Limitless Word

Ruth 2:4

WEBKJVBSBESVNKJVNASBNLT
Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and said to the harvesters, “The LORD be with you.” “The LORD bless you,” they replied.
Ruth 2:4 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB Behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, “May Yahweh be with you.” They answered him, “May Yahweh bless you.”
  • KJV And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee.
  • NKJV Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you!” And they answered him, “The Lord bless you!”
  • NASB Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers, “May the Lord be with you.” And they said to him, “May the Lord bless you.”
  • NLT While she was there, Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters. “The Lord be with you!” he said. “The Lord bless you!” the harvesters replied.

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 arrives and exchanges blessings with his workers in the LORD's name. The greeting reveals his godly character and a community marked by faith.

Overview

Boaz's greeting, 'May Yahweh be with you,' and the reapers' reply show a workplace where genuine piety shapes relationships. This first glimpse of Boaz confirms the worthiness already noted in verse 1. His evident faith and kindness make him a fitting redeemer and a foreshadowing of Christ, who blesses and cares for His own.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 12

  • Ps 129:7–8unable to fill the hands of the reaper, or the arms of the binder of sheaves.
  • Judg 6:12And the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon and said, “The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor.”
  • Luke 1:28The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
  • 2 Th 3:16Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
  • 2 Tim 4:22The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.
  • Ps 118:26Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you.
  • Gen 18:19For I have chosen him, so that he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, in order that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has promised.”
  • Josh 24:15But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!”
  • Ruth 4:11“We are witnesses,” said the elders and all the people at the gate. “May the LORD make the woman entering your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you be prosperous in Ephrathah and famous in Bethlehem.
  • Ps 133:1–3A song of ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!
  • 2 Jn 1:10–11If anyone comes to you but does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home or even greet him.
  • 1 Tim 6:2Those who have believing masters should not show disrespect because they are brothers, but should serve them all the more, since those receiving their good service are beloved believers. Teach and encourage these principles.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (4)
BETHLEHEMEMPLOYEERUTHSALUTATIONS

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Ruth videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Ruth 2:4YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on RuthMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

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 2:4 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.

And, behold, Boazבֹּעַזcameבּוֹאfrom Bethlehemבֵּית לֶחֶםand saidאָמַרunto the reapersקָצַרThe LORDיְהֹוָהbe with you. And they answeredאָמַרhim, The LORDיְהֹוָהblessבָרַךְ
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