Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Ruth 2
Ruth 2:3So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech.
This verse highlights God's hidden guidance. Ruth didn't know whose field it was, but she 'happened' to be in exactly the right place, showing that God was orchestrating events behind the scenes.Ruth 2:12The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!
Boaz speaks a blessing over Ruth, recognizing that her loyalty to Naomi was an act of faith in the God of Israel. He sees her as someone who has sought safety under God's protection.Ruth 2:20And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Naomi also said to her, “The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.”
This is the chapter's climax, where Naomi recognizes Boaz as a 'kinsman-redeemer,' a role more significant than merely a kind man. This shifts the story from one of simple survival to one of hopeful redemption for their family line.
Historical & Cultural Context
A Widow's Courageous Plan
After the tragic losses in Moab, Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth have returned to Bethlehem with nothing. They are widows, poor, and without a clear path forward. In this desperate situation, Ruth takes the initiative, deciding to use the Israelite law of gleaning - gathering leftover grain from harvested fields - to provide food for them both. Her decision is a courageous step of faith into an unknown and vulnerable situation.
A Providential Encounter in the Field
The narrative introduces Boaz, a relative of Naomi's late husband, described as a 'worthy man.' His character is immediately revealed through his actions: he greets his workers with a blessing and shows concern for the foreign woman in his field. This chance meeting between a destitute but faithful immigrant and a compassionate, godly landowner sets the stage for God's plan of restoration to unfold.
A Day of Gleaning and Grace
The chapter unfolds during a single day in a barley field near Bethlehem. Having returned from Moab in poverty, Ruth sets out to find food. The narrative follows her as her path providentially crosses with Boaz, a man of great character and a relative of her late father-in-law. What starts as a humble act of survival becomes a pivotal encounter filled with unexpected kindness and the first glimmers of hope.
Ruth's Initiative and Boaz's Inquiry (Ruth 2:1-7)
1 Now Naomi had a relative of her husband's, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose 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 him in whose sight I shall find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.”
3 So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech.
4 And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem. And he said to the reapers, "The Lord be with you!" And they answered, "The Lord bless you."
5 Then Boaz said to his young man 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 the young Moabite woman, who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab.
7 And 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."
Commentary:
Ruth takes initiative to glean for food and providentially ends up in the field of Boaz, who notices her.
Boaz's Unexpected Kindness (Ruth 2:8-13)
8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, "Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women.
9 Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not 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 But 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 The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!
13 Then she said, “Let me find favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not one of your servants.”
Commentary:
Boaz shows Ruth extraordinary kindness, offering her protection and provision because he has heard of her loyalty to Naomi.
Provision Beyond Measure (Ruth 2:14-17)
14 And at mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here and eat some bread and dip your morsel in the wine.” 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 When she rose to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, saying, "Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her.
16 And let fall some of the bundles for her, and leave them for her to glean, and do not rebuke 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.
Commentary:
Boaz invites Ruth to share a meal and secretly instructs his workers to leave extra grain for her, ensuring she gathers an abundance.
A Joyful Return and a Spark of Hope (Ruth 2:18-23)
18 And she took it up and went into the city.
19 And her mother-in-law said to her, "Where did you glean today? And where have you worked? Blessed be the man who took notice of you." So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, "The man's name with whom I worked today is Boaz."
20 And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Naomi also said to her, “The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.”
21 And Ruth the Moabite said, “Besides, he said to me, ‘You shall keep close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest.’”
22 And Naomi said to Ruth, her daughter-in-law, "It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, lest in another field you be assaulted."
23 So she kept close to the young women of Boaz, gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests. And she lived with her mother-in-law.
Commentary:
Ruth returns with an abundance of food, and Naomi realizes with joy that Boaz is a kinsman-redeemer, sparking hope for their future.
Unpacking the Deeper Meanings in Ruth 2
God's Providence in Ordinary Life
This chapter is a masterclass in showing God's providence - His quiet, guiding hand in everyday events. Ruth 'happened' to choose Boaz's field (Ruth 2:3), but the story makes it clear this was no accident. God works through ordinary decisions, human kindness, and perfect timing to accomplish His purposes.
Hesed: Kindness in Action
Hesed is a Hebrew word for loyal, covenant love and kindness. Boaz's actions are a perfect example of hesed. He goes far beyond the legal requirements for gleaning, offering Ruth protection, community, and abundant provision, reflecting the generous and protective character of God Himself.
The Hope of Redemption
When Naomi hears Boaz's name, she identifies him as a 'kinsman-redeemer' (Ruth 2:20). This was a relative with the responsibility to rescue family members from hardship, such as poverty or childlessness. Boaz's kindness is the first sign that he might be the one to redeem Ruth and Naomi, providing a future for their family.
Faith Expressed Through Faithfulness
Both Ruth and Boaz display active faith. Ruth shows her commitment to Naomi and God by courageously working in a vulnerable position. Boaz demonstrates his faith through his integrity, his blessings upon his workers, and his extraordinary generosity to a foreigner in need.
Bringing the Story of Ruth and Boaz into Our Lives
Boaz was a man of standing in his community, and he used his position not for personal gain but to protect and provide for the vulnerable. His example in Ruth 2:8-16 challenges you to consider how you can use your own resources - whether time, money, or influence - to show kindness and create a safe space for those on the margins.
Ruth's story teaches that God is often at work in what we might call coincidences. You can look for His hand in the 'chance' encounters, the unexpected opportunities, or the timely help you receive. Recognizing these moments, as Naomi did in Ruth 2:20, can transform your perspective from seeing random events to seeing God's loving guidance.
Ruth was a foreigner and a widow, yet she didn't let her difficult circumstances paralyze her. She took a courageous, practical step to provide for her family (Ruth 2:2). Her story encourages you to act in faith, even when you feel uncertain or afraid, trusting that God will direct your steps and provide for your needs as you move forward.
God's Providence in Everyday Kindness
Ruth 2 reveals that God's grand plan of redemption is woven into the fabric of ordinary life. He works through the courageous initiative of a faithful woman and the generous integrity of a godly man. The message is that our small acts of kindness and faithfulness matter deeply, as God uses them to bring hope out of despair and guide history toward His ultimate purpose.
What This Means for Us Today
The story of Ruth and Boaz is an invitation to participate in God's work of restoration. We are called to be like Boaz, offering protection and provision to the vulnerable, and like Ruth, stepping out in faith even when the future is uncertain. Our acts of kindness can be the very means through which God shows His faithfulness to others.
- Who in your life needs you to be a 'Boaz' this week, offering unexpected kindness and protection?
- In what area do you need to act with the courage of Ruth, trusting God to guide your steps?
- How can you better recognize and celebrate the 'coincidences' in your life as signs of God's loving providence?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
Connections Across Scripture
This passage outlines the law of gleaning, providing the legal and social framework for the events in Ruth 2.
This genealogy reveals the ultimate significance of this story, naming Boaz and Ruth as ancestors of Jesus Christ.
The description of the 'worthy woman' in Proverbs shares many characteristics with Ruth, such as her diligence, initiative, and strong character.
Discussion Questions
- Boaz's reputation for kindness was well-known. How do our daily actions, especially toward those in need, build a reputation that honors God?
- The story says Ruth 'happened' to arrive at Boaz's field. In what areas of your life do you need to trust that God is working behind the scenes, even when it looks like a coincidence?
- Boaz went beyond what the law required in his kindness to Ruth. Where in our lives are we called to show a generosity that exceeds expectations?
Glossary
places
figures
Ruth
A Moabite widow who shows incredible loyalty to her mother-in-law, Naomi, and becomes an ancestor of King David and Jesus.
Naomi
An Israelite widow who returns to her hometown of Bethlehem bitter from loss but finds her hope restored through Ruth and Boaz.
Boaz
A wealthy and respected landowner in Bethlehem, a relative of Naomi's husband, who shows extraordinary kindness to Ruth.
Elimelech
Naomi's deceased husband, whose family line is at the center of the story's need for redemption.
theological concepts
Providence
The belief that God is sovereignly and kindly guiding events and history for His good purposes.
Kinsman-Redeemer (Go'el)
A male relative who, under Israelite law, had the responsibility to rescue a family member from difficult circumstances like debt, slavery, or the loss of family land.
Hesed
A Hebrew term for loyal, steadfast love and kindness, often used to describe God's covenant faithfulness to His people.