Rather, pull out for her some stalks from the bundles and leave them for her to gather. Do not rebuke her.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Also pull out some for her from the bundles, and leave it. Let her glean, and don’t rebuke her.”
- KJV And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.
- NKJV Also let grain from the bundles fall purposely for her; leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her.”
- NASB Also you are to purposely slip out for her some grain from the bundles and leave it so that she may glean, and do not rebuke her.”
- NLT And pull out some heads of barley from the bundles and drop them on purpose for her. Let her pick them up, and don’t give her a hard time!”
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 instructs his workers to deliberately drop extra grain for Ruth to gather. His hidden generosity ensures her abundant provision.
Overview
Boaz arranges for grain to be pulled from the bundles and left for Ruth, a quiet, deliberate kindness she may not even notice. He again forbids any rebuke. Such unseen generosity reflects the gracious heart of God, who provides for His people often through means they do not perceive.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Rom 12:13Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.
- Deut 24:19–21If you are harvesting in your field and forget a sheaf there, do not go back to get it. It is to be left for the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
- 1 Jn 3:17–18If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?
- Heb 6:10For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.
- Phlm 1:7I take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
- Ps 112:9He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor.
- Prov 19:17Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.
- Matt 25:40And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’
- 2 Cor 8:5–11And not only did they do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, because it was the will of God.
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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 2:16 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.