίῳ)→ intensive perfect (established position of oversight)ἐφίστημι: 'stand over, be set over'; the perfect participle denotes a standing position of authority — the man is in an established supervisory role, rendering Hebrew הַנִּצָּב עַל הַקֹּצְרִים ('the one appointed over the reapers').

ἐπὶoverpreposition of authority/oversight→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἐπὶ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.τοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

θερίζονταςreapersPres Act Ptc Acc Pl Masc · θερίζωsubstantival participle (object of ἐπί)→ progressive present (ongoing reaping)θερίζω: third occurrence of this verb/stem in three verses, establishing the harvest setting firmly.

Τίνοςwhose? / to whom?Genitiveinterrogative genitive (possessive question)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.τίς (gen.): the possessive genitive question Τίνος ἡ νεᾶνις αὕτη ('whose is this young woman?') reflects a social world where a woman's identity is located in her household membership.

ἡtheNominativearticle→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἡ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

νεᾶνιςyoung womanNominativesubject of verbless question→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.νεᾶνις: 'young woman, girl'; renders Hebrew הַנַּעֲרָה ('the young woman'); the feminine correlate of παιδάριον — both are youth-terms that here serve as social-rank markers.

αὕτηthisNominativedemonstrative pronoun (predicate / emphatic reference)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.αὕτη: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

Καὶ ἀπεκρίθη τὸ παιδάριον τὸ ἐφεστὸς ἐπὶ τοὺς θερίζοντας καὶ εἶπεν Ἡ παῖς ἡ Μωαβῖτίς ἐστιν ἡ ἀποστραφεῖσα μετὰ Νωεμιν ἐξ ἀγροῦ Μωαβ·

And the servant who was set over the reapers answered and said, 'She is the Moabite girl who came back with Naomi from the fields of Moab.'

Response / identificationΚαί

The supervisor's answer identifies Ruth by ethnic label (Μωαβῖτις), relational tie (with Naomi), and geographic origin (from Moab) — all three marking her as an outsider whose presence in an Israelite field requires explanation.

Word-by-word analysis· 23 words

ἀπεκρίθηansweredAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀποκρίνομαιmain verb of response→ constative aoristἀποκρίνομαι: 'answer, reply'; deponent; LXX's standard verb for responding to a direct question.

τὸtheNominativearticle→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.τὸ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

παιδάριονservantNominativesubject (same person as v.5)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.παιδάριον: resuming the field overseer from v.5.

τὸthe oneNominativearticle (substantivizing participle)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.τὸ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

ἐφεστὸςset overPf Act Ptc Nom Sg Neut · ἐφίστημιsubstantival participle in apposition (neut. agreeing with παιδάριον)→ intensive perfect (established role)ἐφίστημι: same participial form as v.5 (ἐφεστῶτι), now nominative neuter agreeing with the neuter παιδάριον.

ἐπὶoverpreposition of authority→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἐπὶ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

θερίζονταςreapersPres Act Ptc Acc Pl Masc · θερίζωsubstantival participle (object of ἐπί)→ progressive presentθερίζω: fourth occurrence in the immediate context.

καὶandcoordinating conjunction (introducing direct speech)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.καὶ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

ἩtheNominativearticle→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Ἡ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

παῖςgirl, young womanNominativesubject of εἶπεν predicate→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.παῖς: 'child, servant, young person'; the LXX here uses παῖς rather than νεᾶνις (v.5) — both render Hebrew נַעֲרָה; the distinction between Boaz's word (νεᾶνις) and the supervisor's (παῖς) may be stylistic.

ΜωαβῖτίςMoabitessNominativeappositive ethnic adjective→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Μωαβῖτις: the ethnic label appears again — marking Ruth's foreign identity as the supervisor's primary descriptor.

ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula→ gnomic / identifying presentεἰμί: copula identifying the subject.

ἡthe one whoNominativearticle (substantivizing following participle)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἡ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

ἀποστραφεῖσαwho returnedAor Pass Ptc Nom Sg Fem · ἀποστρέφωsubstantival participle (relative clause equivalent: 'she who returned')→ constative aorist (completed return journey)ἀποστρέφω: 'turn back, return'; the aorist passive participle renders the Hebrew שָׁבָה ('she who returned'), the same root as the repeated theme-word of chapter 1.

μετὰwithpreposition of accompaniment→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.μετὰ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

ΝωεμινNaomiGenitiveobject of μετά (indeclinable; gen slot)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Νωεμιν: indeclinable.

ἐξfrompreposition of geographical origin→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἐξ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

ἀγροῦfield / landGenitivegenitive of source (with ἐξ)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἀγρός: here rendered 'land of Moab' — Hebrew שְׂדֵי מוֹאָב uses the same root as 'field'; ἀγρός spans both 'agricultural field' and 'countryside/territory.'

ΜωαβMoabgenitive of specification (place name, indeclinable)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Μωαβ: indeclinable transliteration of מוֹאָב.

καὶ εἶπεν Συλλέξω δὴ καὶ συνάξω ἐν τοῖς δράγμασιν ὄπισθεν τῶν θεριζόντων· καὶ εἰσῆλθεν καὶ ἔστη ἀπὸ πρωῒ καὶ ἕως ἑσπέρας· οὐ κατέπαυσεν ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ μικρόν.

And she said, 'Let me glean and gather among the bundles behind the reapers.' And she came and has been standing from morning until evening; she did not rest in the field even a little.

Elaboration (Ruth's reported speech and conduct)καί

The supervisor reports Ruth's own request and then her diligent conduct. The Hebrew of the second half of this verse is notoriously difficult; the LXX's rendering is smooth but may gloss over a textual difficulty. Her tireless labor underscores her loyalty and industry.

Word-by-word analysis· 27 words

εἶπενshe saidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb of speech (Ruth's reported request)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.

Συλλέξωlet me gleanFut Act Indic 1 Sg · συλλέγωfuture indicative as volitive (expressing intention/request)→ predictive / volitive futureσυλλέγω: same verb as v.2 (Ruth's own words to Naomi) — the supervisor quotes Ruth's request, using her own term.

δήindeed / nowemphatic particle→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.δή: particle of urgency/request (= Hebrew נָא).

συνάξωI will gatherFut Act Indic 1 Sg · συνάγωfuture indicative (coordinate action with Συλλέξω)→ predictive futureσυνάγω: 'gather together, collect'; a near-synonym of συλλέγω; the pairing may render a Hebrew hendiadys or elaborate the request.

ἐνamongpreposition of sphere→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἐν: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

δράγμασινbundles, sheavesDativedative of sphere (gleaning among the bundles)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.δράγμα: 'handful, bundle of grain, sheaf'; renders Hebrew עֳמָרִים ('sheaves'); a key gleaning term — Ruth is asking permission not merely to follow the reapers but to gather among the already-bound sheaves, a slightly greater latitude.

θεριζόντωνreapersPres Act Ptc Gen Pl Masc · θερίζωsubstantival participle (object of ὄπισθεν)→ progressive presentθερίζω: fifth occurrence in vv.3–7; the gleaning vocabulary is dense and legally precise.

καὶandcoordinating conjunction (narrator resumes)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.καὶ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

εἰσῆλθενshe cameAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (narrator's report of Ruth's action)→ ingressive aorist (arrival at the field)εἰσέρχομαι: 'come in, arrive, enter'; the switch from reported speech (Ruth's request) back to narrative action.

ἔστηshe stood / she remainedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἵστημιmain verb (continued action: remained at work)→ ingressive aorist (taking up her post)ἵστημι: 'stand, set oneself, remain'; the aorist ἔστη denotes taking a position; the temporal frame (πρωΐ to ἑσπέρας) turns this into a summary of the whole day's labor.

ἀπὸfrompreposition of temporal starting point→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἀπὸ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

πρωῒmorningadverbial noun (temporal: from morning)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.πρωΐ: 'in the morning, early'; temporal adverb.

καὶuntilcoordinating conjunction (here joining temporal bounds)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.καὶ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

ἕωςuntiltemporal preposition→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἕως: 'until, as far as'; with ἑσπέρας forms the temporal limit.

ἑσπέραςeveningGenitivegenitive (temporal: object of ἕως)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἑσπέρα: 'evening'; the phrase ἀπὸ πρωΐ… ἕως ἑσπέρας ('from morning until evening') signals Ruth's extraordinary industry.

οὐnotnegative particle→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.οὐ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

κατέπαυσενshe rested, she pausedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταπαύωmain verb (negated: she did not rest)→ constative aorist (none of the time did she rest)καταπαύω: 'cause to rest, rest, cease'; renders Hebrew שָׁבְתָה ('she sat / she stopped'); the privative negation οὐ κατέπαυσεν emphasizes tireless labor.

ἀγρῷfieldDativedative of location→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἀγρός: still 'the field' — the setting has been consistently marked throughout the scene.

μικρόνa littleAccusativeadverbial accusative of measure (not even a little)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.μικρός: 'small, little'; in the adverbial accusative μικρόν means 'a little / for a short time'; with οὐ: 'not even a little.'

Καὶ εἶπεν Βοος πρὸς Ρουθ Οὐκ ἤκουσας, θύγατερ; μὴ πορευθῇς ἐν ἀγρῷ συλλέξαι ἑτέρῳ καὶ μὴ παρέλθῃς ἐντεῦθεν· καὶ ὧδε κολληθήσῃ μετὰ τῶν κορασίων μου.

And Boaz said to Ruth, 'Have you not heard, my daughter? Do not go to glean in another field, and do not leave from here; and here you shall stay close with my young women.'

Command / invitationΚαί

Boaz addresses Ruth directly for the first time, using the endearment θύγατερ (as Naomi does: cf. v.2). Three commands frame the invitation: a rhetorical question asserting his authority, two prohibitions, and a positive directive — stay with my women.

Word-by-word analysis· 25 words

ΒοοςBoazsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Βοος: indeclinable.

πρὸςtopreposition (addressee)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.πρὸς: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

ΡουθRuthAccusativeobject of πρός (indeclinable proper noun, acc slot)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Ρουθ: indeclinable.

Οὐκnotnegative particle (in rhetorical question expecting 'yes')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Οὐκ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

ἤκουσαςyou have heardAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀκούωmain verb (rhetorical question: 'Have you not heard / been told?')→ constative aorist (prior report or instruction)ἀκούω: 'hear, be told'; the rhetorical Οὐκ ἤκουσας ('have you not heard?') presupposes Ruth knows Boaz's instruction is authoritative — perhaps Boaz assumes the supervisor told her the field's rules.

θύγατερdaughterVocativevocative of endearment→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.θυγάτηρ: Boaz uses Naomi's term of affection for Ruth — the first sign of his paternal care.

μὴdo notnegative particle (with subjunctive prohibition)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.μὴ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

πορευθῇςgoAor Pass Subj 2 Sg · πορεύομαιaorist subjunctive prohibition (μή + aor. subj.)→ constative aorist (entire act of going prohibited)πορεύομαι: deponent; μή + aorist subjunctive is the standard LXX prohibition form.

ἀγρῷfieldDativedative of location (anarthrous = 'in any field')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἀγρός: anarthrous here, generalizing — 'in (another) field.'

συλλέξαιto gleanAor Act Inf · συλλέγωinfinitive of purpose→ constative aorist (action as a whole)συλλέγω: the gleaning verb; purpose infinitive specifying why she would go.

ἑτέρῳof anotherDativedative of possession / attributive (modifying ἀγρῷ)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἕτερος: 'another, different'; Boaz is forbidding gleaning in a different (i.e., someone else's) field.

καὶandcoordinating conjunction (second prohibition)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.καὶ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

παρέλθῃςpass by / leaveAor Act Subj 2 Sg · παρέρχομαιaorist subjunctive prohibition→ constative aorist (complete act of departing prohibited)παρέρχομαι: 'pass by, pass away, leave'; the second prohibition — do not depart from here.

ἐντεῦθενfrom hereadverb of place→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἐντεῦθεν: 'from here, hence'; rendering Hebrew מִזֶּה ('from here').

καὶandcoordinating conjunction (positive directive follows)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.καὶ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

ὧδεhereadverb of place (emphatic: 'right here')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ὧδε: 'here, in this place'; emphatic contrast with ἐντεῦθεν — don't leave here, rather, stay here.

κολληθήσῃyou shall stay close / clingFut Pass Indic 2 Sg · κολλάωfuture indicative (command/prediction: 'you will/shall')→ predictive future (with imperatival force)κολλάω: 'cling to, stick with, join'; renders Hebrew תִּדְבָּקִין ('you shall cling') — the same root as the celebrated דָּבַק in Ruth 1:14, where Ruth clung to Naomi. Boaz is now extending the invitation to cling to his group.

μετὰwithpreposition of association→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.μετὰ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

κορασίωνyoung women, girlsGenitivegenitive (object of μετά — 'with my girls')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.κοράσιον: 'girl, young woman'; renders Hebrew נְעָרֹתַי ('my young women'); a different Greek word from νεᾶνις (v.5) and παῖς (v.6) — the LXX varies the terms, but the Hebrew original uses the same root throughout.

μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.μου: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

ἔσονταί σου οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ εἰς τὸν ἀγρὸν οὗ ἐὰν θερίζωσιν καὶ πορεύσῃ ὄπισθεν αὐτῶν· ἰδοὺ ἐντέταλμαι τοῖς παιδαρίοις τοῦ μὴ ἅψασθαί σου· καὶ ὅτε διψάσεις πορεύσῃ πρὸς τὰ σκεύη καὶ πίεσαι ἐκεῖθεν ὅθεν ἂν ἀντλήσωσιν τὰ παιδάρια.

Let your eyes be upon the field where they reap, and you shall go behind them. Behold, I have commanded the servants not to touch you; and when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from there, where the servants draw.

Elaboration / provisionasyndeton

Boaz provides two specific protections: safety from harassment (the charge to the servants) and access to water. Both are extraordinary extensions of privilege to a foreign gleaner.

Word-by-word analysis· 37 words

ἔσονταίlet them be / shall beFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίfuture indicative with imperatival force→ predictive / imperatival futureεἰμί: the idiom ἔσονταί σου οἱ ὀφθαλμοί ('let your eyes be on') renders Hebrew עֵינַיִךְ תִּהְיֶינָה ('your eyes shall be on') — a Hebraism meaning 'pay attention to, watch.'

σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with ὀφθαλμοί)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.σου: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

οἱtheNominativearticle→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.οἱ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

ὀφθαλμοὶeyesNominativesubject of ἔσονταί→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; in the Hebraism ἔσονταί σου οἱ ὀφθαλμοί + εἰς = 'look toward, direct attention to.'

εἰςtowardpreposition of direction (Hebraic: look toward)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.εἰς: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

ἀγρὸνfieldAccusativeobject of εἰς→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἀγρός: Boaz's specific field; Ruth is to focus her gleaning there.

οὗwhereGenitivegenitive relative pronoun (locative: 'in which')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.οὗ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

ἐὰνwheneverindefinite conditional particle (with subjunctive)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἐὰν: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

θερίζωσινthey reapPres Act Subj 3 Pl · θερίζωsubjunctive in indefinite relative clause→ progressive present (ongoing harvest activity)θερίζω: the reaping activity continues to anchor the scene.

πορεύσῃyou shall goFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · πορεύομαιfuture indicative (imperatival: instruction to Ruth)→ imperatival futureπορεύομαι: the future with imperatival force reinforces Boaz's instruction.

αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive (object of ὄπισθεν)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.αὐτῶν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle (marks important statement)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἰδού: draws attention to the key assurance that follows — the formal charge given to the servants.

ἐντέταλμαιI have commandedPf Mid Indic 1 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιmain verb (perfect of completed action with present relevance)→ intensive perfect (the command stands in force)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command, charge, instruct'; the perfect ἐντέταλμαι ('I have charged and it stands') is the Greek equivalent of a formal order — Boaz has already given the instruction.

παιδαρίοιςservantsDativedative (indirect object of ἐντέταλμαι — the addressees of the command)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.παιδάριον: the field workers; the same term used for the supervisor in v.5–6.

τοῦto notGenitivearticular infinitive (genitive of content: what the command is)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.τοῦ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

μὴnotnegative particle (with infinitive)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.μὴ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

ἅψασθαίto touchAor Mid Inf · ἅπτομαιinfinitive (content of the command: 'not to touch you')→ constative aorist (any act of touching forbidden)ἅπτομαι: 'touch, lay hands on'; in the context of a woman working alone among men, the charge not to touch (Hebrew לֹא תִגַּע בָּהּ) is a protection against harassment or harm.

σουyouGenitivegenitive (object of ἅψασθαί: 'touch you')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.σου: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

καὶandcoordinating conjunction (further provision)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.καὶ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

ὅτεwhentemporal conjunction→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ὅτε: 'when'; introduces a temporal condition for the second provision (water access).

διψάσειςyou are thirstyFut Act Indic 2 Sg · διψάωfuture indicative in temporal clause→ predictive future (anticipated situation)διψάω: 'be thirsty, thirst'; the physical need of a laborer in a harvest field.

πορεύσῃgoFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · πορεύομαιfuture indicative (imperatival instruction)→ imperatival futureπορεύομαι: second occurrence of the imperatival future in this verse.

πρὸςtopreposition of direction→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.πρὸς: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

τὰtheAccusativearticle→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.τὰ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

σκεύηvessels, jarsAccusativeobject of πρός (destination)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.σκεῦος: 'vessel, container, jar'; the water jars kept for the workers; rendering Hebrew הַכֵּלִים.

πίεσαιdrinkFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · πίνωfuture indicative (imperatival: permission to drink)→ imperatival futureπίνω: 'drink'; the permission to drink from the same water supply as the workers is a significant social concession to an outsider.

ἐκεῖθενfrom thereadverb of place (from the vessels)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἐκεῖθεν: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

ὅθενfrom whererelative adverb of place→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ὅθεν: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

ἂνevermodal particle (with subjunctive: indefinite)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἂν: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

ἀντλήσωσινthey drawAor Act Subj 3 Pl · ἀντλέωsubjunctive in indefinite relative clause→ constative aorist (any drawing occasion)ἀντλέω: 'draw water'; a vivid term (used also at John 2:8–9 and 4:15); renders Hebrew יִשְׁאֲבוּן ('they draw').

τὰtheNominativearticle→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.τὰ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

παιδάριαservantsNominativesubject of ἀντλήσωσιν→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.παιδάριον: the male workers; Ruth is to drink from the water they draw — inclusion in the work-community's provision.

καὶ ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον αὐτῆς καὶ προσεκύνησεν τῇ γῇ καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτόν Τί ὅτι εὗρον χάριν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου τοῦ ἐπιγνῶναί με, καὶ ἐγώ εἰμι γυνὴ ἀλλοτρία;

And she fell upon her face and prostrated herself to the ground and said to him, 'Why is it that I have found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, when I am a foreign woman?'

Response / question of astonishmentκαί

Ruth's prostration is the gesture of profound obeisance; her question (Τί ὅτι…) expresses genuine astonishment. She identifies herself as ἀλλοτρία ('foreign, alien') — the same word used in Proverbs for the 'strange woman,' but here without negative connotation.

Word-by-word analysis· 28 words

ἔπεσενshe fellAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πίπτωmain verb (gesture of obeisance)→ ingressive aorist (onset of the gesture)πίπτω: 'fall'; ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον αὐτῆς ('fell upon her face') is a standard LXX idiom for profound obeisance.

ἐπὶuponpreposition of position (prostration idiom)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἐπὶ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

πρόσωπονfaceAccusativeobject of ἐπί (idiom: 'fell on her face')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.πρόσωπον: 'face'; the idiom ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον renders the Hebrew wayyippol 'al-pānêhā (וַיִּפֹּל עַל-פָּנֶיהָ).

προσεκύνησενshe prostrated herself / she bowedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · προσκυνέωmain verb (reverent prostration)→ constative aorist (single act of obeisance)προσκυνέω: 'bow down, worship, prostrate oneself'; renders Hebrew וַתִּשְׁתַּחוּ ('she bowed down'); usually of worship but here of social obeisance — Ruth's cultural expression of deep gratitude to a social superior.

τῇto theDativearticle→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.τῇ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

γῇgroundDativedative of direction (prostrate to/toward the ground)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.γῆ: 'earth, ground'; the dative of direction specifies the direction of the bow.

αὐτόνhimAccusativeobject of πρός→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.αὐτόν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

Τίwhy / whatAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (rhetorical question of astonishment)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.τίς (acc. neut.): 'why?'; Τί ὅτι is a LXX Hebraism rendering מַדּוּעַ ('why?') — an exclamatory-question formula expressing surprise.

ὅτιthat / is itcausal/explanatory conjunction (Hebraic Τί ὅτι = 'why is it that')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ὅτι: in the idiom Τί ὅτι it is a Hebraism introducing the content of the surprise.

εὗρονI have foundAor Act Indic 1 Sg · εὑρίσκωmain verb of the embedded clause→ constative aorist (single event of finding favor)εὑρίσκω: 'find'; the idiom εὑρεῖν χάριν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ('find favor in [someone's] eyes') recurs from v.2 — now Ruth herself uses it in her astonished question.

χάρινfavorAccusativedirect object of εὗρον→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.χάρις: 'grace, favor'; the Hebraic idiom חֵן מָצָא ('find favor'); cf. v.2 and v.13.

ὀφθαλμοῖςeyesDativedative of sphere (Hebraic idiom: 'in your eyes')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ὀφθαλμός: third occurrence of the 'eyes' idiom in the chapter (vv.2, 9, 10).

σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.σου: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

τοῦso as toGenitivegenitive articular infinitive (result/purpose: 'so that you noticed me')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.τοῦ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

ἐπιγνῶναίto recognize / take notice ofAor Act Inf · ἐπιγινώσκωarticular infinitive (genitive of result/purpose)→ constative aorist (act of recognition)ἐπιγινώσκω: 'recognize, take notice of, acknowledge'; stronger than γινώσκω — to take full cognizance of someone; renders Hebrew לְהַכִּירֵנִי ('to notice / acknowledge me').

μεmeAccusativeobject of ἐπιγνῶναί→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.με: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

καὶand yet / whencoordinating conjunction (concessive: 'and yet I am...')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.καὶ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

ἐγώINominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἐγώ: emphatic subject pronoun — 'and I, for my part, am a foreign woman.'

εἰμιamPres Act Indic 1 Sg · εἰμίcopula→ gnomic presentεἰμί: copula; the present tense marks her permanent status as a foreigner.

γυνὴwomanNominativepredicate nominative→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.γυνή: 'woman, wife'; here simply 'woman' with the qualifying adjective ἀλλοτρία.

ἀλλοτρίαforeign, alienNominativepredicate adjective→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἀλλότριος: 'belonging to another, foreign, alien'; renders Hebrew נָכְרִיָּה ('foreign woman'); Ruth's self-identification acknowledges her outsider status — which makes Boaz's generosity all the more remarkable.

Καὶ ἀπεκρίθη Βοος καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ Ἀπαγγελίᾳ ἀπηγγέλη μοι ὅσα πεποίηκας μετὰ τῆς πενθερᾶς σου μετὰ τὸ ἀποθανεῖν τὸν ἄνδρα σου καὶ ὡς κατέλιπες τὸν πατέρα σου καὶ τὴν μητέρα σου καὶ τὴν γῆν γενέσεώς σου καὶ ἐπορεύθης πρὸς λαὸν ὃν οὐκ ᾔδεις πρότερον.

And Boaz answered and said to her, 'It has surely been reported to me — all that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband, and how you left your father and your mother and the land of your birth and went to a people you did not know before.'

Explanation / Boaz's grounds for favorΚαί

Boaz explains why he has shown favor: he has heard the full report of Ruth's loyalty. The figura etymologica ἀπαγγελίᾳ ἀπηγγέλη ('it has been reported — a report') is a Hebraism emphasizing the certainty and completeness of the information.

Word-by-word analysis· 44 words

ἀπεκρίθηansweredAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀποκρίνομαιmain verb of response→ constative aoristἀποκρίνομαι: deponent; standard speech-introduction.

αὐτῇto herDativedative (indirect object)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.αὐτῇ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

Ἀπαγγελίᾳby reportDativecognate dative (figura etymologica for emphasis)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἀπαγγελία: 'report, announcement'; cognate with ἀπηγγέλη; the figura etymologica ἀπαγγελίᾳ ἀπηγγέλη renders the Hebrew infinitive absolute הֻגֵּד הֻגַּד לִי ('it has surely been told me'), a Hebrew device for emphatic certainty.

ἀπηγγέληit was reportedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀπαγγέλλωmain verb (passive: report received)→ constative aorist (completed act of reporting)ἀπαγγέλλω: 'announce, report, bring news'; the passive voice implies a reporter (unnamed); Boaz has received comprehensive intelligence about Ruth.

μοιto meDativedative (indirect object of ἀπηγγέλη)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.μοι: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

ὅσαall that / everything thatAccusativerelative pronoun (object clause: 'all that you have done')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ὅσος: 'as much as, all that'; the neuter plural encompasses the full scope of Ruth's actions.

πεποίηκαςyou have donePf Act Indic 2 Sg · ποιέωmain verb of relative clause→ intensive perfect (past action with present consequence: the report now stands)ποιέω: 'do, make'; the perfect πεποίηκας emphasizes that Ruth's past actions have ongoing significance — they have established her reputation.

μετὰfor / withpreposition of association / benefactive→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.μετά: here expressing benefactive action toward the mother-in-law (rendering Hebrew עִם).

πενθερᾶςmother-in-lawGenitivegenitive (object of μετά)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.πενθερά: 'mother-in-law'; renders Hebrew חֲמוֹתֵךְ.

μετὰafterpreposition of time (after + infinitive)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.μετά: with articular infinitive (μετὰ τὸ ἀποθανεῖν) = 'after the death of.'

τὸtheAccusativearticle (articular infinitive: μετὰ τὸ + inf.)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.τὸ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

ἀποθανεῖνdying, deathAor Act Inf · ἀποθνῄσκωarticular infinitive (temporal: 'after the dying of')→ constative aorist (single event of death)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; the articular infinitive μετὰ τὸ ἀποθανεῖν is a LXX calque of the Hebrew אַחֲרֵי מוֹת ('after the death of').

τὸνtheAccusativearticle (accusative subject of articular infinitive)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.τὸν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

ἄνδραhusbandAccusativeaccusative subject of infinitive ἀποθανεῖν→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἀνήρ: 'husband'; the death of Ruth's husband Mahlon is the backstory of chapters 1–2.

ὡςhowconjunction introducing indirect discourse (manner clause: 'how you left')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ὡς: 'how, that'; introduces the second element of the reported news.

κατέλιπεςyou leftAor Act Indic 2 Sg · καταλείπωmain verb of ὡς clause→ constative aorist (decisive act of leaving)καταλείπω: 'leave behind, forsake'; renders Hebrew עָזַבְתְּ ('you forsook/left') — a strong word emphasizing the cost of Ruth's loyalty.

πατέραfatherAccusativedirect object of κατέλιπες→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.πατήρ: 'father'; Ruth's Moabite father, whom she has left behind.

τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.τὴν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

μητέραmotherAccusativedirect object of κατέλιπες→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.μήτηρ: 'mother'; the triad father-mother-homeland echoes Naomi's own words to Ruth (Ruth 1:8) and (in reverse) Abraham's call (Gen 12:1 LXX).

γῆνlandAccusativedirect object of κατέλιπες→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.γῆ: 'land, earth'; the third element of what Ruth abandoned.

γενέσεώςof birthGenitivegenitive of description ('native land')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.γένεσις: 'birth, origin, beginning'; γῆν γενέσεώς σου = 'the land of your birth/origin' — renders Hebrew אֶרֶץ מֽוֹלַדְתֵּךְ ('the land of your birth').

ἐπορεύθηςyou wentAor Pass Indic 2 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (coordinate with κατέλιπες: completing the pair 'left…and went')→ ingressive aorist (departure / onset of journey)πορεύομαι: deponent; the leaving-and-going pair is the structural summary of Ruth's loyalty-act.

λαὸνa peopleAccusativeobject of πρός (anarthrous: 'a people')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.λαός: 'people, nation'; here of Israel as Ruth's newly adopted people; the anarthrous noun generalizes — 'a people [i.e., this people] which you did not know.'

ὃνwhom / whichAccusativerelative pronoun (modifying λαόν)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ὃν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

οὐκnotnegative particle→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.οὐκ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

ᾔδειςyou knewPlpf Act Indic 2 Sg · οἴδωmain verb of relative clause→ pluperfect (prior state of not knowing)οἴδω (plpf. ᾔδεις): 'you knew'; the pluperfect of οἶδα expresses an antecedent state — she had not known this people before coming.

πρότερονbefore, formerlyadverb of time→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.πρότερος: 'formerly, before'; reinforces the pluperfect — she had no prior knowledge of Israel.

ἀποτίσαι Κύριος τὴν ἐργασίαν σου καὶ γένοιτο ὁ μισθός σου πλήρης παρὰ Κυρίου θεοῦ Ἰσραήλ, πρὸς ὃν ἦλθες πεποιθέναι ὑπὸ τὰς πτέρυγας αὐτοῦ.

May the Lord repay your work, and may your reward be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.

Benediction / climax of vv.11–12asyndeton

The theological heart of the chapter: the twin optatives (ἀποτίσαι / γένοιτο) form a double blessing. The wings-of-refuge image (πτέρυγες) is richly evocative, linking YHWH's protective act with the later kinsman-redeemer symbolism of the garment spread over Ruth (3:9).

Word-by-word analysis· 23 words

ἀποτίσαιmay he repayAor Act Opt 3 Sg · ἀποτίνωoptative of wish (precative)→ constative aorist (complete act of recompense wished)ἀποτίνω: 'repay, recompense, pay back'; renders Hebrew יְשַׁלֵּם ('may he repay/reward'); the legal-commercial term frames YHWH's blessing as just recompense for Ruth's loyal act.

Κύριοςthe LordNominativesubject of optative clause→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Κύριος: YHWH; Boaz invokes YHWH as the ultimate rewarder — he can give material kindness but only YHWH can render the full recompense Ruth deserves.

ἐργασίανwork, deedAccusativedirect object of ἀποτίσαι→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἐργασία: 'work, deed, action'; renders Hebrew פָּעֳלֵךְ ('your work/deeds') — what Ruth has done for Naomi.

καὶandcoordinating conjunction (second element of double blessing)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.καὶ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

γένοιτοmay it be / may it becomeAor Mid Opt 3 Sg · γίνομαιoptative of wish (precative)→ constative aorist (complete state wished)γίνομαι: 'become, be'; the optative is the Greek precative, rendering Hebrew וִיהִי ('may it be').

μισθόςreward, wagesNominativesubject of γένοιτο→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.μισθός: 'wages, hire, reward'; renders Hebrew מַשְׂכֻּרְתֵּךְ ('your wages/reward'); the commercial term continues the legal-recompense framing of ἀποτίσαι.

πλήρηςfull, completeNominativepredicate adjective (of μισθός)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.πλήρης: 'full, complete, entire'; renders Hebrew שְׁלֵמָה ('full, perfect'); the reward Boaz envisions for Ruth is to be without deficiency.

παρὰfrompreposition of source/agent→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.παρά: 'from, at the side of'; with genitive expresses the divine source of the reward.

Κυρίουthe LordGenitivegenitive (source with παρά)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Κύριος: second occurrence of the divine name in this verse — the blessing is comprehensively theocentric.

θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive (in apposition or genitive of description: 'Lord God of Israel')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.θεός: 'God'; in apposition to Κυρίου, forming the compound divine title Κύριος θεὸς Ἰσραήλ.

ἸσραήλIsraelgenitive of possession (indeclinable proper noun)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Ἰσραήλ: indeclinable; identifies YHWH specifically as Israel's covenant God — significant in addressing a Moabite who has chosen this God.

πρὸςunder / towardpreposition of direction/relational movement→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.πρός: 'to, toward'; here combined with πεποιθέναι ('to trust') — 'came to trust under his wings'; the Hebrew אֲשֶׁר-בָּאת לַחֲסוֹת uses a word for 'refuge/shelter.'

ὃνwhomAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἦλθες and πεποιθέναι: 'under whom you came to trust')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ὃν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

ἦλθεςyou cameAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb of relative clause→ constative aorist (Ruth's decisive act of coming)ἔρχομαι: 'come'; Ruth's coming to Israel is simultaneously physical (geography) and spiritual (allegiance).

πεποιθέναιto trust, to take refugePf Act Inf · πείθωinfinitive of purpose (with ἦλθες: 'came in order to trust')→ intensive perfect (established state of trust)πείθω (pf. πεποιθέναι): the perfect infinitive of 'trust, be persuaded'; renders Hebrew לַחֲסוֹת ('to take refuge/shelter'); the perfect emphasizes a stable, settled reliance — Ruth has come to rest in YHWH's shelter.

ὑπὸunderpreposition of position/protection→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ὑπό: 'under'; with πτέρυγας creates the wings-of-refuge image.

τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.τὰς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

πτέρυγαςwingsAccusativeobject of ὑπό (image of divine protection)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.πτέρυξ: 'wing, pinion'; renders Hebrew כְּנָפַיִם ('wings'); the metaphor of divine wings sheltering those who take refuge is characteristic of the Psalms (Ps 17:8; 36:7; 57:1; 61:4; 91:4); its use here anticipates Boaz's spreading his garment (כָּנָף / πτέρυξ) over Ruth in 3:9.

αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (YHWH's wings)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.αὐτοῦ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

Ἡ δὲ εἶπεν Εὕροιμι χάριν ἐνώπιόν σου, κύριε, ὅτι παρεκάλεσάς με καὶ ὅτι ἐλάλησας ἐπὶ καρδίαν τῆς δούλης σου, καὶ ἐγὼ οὐκ ἔσομαι ὡς μία τῶν παιδισκῶν σου.

And she said, 'May I find favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and for you have spoken to the heart of your maidservant, though I am not even as one of your maidservants.'

Response of gratitude / humble protestationδέ

Ruth's reply is a delicate balance: she prays for continued favor while acknowledging her unworthiness to be even a servant. The phrase 'spoken to the heart' (ἐλάλησας ἐπὶ καρδίαν) is a Hebraism (דִּבַּרְתָּ עַל-לֵב) for tender encouragement.

Word-by-word analysis· 28 words

ἩsheNominativearticle used as pronoun (subject)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.The articular ἡ δέ is the standard LXX pronoun-substitute for 'she then / and she.'

δὲand / butpostpositive particle (mild contrast / discourse continuation)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.δέ: the shift from Καί to δέ marks a modest turn in the conversation.

Εὕροιμιmay I findAor Act Opt 1 Sg · εὑρίσκωoptative of wish (precative, 1st sg.)→ constative aorist (single act of finding wished)εὑρίσκω: the familiar idiom εὑρεῖν χάριν ἐνώπιόν σου ('find favor in your sight') now in the optative — Ruth echoes back the favor-language of vv.2 and 10.

χάρινfavorAccusativedirect object of Εὕροιμι→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.χάρις: fourth occurrence of the favor-term in the chapter (vv.2, 10, 13 × 2).

ἐνώπιόνbefore / in the presence ofpreposition (variant of the 'in the eyes of' idiom)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἐνώπιον: 'before, in the presence of'; LXX variant of ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς for rendering Hebrew בְּעֵינֵי ('in the eyes of').

σουyourGenitivegenitive (object of ἐνώπιον)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.σου: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

κύριεmy lordVocativevocative of address (respectful address to Boaz)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.κύριος: 'lord, master'; Ruth addresses Boaz as κύριε ('my lord'), a social address of respect for a superior — distinct from Κύριος = YHWH in vv.4, 12.

ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction (grounding the prayer in Boaz's acts)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ὅτι: 'because, that'; introduces the grounds of the request.

παρεκάλεσάςyou comforted / encouragedAor Act Indic 2 Sg · παρακαλέωmain verb of causal clause→ constative aorist (completed act of comfort)παρακαλέω: 'call alongside, comfort, encourage, console'; renders Hebrew נִחַמְתָּנִי ('you comforted me'); the same root as the Psalms' consolation.

μεmeAccusativedirect object→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.με: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction (second ground)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ὅτι: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

ἐλάλησαςyou spokeAor Act Indic 2 Sg · λαλέωmain verb of second causal clause→ constative aoristλαλέω: 'speak, talk'; in the idiom ἐλάλησας ἐπὶ καρδίαν = 'you spoke to the heart,' a Hebraism for tender, encouraging speech.

ἐπὶto / uponpreposition (Hebraic idiom: speak to the heart)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἐπί: in the idiom λαλεῖν ἐπὶ καρδίαν it renders Hebrew דִּבֶּר עַל-לֵב ('speak to the heart') — tender, persuasive, comforting speech.

καρδίανheartAccusativeobject of ἐπί (Hebraic idiom)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.καρδία: 'heart'; in the Hebraic idiom the heart is the center of will, emotion, and understanding.

δούληςmaidservant / slaveGenitivegenitive of possession (with καρδίαν: 'the heart of your maidservant')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.δούλη: 'female slave, maidservant'; renders Hebrew שִׁפְחָתְךָ ('your maidservant'); Ruth refers to herself in the lowest self-designation — a social inferior before Boaz.

καὶand yetcoordinating conjunction (concessive: though)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.καὶ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

ἐγὼINominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἐγώ: emphatic first-person — 'and I myself will not be even as one of your maidservants.'

ἔσομαιI will be / I amFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (future of existing status)→ predictive futureεἰμί: Ruth places herself below even the level of a full servant (παιδίσκη) in Boaz's household.

ὡςas / likecomparative conjunction→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ὡς: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

μίαoneNominativepredicate nominative (with ὡς: 'as one of')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.εἷς/μία: 'one'; the comparison ὡς μία τῶν παιδισκῶν ('as one of your maidservants') expresses that she does not even rank among the lowest level of Boaz's household staff.

παιδισκῶνmaidservantsGenitivegenitive of the whole (partitive: 'one of your maidservants')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.παιδίσκη: 'young female slave, maidservant'; renders Hebrew נַעֲרֹתֶיךָ ('your young women/servants'); Ruth in v.8 was told to stay with them — here she claims she doesn't even qualify for that status.

Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ Βοος Ἤδη ὥρᾳ τοῦ φαγεῖν πρόσελθε ὧδε καὶ φάγεσαι τῶν ἄρτων καὶ ἐμβάψεις τὸν ψωμόν σου ἐν τῷ ὄξει. καὶ ἐκάθισεν Ρουθ ἐκ πλαγίων τῶν θεριζόντων καὶ ἐψήφισεν αὐτῇ Βοος ἄλφιτον καὶ ἔφαγεν καὶ ἐνεπλήσθη καὶ κατέλιπεν.

And Boaz said to her, 'At mealtime, come here and eat of the bread and dip your morsel in the vinegar.' And Ruth sat beside the reapers, and Boaz served her roasted grain, and she ate and was satisfied and left some over.

Provision at table / narrative actionΚαί

The shared meal signals inclusion: Ruth is brought from gleaning-follower to table-companion. Boaz personally serves her (ἐψήφισεν), a reversal of social hierarchy. The verb ἐνεπλήσθη ('was satisfied / filled') echoes Naomi's grief over being emptied (ἐκένωσέν με κύριος, Ruth 1:21) — the chapter's first moment of fullness.

Word-by-word analysis· 40 words

Ἤδηnow / alreadytemporal adverb→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἤδη: 'already, now, at this point'; signals the meal time has arrived.

ὥρᾳat the hourDativedative of time (when)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ὥρα: 'hour, time'; in the dative of time: 'at the hour of eating'; renders Hebrew לְעֵת הָאֹכֶל ('at the mealtime').

τοῦofGenitivearticle (articular infinitive: genitive of specification: 'the eating hour')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.τοῦ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

φαγεῖνeatingAor Act Inf · ἐσθίωarticular infinitive (genitive specifying ὥρᾳ: 'the hour for eating')→ constative aoristἐσθίω: 'eat'; the articular infinitive renders the Hebrew construct נoun phrase.

πρόσελθεcomeAor Act Impv 2 Sg · προσέρχομαιaorist imperative (direct command)→ ingressive aorist (onset of approach)προσέρχομαι: 'come near, approach'; Boaz summons Ruth to the meal — an act of inclusion.

ὧδεhereadverb of place→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ὧδε: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

φάγεσαιyou shall eatFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · ἐσθίωfuture indicative (imperatival: 'eat!')→ imperatival futureἐσθίω: same root as φαγεῖν above; the imperatival future issues an invitation-as-command.

τῶνof theGenitivearticle (partitive genitive with φάγεσαι)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.τῶν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

ἄρτωνbreadGenitivepartitive genitive (eat some of the bread)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἄρτος: 'bread, loaf'; the workers' shared bread.

ἐμβάψειςyou shall dipFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἐμβάπτωfuture indicative (imperatival)→ imperatival futureἐμβάπτω: 'dip in, immerse'; renders Hebrew וְטָבַלְתְּ ('and you shall dip'); the act of dipping bread in sour wine was common harvest fare.

ψωμόνmorsel, piece of breadAccusativedirect object of ἐμβάψεις→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ψωμός: 'bit, morsel, piece of bread'; renders Hebrew פִּתֵּךְ ('your morsel').

ἐνinpreposition of location (dipping vessel)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἐν: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

ὄξειvinegar / sour wineDativedative of location (in the vinegar bowl)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ὄξος: 'sour wine, vinegar'; renders Hebrew הַחֹמֶץ; a common refreshment for harvest workers, noted also at Num 6:3 and Ps 69:21.

καὶandcoordinating conjunction (narrative resumes)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.καὶ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

ἐκάθισενshe satAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κάθημαιmain verb (narrative: Ruth's response to invitation)→ ingressive aorist (taking her seat)κάθημαι: 'sit, be seated'; Ruth accepts Boaz's invitation.

ΡουθRuthsubject (indeclinable proper noun, nom slot)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Ρουθ: indeclinable.

ἐκat / besidepreposition of position ('beside')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἐκ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

πλαγίωνsideGenitivegenitive (object of ἐκ: 'beside / at the side of')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.πλάγιος: 'side, flank'; ἐκ πλαγίων ('at the side of / beside') renders Hebrew מִצַּד ('beside'); Ruth sits beside but not among the reapers — her inclusion is genuine but still liminal.

θεριζόντωνreapersPres Act Ptc Gen Pl Masc · θερίζωsubstantival participle (object of ἐκ πλαγίων)→ progressive presentθερίζω: sixth occurrence of this root in the chapter.

ἐψήφισενhe served / passedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ψηφίζωmain verb (Boaz serves Ruth)→ constative aorist (single act of serving)ψηφίζω: in LXX Ruth this verb renders Hebrew צָבַט ('hand over, pass, serve'); the lexical choice is unusual (ψηφίζω normally = 'count, reckon') but here means 'portion out, serve.' Boaz personally serving Ruth reverses social hierarchy.

αὐτῇto herDativedative (indirect object / beneficiary)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.αὐτῇ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

ἄλφιτονroasted grain / groatsAccusativedirect object of ἐψήφισεν→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἄλφιτον: 'barley flour, roasted barley, groats'; renders Hebrew קָלִי ('roasted/parched grain') — the standard harvest-field food.

ἔφαγενshe ateAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐσθίωmain verb→ constative aoristἐσθίω: she eats of what Boaz has served — the first real meal she has received since arriving in Bethlehem.

ἐνεπλήσθηshe was satisfied / filledAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἐμπίπλημιmain verb→ constative aorist (complete state of satisfaction)ἐμπίπλημι: 'fill, satisfy'; renders Hebrew וַתִּשְׂבַּע ('and she was satisfied/full'); the fullness (שָׂבַע) deliberately recalls Naomi's complaint of emptiness (Ruth 1:21 — κενήν).

κατέλιπενshe left (some) overAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταλείπωmain verb (she had surplus)→ constative aoristκαταλείπω: 'leave behind'; she ate to satiety and still had food left — abundance beyond need. The leftovers will be brought home to Naomi (implied by v.18).

καὶ ἀνέστη τοῦ συλλέγειν· καὶ ἐνετείλατο Βοος τοῖς παιδαρίοις αὐτοῦ λέγων Καί γε ἀνὰ μέσον τῶν δραγμάτων συλλεγέτω καὶ μὴ καταισχύνητε αὐτήν.

And she arose to glean. And Boaz commanded his servants, saying, 'Let her also glean among the sheaves, and do not put her to shame.'

Transition + commandκαί

Ruth returns to her gleaning and Boaz issues a secret instruction to his workers: she may glean among the sheaves themselves (not just the edges), and is not to be reproached. Καί γε ('even, indeed') is emphatic.

Word-by-word analysis· 22 words

ἀνέστηshe aroseAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (narrative: Ruth returns to work)→ ingressive aorist (rising from meal)ἀνίστημι: 'stand up, rise'; the post-meal rising back to labor.

τοῦtoGenitivearticle (articular infinitive of purpose: τοῦ + inf.)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.τοῦ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

συλλέγεινgleaningPres Act Inf · συλλέγωarticular infinitive of purpose→ progressive present (ongoing activity resumed)συλλέγω: the gleaning verb recurs; she rises to resume the labor for which she came.

ἐνετείλατοcommandedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιmain verb (Boaz issues new instructions)→ constative aoristἐντέλλομαι: same verb as v.9 (ἐντέταλμαι); now in the aorist indicative — the formal act of commanding.

ΒοοςBoazsubject (indeclinable)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Βοος: indeclinable.

παιδαρίοιςservantsDativedative (indirect object of ἐνετείλατο)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.παιδάριον: the field workers who are to carry out the instruction.

λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · λέγωparticiple of manner (introducing direct speech)→ progressive present (ongoing words)λέγω: the λέγων participle is the standard LXX device for introducing direct speech content.

Καίeven / alsocoordinating conjunction (with γε: emphatic)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Καί: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

γεindeed / evenemphatic/intensive particle→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.γε: 'at least, even, indeed'; with καί = 'even, also'; renders Hebrew גַּם ('even, also'). Καί γε = 'let her even glean…' — permission beyond what gleaning law required.

ἀνὰamongpreposition (with μέσον: distributive 'in the midst of')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἀνά: 'up, among'; ἀνὰ μέσον = 'in the middle of, among.'

μέσονmiddleAccusativeobject of ἀνά (idiom: 'among')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.μέσος: 'middle'; ἀνὰ μέσον τῶν δραγμάτων = 'among/in the midst of the sheaves.'

δραγμάτωνsheaves, bundlesGenitivegenitive (object of ἀνὰ μέσον)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.δράγμα: same word as v.7; Boaz explicitly grants access to the sheaves — beyond what the gleaning law of Lev 19 required.

συλλεγέτωlet her gleanPres Act Impv 3 Sg · συλλέγωpresent imperative (3rd sg.: permission / command)→ progressive present (ongoing activity permitted)συλλέγω: the gleaning verb in imperative — Boaz's formal grant of gleaning rights among the sheaves.

καὶandcoordinating conjunction (second command: negative)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.καὶ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

μὴnotnegative particle (with subjunctive prohibition)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.μὴ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

καταισχύνητεput to shame / rebukeAor Act Subj 2 Pl · καταισχύνωaorist subjunctive prohibition (μή + aor. subj.)→ constative aorist (any act of shaming forbidden)καταισχύνω: 'shame, dishonor, disgrace'; renders Hebrew תַּכְלִימוּהָ ('you shall not rebuke/humiliate her'); the instruction protects Ruth's dignity in the vulnerable gleaning situation.

αὐτήνherAccusativedirect object of καταισχύνητε→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.αὐτήν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

καὶ βαστάζοντες βαστάξατε αὐτῇ καὶ παραρρίπτοντες παραρρίψατε αὐτῇ ἐκ τῶν βεβουνισμένων καὶ ἄφετε καὶ συλλέξει καὶ μὴ ἐπιτιμήσητε αὐτῇ.

And when you carry, carry for her; and when you drop, drop for her from the bundled grain, and leave it that she may glean; and do not rebuke her.

Command continuation (secret provision for Ruth)καί

Boaz's instructions escalate: the workers are to deliberately let bundles fall for Ruth to find. The figura etymologica (βαστάζοντες βαστάξατε / παραρρίπτοντες παραρρίψατε) renders Hebrew infinitive-absolute constructions, emphasizing the deliberateness of the provision.

Word-by-word analysis· 19 words

βαστάζοντεςcarryingPres Act Ptc Nom Pl Masc · βαστάζωconditional/temporal participle (figura etymologica with imperative)→ progressive present (ongoing carrying)βαστάζω: 'carry, bear, lift'; the present participle with the same-root imperative is a Hebrew infinitive-absolute construction (נָשֹׂא תִשְׂאוּ) calqued into Greek — 'carrying, carry!'.

βαστάξατεcarryAor Act Impv 2 Pl · βαστάζωaorist imperative (with cognate participle: emphatic command)→ constative aorist (act of carrying as a whole)βαστάζω: the cognate imperative reinforces the emphatic command — they are positively to carry bundles over for her benefit.

αὐτῇfor herDativedative of advantage / beneficiary→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.αὐτῇ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

παραρρίπτοντεςdropping besidePres Act Ptc Nom Pl Masc · παραρρίπτωconditional/temporal participle (second figura etymologica)→ progressive presentπαραρρίπτω: 'drop beside, throw down alongside'; renders Hebrew שָׁמֹט תִּשְׁמְטוּ ('pull out, withdraw'); the Greek chooses the metaphor of dropping beside her.

παραρρίψατεdropAor Act Impv 2 Pl · παραρρίπτωaorist imperative (cognate with participle: emphatic)→ constative aoristπαραρρίπτω: second figura etymologica — 'dropping, drop!' — deliberate bundles left for Ruth.

αὐτῇfor herDativedative of advantage→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.αὐτῇ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

ἐκfrompreposition of source→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἐκ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

βεβουνισμένωνbundled grain / heapsPf Pass Ptc Gen Pl Neut · βουνίζωsubstantival participle (the heaped/bundled grain from which they drop)→ intensive perfect (the bundles are already piled up)βουνίζω: 'heap up, pile into mounds'; renders Hebrew הַצְּבָתִים ('the handfuls'); the perfect passive participle means 'the things that have been bundled/heaped' — the already-gathered sheaves.

ἄφετεleave it / let it beAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ἀφίημιaorist imperative (third command)→ constative aoristἀφίημι: 'leave, let go, release'; 'leave it and she will glean' — they are not to pick it back up.

συλλέξειshe will gleanFut Act Indic 3 Sg · συλλέγωfuture indicative (result of ἄφετε)→ predictive futureσυλλέγω: the gleaning verb — the result of the dropped bundles being left: Ruth will glean them.

μὴdo notnegative particle (prohibition with subjunctive)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.μὴ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

ἐπιτιμήσητεrebuke, censureAor Act Subj 2 Pl · ἐπιτιμάωaorist subjunctive prohibition→ constative aorist (any act of rebuking forbidden)ἐπιτιμάω: 'rebuke, censure, charge'; repeats the prohibition of v.15 (καταισχύνητε) with a different verb — the two prohibitions frame the positive commands in vv.15b–16.

αὐτῇherDativedative (indirect object of ἐπιτιμήσητε)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.αὐτῇ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

Καὶ συνέλεξεν ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ ἕως ἑσπέρας καὶ ἐρράβδισεν ἃ συνέλεξεν καὶ ἐγενήθη ὡς οἰφὶ κριθῶν.

And she gleaned in the field until evening and beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.

Narrative summary / resultΚαί

The narrator summarizes Ruth's day's labor: she gleans until evening, threshes on-site, and produces approximately an ephah — a quantity roughly ten times a typical gleaner's daily yield, signaling the effect of Boaz's secret provisions.

Word-by-word analysis· 16 words

συνέλεξενshe gleanedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συλλέγωmain verb (narrative summary)→ constative aorist (whole day of gleaning summarized)συλλέγω: recurs; the narrative is marked by gleaning vocabulary from start to finish.

ἕωςuntiltemporal preposition→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἕως: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

ἑσπέραςeveningGenitivegenitive (temporal: object of ἕως)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἑσπέρα: echoes v.7's ἕως ἑσπέρας — she fulfilled exactly what the supervisor reported.

ἐρράβδισενshe beat out / threshedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ῥαβδίζωmain verb (threshing)→ constative aoristῥαβδίζω: 'beat with a rod, thresh'; renders Hebrew וַתַּחְבֹּט ('and she beat/threshed'); Ruth threshes what she has collected on-site — a standard gleaner's practice.

ἃwhat / that whichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐρράβδισεν: 'what she had gleaned')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἃ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

συνέλεξενshe had gleanedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συλλέγωverb of relative clause (pluperfect sense: previously gleaned)→ constative aorist (antecedent action)συλλέγω: third occurrence in this verse's narrative.

ἐγενήθηit was / amounted toAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (result clause: the quantity produced)→ constative aorist (complete quantity)γίνομαι: 'become, be'; here 'it came to / amounted to'; renders Hebrew וַיְהִי ('and it was').

ὡςabout / approximatelyadverbial particle of approximation→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ὡς: 'as, like, about'; with a measure = 'approximately'; renders Hebrew כְּאֵיפָה ('about an ephah of').

οἰφὶephahmeasure (indeclinable transliteration)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.οἰφί: indeclinable LXX transliteration of Hebrew אֵיפָה ('ephah'), a dry measure of approximately 20–22 liters or ca. 13 kg of grain; this quantity would provide Naomi and Ruth with food for perhaps ten days.

κριθῶνof barleyGenitivegenitive of content (what the ephah contains)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.κριθή: 'barley'; the barley harvest timing (cf. v.23) places the events at the beginning of the agricultural year.

καὶ ἦρεν καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὴν πόλιν καὶ εἶδεν ἡ πενθερὰ αὐτῆς ὃ συνέλεξεν· καὶ ἐξενέγκασα ἔδωκεν αὐτῇ ἃ κατέλιπεν ἐξ ὧν ἐνεπλήσθη.

And she took it up and went into the city, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned; and she also brought out and gave to her what she had left over from what had satisfied her.

Return and presentationκαί

Ruth returns with both the threshed barley and the leftover food from the meal (v.14). Naomi sees the quantity before asking where Ruth worked — the sight of abundant grain precipitates the question of v.19.

Word-by-word analysis· 23 words

ἦρενshe took up / liftedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · αἴρωmain verb (picking up the grain to carry home)→ ingressive aoristαἴρω: 'take up, lift, carry'; she lifts the threshed ephah to carry home.

εἰσῆλθενshe went / enteredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (return journey)→ ingressive aorist (entering the city)εἰσέρχομαι: 'enter, go in'; she returns to Bethlehem from the field.

πόλινcityAccusativeobject of εἰς (directional)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.πόλις: 'city'; renders Hebrew הָעִיר ('the city') — Bethlehem.

εἶδενsawAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὁράωmain verb (Naomi sees the grain)→ constative aoristὁράω: 'see'; Naomi sees before she speaks — the visual impact of the abundant grain prompts her question.

πενθερὰmother-in-lawNominativesubject of εἶδεν→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.πενθερά: 'mother-in-law'; the word used in v.11 for Naomi's role.

αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of relationship→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.αὐτῆς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

ὃwhatAccusativerelative pronoun (object of εἶδεν)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ὃ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

συνέλεξενshe had gleanedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συλλέγωverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (pluperfect sense)συλλέγω: the culminating use of the gleaning verb — what she gleaned is now the object of Naomi's astonished gaze.

ἐξενέγκασαhaving brought outAor Act Ptc Nom Sg Fem · ἐκφέρωaorist participle of attendant circumstance (Ruth brings out the meal leftovers)→ constative aoristἐκφέρω: 'bring out, carry out'; Ruth produces (takes out from her bundle) the leftover food from the meal of v.14.

ἔδωκενshe gaveAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb→ constative aoristδίδωμι: 'give'; Ruth gives Naomi the meal leftovers as well as the grain.

ἃwhatAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἔδωκεν)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἃ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

κατέλιπενshe had left overAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταλείπωverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (pluperfect sense: previously left over)καταλείπω: same verb as v.14 (κατέλιπεν) — the leftovers of v.14 are now transferred to Naomi.

ἐξfrompreposition of source→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἐξ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

ὧνwhatGenitiverelative pronoun (genitive after ἐξ: 'from what had filled her')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ὧν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

ἐνεπλήσθηshe had been filled / satisfiedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἐμπίπλημιverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (Ruth's satisfaction at the meal)ἐμπίπλημι: same word as v.14 — the fullness of v.14 now overflows to Naomi; the theme of fullness reversing the emptiness of ch.1 continues.

καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ ἡ πενθερὰ αὐτῆς Ποῦ συνέλεξας σήμερον καὶ ποῦ ἐποίησας; εἴη ὁ γνωρίσας σε εὐλογημένος. καὶ ἀνήγγειλεν Ρουθ τῇ πενθερᾷ αὐτῆς ποῦ ἐποίησεν καὶ εἶπεν Τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ ἀνδρὸς ᾧ ἐποίησα σήμερον Βοος.

And her mother-in-law said to her, 'Where did you glean today, and where did you work? May he who took notice of you be blessed.' And Ruth told her mother-in-law where she had worked and said, 'The name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz.'

Inquiry and disclosureκαί

Naomi's double question (where? / where?) mirrors v.5 (Boaz's own question about Ruth). Her spontaneous blessing before she knows the name is a pivot of dramatic irony — the reader knows; Naomi is about to discover. Ruth's answer is dramatic: the name Boaz is delayed to the end of the sentence.

Word-by-word analysis· 35 words

πενθερὰmother-in-lawNominativesubject→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.πενθερά: Naomi's consistent role-designation in the chapter.

Ποῦwhereinterrogative adverb→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ποῦ: 'where?'; first of two parallel interrogatives.

συνέλεξαςdid you gleanAor Act Indic 2 Sg · συλλέγωmain verb of question→ constative aoristσυλλέγω: the gleaning question echoes the gleaning vocabulary of the whole chapter.

σήμερονtodaytemporal adverb→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.σήμερον: 'today'; frames the entire chapter's events as a single day.

καὶandcoordinating conjunction (second interrogative)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.καὶ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

ποῦwhereinterrogative adverb (second question)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ποῦ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

ἐποίησαςdid you workAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ποιέωmain verb of second question→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do, make, work'; here idiomatic 'where did you work?' — renders Hebrew עָשִׂיתְ ('where did you work?').

εἴηmay he bePres Act Opt 3 Sg · εἰμίoptative of wish (precative blessing)→ gnomic / precative presentεἰμί: optative precative; Naomi blesses her daughter's benefactor before she knows who he is — a mark of spontaneous faith.

ὁthe one whoNominativearticle (substantivizing participle)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ὁ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

γνωρίσαςwho took notice of youAor Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · γνωρίζωsubstantival participle (subject of εἴη)→ constative aorist (single act of taking notice)γνωρίζω: 'make known, recognize, take notice of'; renders Hebrew הַכִּירֵךְ ('who noticed you'); the same root as ἐπιγνῶναί (v.10 — Ruth's own word for what Boaz did).

σεyouAccusativeobject of γνωρίσας→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.σε: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

εὐλογημένοςblessedPf Pass Ptc Nom Sg Masc · εὐλογέωpredicate adjective (with εἴη: 'may he be blessed')→ intensive perfect (established blessed state wished)εὐλογέω: 'bless'; the perfect passive participle εὐλογημένος renders the Hebrew passive participle בָּרוּךְ ('blessed be') — the precative formula of blessing.

καὶandcoordinating conjunction (narrative continues)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.καὶ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

ἀνήγγειλενshe told, she reportedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναγγέλλωmain verb (Ruth's answer to Naomi)→ constative aoristἀναγγέλλω: 'announce, report, tell'; same root as ἀπηγγέλη (v.11) — the network of reporting/announcing that runs through the chapter.

πενθερᾷmother-in-lawDativedative (indirect object)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.πενθερά: recurs.

ποῦwhereindirect interrogative (object of ἀνήγγειλεν)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ποῦ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

ἐποίησενshe had workedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωverb of indirect question→ constative aoristποιέω: 'work'; echoes Naomi's ἐποίησας — Ruth answers the exact question asked.

εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb of speech (Ruth names Boaz)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.

ΤὸtheNominativearticle→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Τὸ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

ὄνομαnameNominativesubject of verbless clause→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ὄνομα: the name-formula echoes v.1 (ὄνομα αὐτῷ Βοος), forming a verbal inclusio.

τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.τοῦ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

ἀνδρὸςmanGenitivegenitive of possession→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἀνήρ: the man unnamed until the end of the sentence — dramatic withholding of the name.

ᾧwith whomDativedative relative pronoun (with ἐποίησα: 'with whom I worked')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ᾧ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

ἐποίησαI workedAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ποιέωverb of relative clause→ constative aoristποιέω: Ruth uses the same verb Naomi used ('where did you work?') — completing the answer at last.

σήμερονtodaytemporal adverb→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.σήμερον: echoes Naomi's question word — all within the single day.

ΒοοςBoazpredicate (name, indeclinable proper noun — climactic revelation)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Βοος: indeclinable; the name is the climax of the sentence — delayed for maximum dramatic effect.

καὶ εἶπεν Νωεμιν τῇ νύμφῃ αὐτῆς Εὐλογητὸς ἐστιν τῷ Κυρίῳ ὅτι οὐκ ἐγκατέλιπεν τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ μετὰ τῶν ζώντων καὶ μετὰ τῶν τεθνηκότων. καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ Νωεμιν Ἐγγίζει ἡμῖν ὁ ἄνθρωπος, ἐκ τῶν ἀγχιστευόντων ἡμᾶς ἐστιν.

And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, 'Blessed is he to the Lord, who has not abandoned his covenant loyalty to the living and to the dead.' And Naomi said to her, 'The man draws near to us; he is one of our redeemers.'

Theological climax and kin disclosureκαί

The theological and narrative pivot of the book: Naomi's blessing reveals that YHWH's ἔλεος ('steadfast love, covenant loyalty') has not failed even the dead. Then the legal bombshell: Boaz is ἀγχιστεύων ('redeeming kinsman'), the key legal term whose first appearance in the book opens the path to the resolution of chapters 3–4.

Word-by-word analysis· 36 words

ΝωεμινNaomisubject (indeclinable, nom slot)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Νωεμιν: indeclinable.

νύμφῃdaughter-in-lawDativedative (indirect object / addressee)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.νύμφη: 'bride, daughter-in-law'; here the LXX uses νύμφη ('bride/daughter-in-law') rather than the genitive of τίκτω constructions — a formal term marking the in-law relationship.

ΕὐλογητὸςblessedNominativepredicate adjective (of copulative εἶναι implied or ἐστιν)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.εὐλογητός: 'blessed'; a verbal adjective from εὐλογέω; in LXX prayers εὐλογητός ὁ θεός / εὐλογητός ἐστιν ('Blessed is God!') is the doxological formula; here applied to Boaz.

ἐστινhe isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (Naomi's doxological exclamation)→ gnomic presentεἰμί: the present here expresses the eternal/standing character of Boaz's blessed status.

τῷto the / beforeDativearticle (dative of reference / sphere)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.τῷ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

ΚυρίῳLordDativedative of reference ('blessed before / in relation to the Lord')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Κύριος: YHWH; εὐλογητὸς τῷ Κυρίῳ — 'blessed of/before YHWH'; the dative τῷ Κυρίῳ renders Hebrew לַיהוָה ('to/by YHWH').

ὅτιbecause / whocausal conjunction (grounds of the blessing — ambiguous referent)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ὅτι: introduces the reason; but the subject of the embedded clause (οὐκ ἐγκατέλιπεν) is ambiguous — Naomi may praise Boaz or YHWH for not abandoning ἔλεος; most interpreters read YHWH as the subject of the act.

ἐγκατέλιπενhe abandonedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐγκαταλείπωmain verb of causal clause (negated: has not forsaken)→ constative aorist (the entire preceding period: since Elimelech's death, YHWH's ἔλεος has not ceased)ἐγκαταλείπω: 'forsake, abandon, leave behind'; a compound of καταλείπω; renders Hebrew עָזַב ('forsake') — the same root used in v.11 for Ruth's leaving her parents.

τὸtheAccusativearticle→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.τὸ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

ἔλεοςsteadfast love, mercyAccusativedirect object of ἐγκατέλιπεν→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἔλεος: 'mercy, compassion, covenant loyalty'; renders Hebrew חֶסֶד — the key theological term of the book. LXX ἔλεος captures the 'mercy/compassion' dimension; חֶסֶד also includes covenant faithfulness, loyalty, and kindness. The term will recur at 3:10.

αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (YHWH's ἔλεος / steadfast love)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.αὐτοῦ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

μετὰwith / towardpreposition of beneficiary ('toward, for the sake of')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.μετά: here with genitive of persons expresses 'toward, in relation to' (Hebrew עִם).

ζώντωνlivingPres Act Ptc Gen Pl Masc · ζάωsubstantival participle ('the living ones')→ progressive present (ongoing state of being alive)ζάω: 'live'; τῶν ζώντων = 'the living' — Naomi and Ruth.

μετὰwith / towardpreposition of beneficiary→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.μετὰ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

τεθνηκότωνdeadPf Act Ptc Gen Pl Masc · θνῄσκωsubstantival participle ('the dead ones')→ intensive perfect (permanent state of having died)θνῄσκω: 'die'; the perfect participle τεθνηκότων ('the dead') refers to Elimelech and his sons — Naomi's dead husband and Ruth's dead husband. YHWH's ἔλεος (חֶסֶד) reaches even beyond death, through the levir/redemption institution.

καὶandcoordinating conjunction (new speech act)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.καὶ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb of speech (second statement by Naomi)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.

Ἐγγίζειdraws near / is closePres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐγγίζωmain verb (present of existing relationship)→ gnomic / stative presentἐγγίζω: 'draw near, be close, be nearly related'; renders Hebrew קָרוֹב ('near/close'); here the kinship proximity that activates the levirate/redemption law.

ἡμῖνto usDativedative (proximity: 'near to us')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἡμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

ἄνθρωποςmanNominativesubject of Ἐγγίζει→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἄνθρωπος: 'man'; the same word used for Boaz in v.1 (ὁ ἄνθρωπος δυνατὸς) — the verbal echo links Naomi's recognition to the narrator's introduction.

ἐκfrom / amongpreposition of source/membership→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἐκ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

ἀγχιστευόντωνredeemers / nearest kinsmenPres Act Ptc Gen Pl Masc · ἀγχιστεύωsubstantival participle (partitive genitive: 'one of those who redeem us')→ progressive present (ongoing legal status)ἀγχιστεύω: 'act as next-of-kin, redeem, perform the duty of the גֹּאֵל'; the technical legal term appears here for the first time in Ruth (its introduction in v.1's γνώριμος was deliberately softer). The גֹּאֵל had duties to buy back land, avenge blood, and marry a deceased brother's widow (levir). This disclosure opens the plot of chapters 3–4.

ἡμᾶςusAccusativeobject of ἀγχιστευόντων (those who redeem us)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἡμᾶς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

ἐστινhe isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (predicate: Boaz belongs to the redeemer group)→ gnomic present (permanent legal status)εἰμί: Naomi's declarative statement places Boaz within the legal-redeemer pool — the legal foundation for all that follows.

Καὶ εἶπεν Ρουθ ἡ Μωαβῖτις Καί γε ὅτι εἶπεν πρός με Μετὰ τῶν κορασίων μου κολλήθητι, ἕως ἂν τελέσωσιν πάντα τὸν θερισμὸν ὃν ἔχω.

And Ruth the Moabitess said, 'He also said to me, "Cling to my young women, until they finish all the harvest that I have."'

Supplementary reportΚαί

Ruth now reports Boaz's instruction from v.8 — but she quotes it with the verb κολλήθητι (2nd sg. aorist imperative of κολλάω), recalling the κολληθήσῃ of v.8. The temporal extent (all the harvest) is now made explicit: she has Boaz's standing invitation through the whole harvest season.

Word-by-word analysis· 24 words

ΡουθRuthsubject (indeclinable, nom slot)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Ρουθ: indeclinable.

ΜωαβῖτιςMoabitessNominativeappositive ethnic adjective (resuming Ruth's full identification)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Μωαβῖτις: the ethnic marker appears at each major re-introduction of Ruth; cf. vv.2, 6.

Καίalso / evenadverbial καί (emphasizing additional information)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Καί: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

γεindeedemphatic particle (with καί: 'and indeed')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.γε: emphatic; Καί γε = 'and indeed / also this' — introducing the additional piece of news from Boaz.

ὅτιthatconjunction introducing direct (reported) speech→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ὅτι: here recitative — introducing the content of Boaz's words.

εἶπενhe saidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb of quoted speech (Boaz's words reported by Ruth)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.

πρόςtopreposition (addressee of Boaz's speech)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.πρός: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

μεmeAccusativeobject of πρός→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.με: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

Μετὰwithpreposition of association→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Μετὰ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

κορασίωνyoung womenGenitivegenitive (object of μετά: 'with my young women')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.κοράσιον: same word as v.8 — Ruth quotes Boaz's own words back.

κολλήθητιcling / stay closeAor Pass Impv 2 Sg · κολλάωaorist imperative (Boaz's direct command as quoted by Ruth)→ ingressive aorist (onset of permanent attachment)κολλάω: same root as κολληθήσῃ (v.8) — Ruth quotes Boaz's clinging-command in its imperative form.

ἕωςuntiltemporal conjunction→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἕως: 'until'; introduces the temporal limit of Boaz's invitation.

ἂνevermodal particle (with subjunctive: indefinite/eventualness)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἂν: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

τελέσωσινthey finish / completeAor Act Subj 3 Pl · τελέωsubjunctive in temporal clause (ἕως ἂν + subj.)→ constative aorist (completion of harvest)τελέω: 'complete, finish, accomplish'; renders Hebrew כִּלּוּ ('until they complete'); the implied subject is Boaz's workers.

πάνταallAccusativedirect object of τελέσωσιν (adjective: 'all the harvest')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.πᾶς: 'all, entire'; emphasizes the full harvest season — not just one day.

θερισμὸνharvestAccusativedirect object of τελέσωσιν→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.θερισμός: 'harvest, reaping'; renders Hebrew הַקָּצִיר ('the harvest'); the noun from θερίζω — the harvest that has been the setting of the whole chapter.

ὃνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (modifying θερισμόν)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ὃν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

ἔχωI havePres Act Indic 1 Sg · ἔχωmain verb of relative clause (Boaz's own words: 'my harvest')→ gnomic / possessive presentἔχω: 'have, possess'; Boaz speaks of 'all the harvest that I have' — his fields, his workers, his provision.

Καὶ εἶπεν Νωεμιν πρὸς Ρουθ τὴν νύμφην αὐτῆς Ἀγαθόν, θύγατερ, ὅτι ἐπορεύθης μετὰ τῶν κορασίων αὐτοῦ· καὶ οὐκ ἀπαντήσονταί σοι ἐν ἀγρῷ ἑτέρῳ.

And Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, 'It is good, my daughter, that you went with his young women; for they will not encounter you in another field.'

Naomi's endorsement / practical wisdomΚαί

Naomi endorses the arrangement with a practical concern: staying in Boaz's field means Ruth will not be accosted (ἀπαντήσονταί, 'encounter hostilely') in another man's field. The warning implies real danger for a foreign woman gleaning alone.

Word-by-word analysis· 23 words

ΡουθRuthAccusativeobject of πρός (indeclinable, acc slot)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Ρουθ: indeclinable.

τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with νύμφην)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.τὴν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

νύμφηνdaughter-in-lawAccusativeappositive to Ρουθ→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.νύμφη: same word as v.20; Naomi addresses Ruth by relationship.

ἈγαθόνgoodNominativepredicate adjective (verbless clause: 'it is good')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἀγαθός: 'good'; Naomi's single-word verdict — renders Hebrew טוֹב ('good, it is good').

ὅτιthatconjunction (content of 'good': explicating ὅτι clause)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ὅτι: 'that, because'; here giving the content of what is good.

ἐπορεύθηςyou wentAor Pass Indic 2 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb of ὅτι clause→ constative aoristπορεύομαι: deponent; Naomi approves Ruth's conduct.

κορασίωνyoung womenGenitivegenitive (object of μετά)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.κοράσιον: echoes vv.8 and 21 — Naomi now endorses what Boaz proposed.

αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Boaz's young women)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.αὐτοῦ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

καὶand / forcoordinating conjunction (here giving the practical reason)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.καὶ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

ἀπαντήσονταίthey will encounter / meetFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἀπαντάωfuture indicative (negative prediction: safety assurance)→ predictive futureἀπαντάω: 'meet, encounter'; renders Hebrew יִפְגְּעוּ-בָךְ ('they will strike / fall upon you'); the verb can carry the sense of hostile encounter — Naomi warns that in another man's field, men might accost Ruth.

σοιyouDativedative (indirect object of hostile encounter)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.σοι: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

ἀγρῷfieldDativedative of location (anarthrous: 'in another field')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἀγρός: the word that has run through the whole chapter since v.2; now used negatively — the other field Ruth should not enter.

ἑτέρῳanotherDativedative adjective modifying ἀγρῷ→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.ἕτερος: 'another, different'; same word as in v.8 (Boaz's prohibition ἀγρῷ… ἑτέρῳ) — Naomi endorses Boaz's own instruction.

Καὶ ἐκολλήθη Ρουθ τοῖς κορασίοις Βοος τοῦ συλλέγειν ἕως οὗ συνετελέσθη θερισμὸς τῶν κριθῶν καὶ θερισμὸς τῶν πυρῶν· καὶ ἐκάθισεν μετὰ τῆς πενθερᾶς αὐτῆς.

And Ruth clung to the young women of Boaz to glean until the barley harvest and the wheat harvest were completed; and she lived with her mother-in-law.

Narrative summary / chapter closeΚαί

The chapter closes with a double summary: Ruth fulfills Boaz's instruction (κολλάω again — the book's key theme-word of loyalty/clinging), gleaning through both harvests; and she dwells with Naomi. The pair 'barley harvest — wheat harvest' spans roughly seven weeks (Passover to Pentecost), setting up the threshing-floor scene of chapter 3.

Word-by-word analysis· 24 words

Καὶandcoordinating conjunction (narrative close)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Καὶ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

ἐκολλήθηshe clung / she stayed withAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · κολλάωmain verb (narrative: Ruth's obedience to Boaz's command)→ ingressive aorist (onset of a period of clinging)κολλάω: 'cling to, stick with'; the same verb as Boaz's command (κολληθήσῃ, v.8) and Ruth's report (κολλήθητι, v.21) — now enacted as a narrative fact. The root דָּבַק / κολλάω is the book's loyalty-word (cf. 1:14).

κορασίοιςyoung womenDativedative (object of ἐκολλήθη: 'clung to the young women')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.κοράσιον: the group Ruth was told to join (v.8) — she does so for the full double harvest.

ΒοοςBoazgenitive of possession (indeclinable proper noun: 'Boaz's young women')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.Βοος: indeclinable; final appearance of the name in the chapter — he has dominated the action since v.4.

τοῦtoGenitivearticle (articular infinitive of purpose)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.τοῦ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

συλλέγεινgleanPres Act Inf · συλλέγωarticular infinitive of purpose→ progressive present (ongoing gleaning activity)συλλέγω: the gleaning verb recurs at the chapter's close, forming an inclusion with its first use in v.2.

οὗwhich / whenGenitiverelative genitive (temporal: ἕως οὗ = 'until when' / 'until the time that')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.οὗ: genitive of the relative pronoun; ἕως οὗ = 'until which (time)' — a common LXX temporal construction.

συνετελέσθηwas completedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · συντελέωmain verb of temporal clause (both harvests completed)→ constative aorist (complete event: end of harvest)συντελέω: 'complete, bring to an end'; renders Hebrew כָּלוּ ('were finished/completed'); picks up τελέσωσιν from v.21.

θερισμὸςharvestNominativesubject of συνετελέσθη (first: barley harvest)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.θερισμός: 'harvest, reaping'; from θερίζω — the noun closing the harvest-vocabulary that has permeated the chapter.

τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.τῶν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.

κριθῶνbarleyGenitivegenitive of content (the barley harvest)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.κριθή: 'barley'; echoes v.17 (κριθῶν); the barley harvest begins at Passover and lasts about two weeks.

καὶandcoordinating conjunction (second harvest added)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.καὶ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

θερισμὸςharvestNominativesubject (second: wheat harvest)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.θερισμός: the wheat harvest follows the barley harvest by approximately seven weeks, ending at Shavuot/Pentecost.

πυρῶνwheatGenitivegenitive of content (the wheat harvest)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.πυρός: 'wheat'; renders Hebrew הַחִטִּים ('the wheat'); the mention of both harvests suggests a period of roughly seven weeks, the span between Passover and Pentecost, during which Ruth loyally gleans alongside Boaz's workers.

καὶandcoordinating conjunction (final statement of the chapter)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.καὶ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

ἐκάθισενshe dwelt / she livedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κάθημαιmain verb (closing summary: Ruth's residence with Naomi)→ constative aorist (settled state during the harvest period)κάθημαι: 'sit, remain, dwell'; here 'she dwelt, she remained'; renders Hebrew וַתֵּשֶׁב ('and she dwelt') — the chapter closes on the domestic note of Ruth living with Naomi.

μετὰwithpreposition of association (dwelling together)→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.μετὰ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.

πενθερᾶςmother-in-lawGenitivegenitive (object of μετά: 'with her mother-in-law')→ Through a single barley-harvest day in Bethlehem, divine providence and human loyalty converge: the foreign gleaner Ruth, clinging to her mother-in-law in a strange land, stumbles providentially onto the field of Boaz — kinsman, man of substance, and man of genuine piety — who extends extravagant protection and provision, pronounces the wings-of-refuge benediction over her, and is revealed by Naomi as one of Israel's redeemers, setting the legal and theological foundation for the restoration of Elimelech's line.πενθερά: the chapter closes with the same relationship-word that has marked the narrative throughout — Ruth and Naomi, together.

The Book of Ruth, Chapter 2ΡΟΥΘ Β′

Theme

Translation & textual notes