Ruth Gleans in Booz's Field

Ruth 2

Ruth goes out to glean grain and happens upon a field belonging to Booz, a kinsman of Noemin's late husband, who notices her, learns of her kindness to Noemin, and instructs his workers to let her glean freely and treat her generously. Ruth returns home with a large gleaning of barley, and Noemin recognizes Booz as a close relative, encouraging Ruth to keep gleaning in his fields through the barley and wheat harvests.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonNOW Noemin had a kinsman of her husband’s; a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech, and his name was Boaz.

BrentonAnd Noemin had a friend an acquaintance of her husband, and the man was a mighty man of the kindred of Elimelech, and his name was Booz.

GreekΚαὶ τῇ Νωεμὶν ἀνὴρ γνώριμος τῷ ἀνδρὶ αὐτῆς, ὁ δὲ ἀνὴρ δυνατὸς ἰσχύϊ ἐκ τῆς συγγενείας Ἐλιμέλεχ, καὶ ὄνομα αὐτῷ Βοόζ.

KJVAnd Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.

JPSAnd Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of valour, of the family of Elimelech, and his name was Boaz.

ThomsonAnd Ruth the Moabitess said to Noemin, Let me go, I pray thee, into the field, and glean among the stubble after him in whose eyes I shall find favour. And she said to her, Go, my daughter.

BrentonAnd Ruth the Moabitess said to Noemin, Let me go now to the field, and I will glean among the ears behind the man with whomsoever I shall find favour: and she said to her, Go, daughter.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Ῥοὺθ ἡ Μωαβίτις πρὸς Νωεμὶν, πορεῦθω δὴ εἰς ἀγρὸν, καὶ συνάξω ἐν τοῖς στάχυσι κατόπισθεν οὗ ἐὰν εὕρω χάριν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ. εἶπε δὲ αὐτῇ, πορεύου, θύγατερ.

KJVAnd Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.

JPSAnd Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi: ‘Let me now go to the field, and glean among the ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find favour.’ And she said unto her: ‘Go, my daughter.’

ThomsonSo she went, and coming into a field, gleaned after the reapers. Now she happened to light upon the part of the field which belonged to Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.

BrentonAnd she went; and came and gleaned in the field behind the reapers; and she happened by chance to come on a portion of the land of Booz, of the kindred of Elimelech.

GreekΚαὶ ἐπορεύθη· καὶ ἐλθοῦσα συνέλεξεν ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ κατόπισθε τῶν θεριζόντων· καὶ περιέπεσε περιπτώματι τῇ μερίδι τοῦ ἀγροῦ Βοὸζ, τοῦ ἐκ τῆς συγγενείας Ἐλιμέλεχ.

KJVAnd she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.

JPSAnd she went, and came and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and her hap was to light on the portion of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.

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

BrentonAnd, behold, Booz came from Bethleem, and said to the reapers, The Lord be with you: and they said to him, The Lord bless thee.

GreekΚαὶ ἰδοὺ Βοὸζ ἦλθεν ἐκ Βηθλεὲμ, καὶ εἶπε τοῖς θερίζουσι, Κύριος μεθʼ ὑμῶν· καὶ εἶπον αὐτῷ, εὐλογήσαι σε Κύριος.

KJVAnd, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee.

JPSAnd, behold, Boaz came from Beth-lehem, and said unto the reapers: ‘The LORD be with you.’ And they answered him: ‘The LORD bless thee.’

ThomsonThen Boaz said to his servant, who was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is that?

BrentonAnd Booz said to his servant who was set over the reapers, Whose is this damsel?

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Βοὸζ τῷ παιδαρίῳ αὐτοῦ τῷ ἐφεστῶτι ἐπὶ τοὺς θερίζοντας, τίνος ἡ νεᾶνις αὕτη;

KJVThen said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this?

JPSThen said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers: ‘Whose damsel is this?’

ThomsonAnd the servant who was over the reapers said in reply, It is the Moabitish girl, who came with Noemin from the country of Moab.

BrentonAnd his servant who was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel who returned with Noemin out of the land of Moab.

GreekΚαὶ ἀπεκρίθη τὸ παιδάριον τὸ ἐφεστὸς ἐπὶ τοὺς θερίζοντας, καὶ εἶπεν, ἡ παῖς ἡ Μωαβίτις ἐστὶν ἡ ἀποστραφεῖσα μετὰ Νωεμὶν ἐξ ἀγροῦ Μωάβ·

KJVAnd the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab:

JPSAnd the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said: ‘It is a Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the field of Moab;

ThomsonShe said, Let me, I pray thee, glean, and gather among the sheaves after the reapers. So she came, and hath been on her feet from early in the morning, and is continuing on till evening. She hath not rested a moment in the field.

BrentonAnd she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers: and she came and stood from morning till evening, and rested not even a little in the field.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε, συλλέξω δὴ καὶ συνάξω ἐν τοῖς δράγμασιν ὄπισθεν τῶν θεριζόντων· καὶ ἦλθε καὶ ἔστη ἀπὸ πρωΐθεν καὶ ἕως ἑσπέρας, οὐ κατέπαυσεν ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ μικρόν.

KJVAnd she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house.

JPSand she said: Let me glean, I pray you, and gather after the reapers among the sheaves; so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, save that she tarried a little in the house.’

ThomsonThen Boaz said to Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Thou must not go to glean in any other field, nor must thou go hence, but abide here fast by my maids,

BrentonAnd Booz said to Ruth, Hast thou not heard, my daughter? go not to glean in another field; and depart not thou hence, join thyself here with my damsels.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Βοὸζ πρὸς Ῥοὺθ, οὐκ ἤκουσας θύγατερ; μὴ πορευθῇς ἐν ἀγρῷ συλλέξαι ἑτέρῳ· καὶ σὺ οὐ πορεύσῃ ἐντεῦθεν, ὧδε κολλήθητι μετὰ τῶν κορασίων μου.

KJVThen said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens:

JPSThen said Boaz unto Ruth: ‘Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither pass from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens.

Thomsonlet thy eyes be on the field where they reap and go after them. Behold I have given a charge to my servants not to touch thee, and when thou art thirsty, go to the vessels, and drink of what the servants have drawn.

BrentonLet thine eyes be on the field where my men shall reap, and thou shalt go after them: behold, I have charged the young men not to touch thee: and when thou shalt thirst, then thou shalt go to the vessels, and drink of that which the young men shall have drawn.

GreekΟἱ ὀφθαλμοί σου εἰς τὸν ἀγρὸν οὗ ἐὰν θερίζωσι, καὶ πορεύσῃ κατόπισθεν αὐτῶν· ἰδοὺ ἐνετειλάμην τοῖς παιδαρίοις τοῦ μὴ ἅψασθαί σου· καὶ ὅτε διψήσεις καὶ πορευθήσῃ εἰς τὰ σκεύη, καὶ πίεσαι ὅθεν ἐὰν ὑδρεύωνται τὰ παιδάρια.

KJVLet thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.

JPSLet thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them; have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.’

ThomsonUpon which she fell on her face, and made an obeisance to the ground, and said to him, How have I found favour in thy sight, that thou shouldst take notice of me, seeing I am a stranger?

BrentonAnd she fell upon her face, and did reverence to the ground, and said to him, How is it that I have found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take notice of me, whereas I am a stranger?

GreekΚαὶ ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον αὐτῆς, καὶ προσεκύνησεν ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν, καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτὸν, τί ὅτι εὗρον χάριν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου τοῦ ἐπιγνῶναί με, καὶ ἐγώ εἰμι ξένη;

KJVThen she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?

JPSThen she fell on her face, and bowed down to the ground, and said unto him: ‘Why have I found favour in thy sight, that thou shouldest take cognizance of me, seeing I am a foreigner?’

ThomsonAnd Boaz in reply said to her, I have been fully informed of all that thou hast done to thy mother-in-law after the death of thy husband; and how thou hast left thy father, and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, to come to a people whom thou knewest not heretofore.

BrentonAnd Booz answered and said to her, It has fully been told me how thou hast dealt with thy mother-in-law after the death of thy husband; and how thou didst leave thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy birth, and camest to a people whom thou knewest not before.

GreekΚαὶ ἀπεκρίθη Βοὸζ, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ, ἀπαγγελίᾳ ἀπηγγέλη μοι ὅσα πεποίηκας μετὰ τῆς πενθερᾶς σου μετὰ τὸ ἀποθανεῖν τὸν ἄνδρα σου· καὶ πῶς κατέλιπες τὸν πατέρα σου καὶ τὴν μητέρα σου, καὶ τὴν γῆν γενέσεώς σου, καὶ ἐπορεύθης πρὸς λαὸν ὃν οὐκ ᾔδεις ἐχθὲς καὶ τρίτης.

KJVAnd Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.

JPSAnd Boaz answered and said unto her: ‘It hath fully been told me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law since the death of thy husband; and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people that thou knewest not heretofore.

ThomsonThe Lord recompense thy work, and may a full reward be given thee by the Lord God of Israel, to whom thou art come, to put thy trust under His wings.

BrentonThe Lord recompense thy work: may a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, to whom thou hast come to trust under his wings.

GreekἈποτίσαι Κύριος τὴν ἐργασίαν σου· γένοιτο ὁ μισθός σου πλήρης παρὰ Κυρίου Θεοῦ Ἰσραὴλ, πρὸς ὃν ἦλθες πεποιθέναι ὑπὸ τὰς πτέρυγας αὐτοῦ.

KJVThe LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.

JPSThe LORD recompense thy work, and be thy reward complete from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to take refuge.’

ThomsonAnd she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my Lord, for thou hast comforted me. Now because thou hast spoken affectionately to thy servant, behold let me therefore be like one of thy maid servants.

BrentonAnd she said, Let me find grace in thy sight, my lord, because thou hast comforted me, and because thou hast spoken kindly to thy handmaid, and behold, I shall be as one of thy servants.

GreekἩ δὲ εἶπεν, εὕροιμι χάριν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου κύριε, ὅτι παρεκάλεσάς με, καὶ ὅτι ἐλάλησας ἐπὶ καρδίαν τῆς δούλης σου, καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἔσομαι ὡς μία τῶν παιδισκῶν σου.

KJVThen she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens.

JPSThen she said: ‘Let me find favour in thy sight, my LORD; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken to the heart of thy handmaid, though I be not as one of thy handmaidens.’

ThomsonThen Boaz said to her, It is now meal time, draw near, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. So Ruth sat down by the side of the reapers. And Boaz helped her to a large piece of barley bread, so that she eat, and was satisfied, and had some left.

BrentonAnd Booz said to her, Now it is time to eat; come hither, and thou shalt eat of the bread, and thou shalt dip thy morsel in the vinegar: and Ruth sat by the side of the reapers, and Booz handed her meal, and she ate, and was satisfied, and left.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ Βοὸζ, ἤδη ὥρα τοῦ φαγεῖν, πρόσελθε ὧδε καὶ φάγεσαι τῶν ἄρτων, καὶ βάψεις τὸν ψωμόν σου ἐν τῷ ὄξει· καὶ ἐκάθισε Ῥοὺθ ἐκ πλαγίων τῶν θεριζόντων· καὶ ἐβούνισεν αὐτῇ Βοὸζ ἄλφιτον, καὶ ἔφαγε καὶ ἐνεπλήσθη καὶ κατέλιπε,

KJVAnd Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left.

JPSAnd Boaz said unto her at meal-time: ‘Come hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar.’ And she sat beside the reapers; and they reached her parched corn, and she did eat and was satisfied, and left thereof.

ThomsonAnd when she arose to glean, Boaz gave a charge to his servants, saying, Let her glean among the sheaves, and put her not to the blush.

BrentonAnd she rose up to glean; and Booz charged his young men, saying, Let her even glean among the sheaves, and reproach her not.

GreekΚαὶ ἀνέστη τοῦ συλλέγειν· καὶ ἐνετείλατο Βοὸζ τοῖς παιδαρίοις αὐτοῦ, λέγων, καί γε ἀναμέσον τῶν δραγμάτων συλλεγέτω, καὶ μὴ καταισχύνητε αὐτήν·

KJVAnd when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not:

JPSAnd when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying: ‘Let her glean even among the sheaves, and put her not to shame.

ThomsonAnd when you carry out, carry out for her. Leave also for her some out of the bundles, and let her eat, and glean, and rebuke her not.

BrentonAnd do ye by all means carry it for her, and ye shall surely let fall for her some of that which is heaped up; and let her eat, and glean, and rebuke her not.

GreekΚαὶ βαστάζοντες βαστάσατε αὐτῇ, καί γε παραβάλλοντες παραβαλεῖτε αὐτῇ ἐκ τῶν βεβουνισμένων, καὶ φάγεται, καὶ συλλέξει, καὶ οὐκ ἐπιτιμήσετε αὐτῇ.

KJVAnd let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.

JPSAnd also pull out some for her of purpose from the bundles, and leave it, and let her glean, and rebuke her not.’

ThomsonSo she gleaned in the field till evening, and beat out what she had gathered, and it was about an epha of barley.

BrentonSo she gleaned in the field till evening, and beat out that she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.

GreekΚαὶ συνέλεξεν ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ ἕως ἑσπέρας, καὶ ἐῤῥάβδισεν ἃ συνέλεξε, καὶ ἐγενήθη ὡς οἰφὶ κριθῶν.

KJVSo she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.

JPSSo she gleaned in the field until even; and she beat out that which she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.

ThomsonAnd she took it up, and went to the city. And when her mother-in-law saw what she had gathered, and Ruth had taken out, and given her some of the bread that was left after she had been satisfied,

BrentonAnd she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned, and Ruth brought forth and gave to her the food which she had left from what she had been satisfied with.

GreekΚαὶ ᾖρε καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὴν πόλιν· καὶ εἶδεν ἡ πενθερὰ αὐτῆς ἃ συνέλεξε· καὶ ἐξενέγκασα Ῥοὺθ ἔδωκεν αὐτῇ ἃ κατέλιπεν ἐξ ὧν ἐνεπλήσθη.

KJVAnd she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed.

JPSAnd she took it up, and went into the city; and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned; and she brought forth and gave to her that which she had left after she was satisfied.

Thomsonher mother-in-law said to her, Where hast thou gleaned today? And where hast thou been at work? Blessed be he who hath taken notice of thee. And when Ruth told her mother-in-law where she had been at work, and said, The man’s name is Boaz, with whom I worked today.

BrentonAnd her mother-in-law said to her, Where hast thou gleaned to-day, and where hast thou wrought? blessed be he that took notice of thee. And Ruth told her mother-in-law where she had wrought, and said, The name of the man with whom I wrought to-day is Booz.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ ἡ πενθερὰ αὐτῆς, ποῦ συνέλεξας σήμερον καὶ ποῦ ἐποίησας; εἴη ὁ ἐπιγνούς σε εὐλογημένος· καὶ ἀνήγγειλε Ῥοὺθ τῇ πενθερᾷ αὐτῆς ποῦ ἐποίησε, καὶ εἶπε, τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ ἀνδρὸς μεθʼ οὗ ἐποίησα σήμερον Βοόζ.

KJVAnd her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man’s name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz.

JPSAnd her mother-in-law said unto her: ‘Where hast thou gleaned to-day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee.’ And she told her mother-in-law with whom she had wrought, and said: ‘The man’s name with whom I wrought to-day is Boaz.’

ThomsonNoemin said to her daughter-in-law, Blessed is he of the Lord, because he hath not dropped his kindness to the living, nor to the dead. Then Noemin said to her, The man is near of kin to us. He is one of our nearest relations.

BrentonAnd Noemin said to her daughter-in-law, Blessed is he of the Lord, because he has not failed in his mercy with the living and with the dead: and Noemin said to her, The man is near akin to us, he is one of our relations.

GreekΕἶπε δὲ Νωεμὶν τῇ νύμφῃ αὐτῆς, εὐλογητός ἐστι τῷ Κυρίῳ, ὅτι οὐκ ἐγκατέλιπε τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ μετὰ τῶν ζώντων καὶ μετὰ τῶν τεθνηκότων· καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ Νωεμὶν, ἐγγίζει ἡμῖν ὁ ἀνὴρ, ἐκ τῶν ἀγχιστευόντων ἡμῖν ἐστι.

KJVAnd Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.

JPSAnd Naomi said unto her daughter-in-law: ‘Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off His kindness to the living and to the dead.’ And Naomi said unto her: ‘The man is nigh of kin unto us, one of our near kinsmen.’

ThomsonAnd Ruth said to her mother-in-law, Indeed he also said to me, Thou must keep close by my maids till they finish my whole harvest.

BrentonAnd Ruth said to her mother-in-law, Yea, he said also to me, Keep close to my damsels, until the men shall have finished all my reaping.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Ῥοὺθ πρὸς τὴν πενθερὰν αὐτῆς, καί γε ὅτι εἶπε πρὸς μέ, μετὰ τῶν κορασίων τῶν ἐμῶν προσκολλήθητι, ἕως ἂν τελέσωσιν ὅλον τὸν ἀμητὸν ὃς ὑπάρχει μοι.

KJVAnd Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.

JPSAnd Ruth the Moabitess said: ‘Yea, he said unto me: Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.’

ThomsonAnd Noemin said to her daughter-in-law Ruth, it is good my daughter that thou hast gone out with his maids, therefore let them not meet thee in another field.

BrentonAnd Noemin said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, It is well, daughter, that thou wentest out with his damsels; thus they shall not meet thee in another field.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Νωεμὶν πρὸς Ῥοὺθ τὴν νύμφην αὐτῆς, ἀγαθὸν θύγατερ, ὅτι ἐξῆλθες μετὰ τῶν κορασίων αὐτου, καὶ οὐκ ἀπαντήσονταί σοι ἐν ἀγρῷ ἑτέρῳ.

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

JPSAnd Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter-in-law: ‘It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, and that thou be not met in any other field.’

ThomsonSo Ruth kept fast by the maids of Boaz, to glean till they finished the barley and wheat harvest. Then she abode at home with her mother-in-law.

BrentonAnd Ruth joined herself to the damsels of Booz to glean until they had finished the barley-harvest and the wheat-harvest.

GreekΚαὶ προσεκολλήθη Ῥοὺθ τοῖς κορασίοις τοῦ Βοὸζ τοῦ συλλέγειν, ἕως τοῦ συντελέσαι τὸν θερισμὸν τῶν κριθῶν καὶ τῶν πυρῶν.

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

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