Ruth Meets Boaz

Naomi had a relative from Elimelech's family named Boaz, a man of standing and wealth. Ruth asked Naomi if she could go into the fields and glean among the grain after someone who would favour her. Naomi told her to go, and Ruth happened to come to the part of the field that belonged to Boaz.

Boaz came from Bethlehem and blessed his workers, and they blessed him in return. He noticed Ruth and asked the overseer who she was. The servant explained that she was the Moabite woman who had returned with Naomi and had been working since morning, with only a little rest.

Boaz told Ruth not to go to another field, but to stay there close to his maidens. He said he had commanded the young men not to touch her, and that she could drink the water they had drawn when she was thirsty. Ruth bowed low and asked why he had noticed her, since she was a foreigner.

Boaz said he had heard what Ruth had done for Naomi after her husband's death. He knew she had left her father, mother, and homeland to come to a people she had not known before. He asked the God of Israel to repay her, and Ruth thanked him for speaking kindly and comforting her.

At mealtime Boaz invited Ruth to eat bread and parched grain with the workers. She ate until she was satisfied and kept some back. Later Boaz told his young men to let her glean even among the sheaves and to leave some grain for her without rebuking her. By evening she had gathered about an ephah of barley and brought it back into the town, along with the food she had saved.

Naomi asked where Ruth had worked and blessed the man who had noticed her. Ruth said the man's name was Boaz. Naomi thanked Yahweh for this kindness and said Boaz was one of their near kinsmen. Ruth said Boaz had told her to stay close to his young men until the harvest was finished, and Naomi advised her to go out with his maidens so she would not be harmed in another field. So Ruth stayed close to Boaz's maidens through the barley and wheat harvests, while living with Naomi.