“Yes, I know,” Boaz replied. “But I also know about everything you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband. I have heard how you left your father and mother and your own land to live here among complete strangers.
Parallel translations
- WEB Boaz answered her, “I have been fully told about all that you have done to your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother, and the land of your birth, and have come to a people that you didn’t know before.
- KJV And 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.
- BSB Boaz replied, “I have been made fully aware of all you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, how you left your father and mother and the land of your birth, and how you came to a people you did not know before.
- NKJV And Boaz answered and said to her, “It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before.
- NASB Boaz replied to her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband has been fully reported to me, and how you left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and came to a people that you did not previously know.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Boaz explains he has heard of Ruth's sacrificial loyalty to Naomi and her leaving home for an unknown people. Her faith and devotion have become known and are honored.
Overview
Boaz recounts how Ruth left father, mother, and homeland to care for Naomi among a foreign people—language echoing Abraham's call (Genesis 12:1). Her loyalty has clearly earned a good reputation. Boaz recognizes that such self-giving faith deserves blessing, setting up his prayer that God would reward her.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Luke 14:33So therefore whoever of you who doesn’t renounce all that he has, he can’t be my disciple.
- Luke 18:29–30He said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, for God’s Kingdom’s sake,
- Ps 37:5–6Commit your way to Yahweh. Trust also in him, and he will do this:
- Luke 5:11When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything, and followed him.
- Ps 45:10Listen, daughter, consider, and turn your ear. Forget your own people, and also your father’s house.
- Ruth 1:14–22They lifted up their voices, and wept again; then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth joined with her.
- Heb 11:8–9By faith, Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went.
- Luke 5:23Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you;’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk?’
- Ruth 1:11Naomi said, “Go back, my daughters. Why do you want to go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
- Heb 11:24–26By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Boaz the kinsman-redeemer who buys back the destitute and takes a bride foreshadows Christ, our Redeemer who pays the price to make a people his own; and from Ruth's line comes David, and David's greater Son.
How Ruth 2:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.