1
Now Naomi had a kinsman on her husband’s side, a man of great wealth, of the clan of Elimelech; his name was Boaz.
2
And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after someone in whose sight I may find favor.” And Naomi said to her, “Go, my daughter.”
3
So she went, and came and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And it happened that she came to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech.
4
And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem. He said to the reapers, “The LORD be with you.” And they answered him, “The LORD bless you.”
5
Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?”
6
And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, “She is a Moabite woman, who came back with Naomi from the land of Moab.
7
She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers.’ So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest.”
8
Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen carefully, my daughter. Do not go to glean in another field, and do not leave this one, but stay close to my young women.
9
Keep your eyes on the field that they are reaping, and follow after the young women. I have charged the young men not to touch you. And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.”
10
Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?”
11
Boaz answered her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before.
12
May the LORD repay your work, and may you receive a full reward from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”
13
Then she said, “I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not one of your servant girls.”
14
And at mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here and eat some bread, and dip your morsel in the vinegar.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed to her roasted grain; and she ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over.
15
After she rose to glean, Boaz instructed his workers, saying, “Even among the sheaves she may glean, and do not rebuke her.
16
And you shall also draw out some from the bundles on purpose and leave them for her to glean; do not reproach her.”
17
So she gleaned in the field until evening; then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.
18
She took it up and went into the city. When her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned, and when she brought out and gave to her mother-in-law what was left after she had eaten enough,
19
her mother-in-law said to her, “Where did you glean today, and where did you work? Blessed be the man who took notice of you.” So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said, “The name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz.”
20
Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “Blessed be he of the LORD, who has not forsaken his kindness to the living and to the dead.” Naomi also said to her, “The man is our relative; he is one of our redeemers.”
21
Then Ruth the Moabitess said, “Moreover, he said to me, ‘You shall keep close by my workers until they have finished all my harvest.’”
22
And Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It is better, my daughter, that you go out with his female workers, so that you may not be harmed in another field.”
23
So she kept close to the female workers of Boaz, gleaning until the end of the barley harvest and the end of the wheat harvest. And she lived with her mother-in-law during that time.
🌾👨🌾❤️ Summary of Ruth 2 – Ruth Meets Boaz in the Field
After the darkness and sorrow of chapter 1, Ruth 2 brings a light of hope. Here, Ruth works hard to provide for herself and Naomi. But without realizing it, she is entering into God’s plan of redemption through a man named Boaz — an important figure who becomes a symbol of Christ in the New Testament.
📌 1. Ruth Goes to Glean Barley (verses 1–3)
- Boaz is introduced, a wealthy, honorable man and a relative of Elimelech (Naomi’s husband).
- Ruth asks Naomi’s permission to glean barley in the fields, according to Israel’s law that allowed the poor to gather the leftovers of the harvest.
- Unintentionally (but under divine guidance), Ruth arrives at Boaz’s field.
🎯 Small faithfulness and hard work open the way to an encounter with God’s great plan.
📌 2. Boaz Notices Ruth (verses 4–16)
- Boaz came to the field and asked about the foreign woman who was working diligently.
- On hearing that she was Naomi’s daughter-in-law, Boaz welcomed, blessed, and protected Ruth:
He gave Ruth a safe place in his field.
He instructed his workers not to trouble her.
He even provided water and food for her.
- Boaz praised Ruth’s faithfulness and courage, and prayed:
“May the LORD repay your work… may your reward be full from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” (verse 12)
🎯 Boaz shows how grace works: welcoming the stranger and restoring her dignity.
📌 3. Ruth Returns to Naomi (verses 17–23)
- Ruth worked through the whole day and brought home a large amount of barley.
- Naomi was surprised and asked who had blessed Ruth.
- When she heard Boaz’s name, Naomi said:
“That man is our relative… one of our redeemers.”
- Naomi began to realize that the LORD had not abandoned them.
🎯 In the midst of suffering, God still leaves people who become instruments of His restoration.
📖 Main Lessons
- God cares for and guides with love, even through ordinary things.
- Ruth sets an example of hard work, humility, and faithfulness.
- Boaz is a picture of grace — protecting, blessing, and not judging by background.
- God arranges meetings that seem “coincidental” for eternal purposes.
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
“…you were at that time without Christ… strangers… but now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”
“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few…”
“May the LORD repay your work…”
🎯 Like Ruth, we too are strangers who are now protected and redeemed by the true Redeemer — Jesus.
“She happened to come to the field belonging to Boaz.” – Ruth 2:3
“May the LORD repay your work…” – Ruth 2:12
“That man is one of our redeemers.” – Ruth 2:20
