Bible Glide

Ruth 3

Ruth 3 Summary, Context, and Full Chapter

Naomi takes a bold step to secure Ruth's future and sends her to Boaz at the threshing floor. Ruth acts with humility and trust, and Boaz responds with honor, kindness, and a clear plan to resolve the matter of redemption.

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What happens in Ruth 3?

Naomi tells Ruth to go to Boaz after the barley winnowing and carefully follow her instructions. Ruth goes to the threshing floor, approaches Boaz at night, and asks him to act as kinsman-redeemer. Boaz blesses her, praises her character, and agrees to help, while noting that another relative has the first right to redeem. He keeps Ruth safe through the night and sends her back with a generous gift of barley. Ruth reports everything to Naomi, who tells her to wait because Boaz will not let the matter remain unsettled.

This chapter follows Ruth's first season of gathering grain in Boaz's field and moves the story from provision to the question of family redemption. It sits near the center of the book, where Naomi's losses begin to turn toward restoration through Boaz's faithfulness and Ruth's loyalty.

Themes to notice

  • KindnessNaomi, Ruth, and Boaz all act with loyal care that seeks the good of another.
  • RedemptionThe chapter centers on the role of the kinsman-redeemer and the hope of restoring Ruth and Naomi's family line.
  • TrustRuth follows Naomi's guidance, and Naomi waits with confidence that Boaz will complete the matter.

Questions for Ruth 3

  • Why does Naomi send Ruth to Boaz, and what is she hoping will happen?
  • What does Boaz's response show about his character and sense of responsibility?
  • How do Ruth's actions and Naomi's waiting show faith and trust in this chapter?

Read the full text of Ruth 3 below, then open it in the reader to highlight, take notes, or ask follow-up Bible questions. No account is required to read.

Ruth 3

Ruth’s Redemption Assured

1One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek a resting place for you, that it may be well with you?2Now is not Boaz, with whose servant girls you have been working, a relative of ours? In fact, tonight he is winnowing barley on the threshing floor.3Therefore wash yourself, put on perfume, and wear your best clothes. Go down to the threshing floor, but do not let the man know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking.4When he lies down, note the place where he lies. Then go in and uncover his feet, and lie down, and he will explain to you what you should do.”

5“I will do everything you say,” Ruth answered.6So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law had instructed her to do.7After Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then Ruth went in secretly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.8At midnight, Boaz was startled, turned over, and there lying at his feet was a woman!9“Who are you?” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your garment over me, for you are a kinsman-redeemer.”

10Then Boaz said, “May the LORD bless you, my daughter. You have shown more kindness now than before, because you have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor.11And now do not be afraid, my daughter. I will do for you whatever you request, since all my fellow townspeople know that you are a woman of noble character.12Yes, it is true that I am a kinsman-redeemer, but there is a redeemer nearer than I.13Stay here tonight, and in the morning, if he wants to redeem you, good. Let him redeem you. But if he does not want to redeem you, as surely as the LORD lives, I will. Now lie here until morning.”

14So she lay down at his feet until morning, but she got up before anyone else could recognize her. Then Boaz said, “Do not let it be known that a woman came to the threshing floor.”15And he told her, “Bring the shawl you are wearing and hold it out.” When she did so, he shoveled six measures of barley into her shawl. Then he went into the city.

16When Ruth returned to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked her, “How did it go, my daughter?” Then Ruth told her all that Boaz had done for her.17And she said, “He gave me these six measures of barley, for he said, ‘Do not go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’”

18“Wait, my daughter,” said Naomi, “until you find out how things go, for he will not rest unless he has resolved the matter today.”

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