Ruth 2: Refuge Under His Wings
Ruth goes out to glean and happens upon the field of Boaz, a worthy kinsman who notices the foreigner and showers her with kindness.
Ruth 2 (WEB)
1 Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech, and his name was Boaz.
2 Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Let me now go to the field, and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.” She said to her, “Go, my daughter.”
3 She went, and came and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.
4 Behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, “Yahweh be with you.” They answered him, “Yahweh bless you.”
5 Then Boaz said to his servant who was set over the reapers, “Whose young lady is this?”
6 The servant who was set over the reapers answered, “It is the Moabite lady who came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab.
7 She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ So she came, and has continued even from the morning until now, except that she stayed a little in the house.”
8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Don’t go to glean in another field, and don’t go from here, but stay here close to my maidens.
9 Let your eyes be on the field that they reap, and go after them. Haven’t I commanded the young men not to touch you? When you are thirsty, go to the vessels, and drink from that which the young men have drawn.”
10 Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your sight, that you should take knowledge of me, since I am a foreigner?”
11 Boaz answered her, “It has fully been shown me, 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.
12 May Yahweh repay your work, and a full reward be given you from Yahweh, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”
13 Then she said, “Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, because you have comforted me, and because you have spoken kindly to your handmaid, though I am not as one of your handmaidens.”
14 At meal time Boaz said to her, “Come here, and eat of the bread, and dip your morsel in the vinegar.” She sat beside the reapers, and they reached her parched grain, and she ate, and was satisfied, and left some of it.
15 When she had risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and don’t reproach her.
16 Also pull out some for her from the bundles, and leave it, and let her glean, and don’t rebuke her.”
17 So she gleaned in the field until evening; and she beat out that which she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.
18 She took it up, and went into the city; and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought out and gave to her that which she had left after she was sufficed.
19 Her mother-in-law said to her, “Where have you gleaned today? Where have you worked? Blessed be he who noticed you.” She showed her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said, “The man’s name with whom I worked today is Boaz.”
20 Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “Blessed be he of Yahweh, who has not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead.” Naomi said to her, “The man is a close relative to us, one of our near kinsmen.”
21 Ruth the Moabitess said, “Yes, he said to me, ‘You shall stay close to my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.’”
22 Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his maidens, and that they not meet you in any other field.”
23 So she stayed close to the maidens of Boaz, to glean to the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and she lived with her mother-in-law.
Ruth 2 (KJV)
1 And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.
2 And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.
3 And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.
4 And, behold, Boaz came from Beth–lehem, and said unto the reapers, The Lord be with you. And they answered him, The Lord bless thee.
5 Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this?
6 And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab:
7 And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house.
8 Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens:
9 Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.
10 Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?
11 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.
12 The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.
13 Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens.
14 And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left.
15 And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not:
16 And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.
17 So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.
18 And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed.
19 And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man’s name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz.
20 And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the Lord, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.
21 And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.
22 And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter in law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field.
23 So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law.
Ruth 2 (ASV)
1 And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech, and his name was Boaz.
2 And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.
3 And she went, and came and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on the portion of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.
4 And, behold, Boaz came from Beth-lehem, and said unto the reapers, Jehovah be with you. And they answered him, Jehovah bless thee.
5 Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this?
6 And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab:
7 and she said, Let me glean, I pray you, and gather after the reapers among the sheaves. So she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, save that she tarried a little in the house.
8 Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither pass from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens.
9 Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.
10 Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found favor in thy sight, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a foreigner?
11 And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been showed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law since the death of thy husband; and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people that thou knewest not heretofore.
12 Jehovah recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of Jehovah, the God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to take refuge.
13 Then she said, Let me find favor in thy sight, my lord, for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken kindly unto thy handmaid, though I be not as one of thy handmaidens.
14 And at meal-time Boaz said unto her, Come hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers, and they reached her parched grain, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left thereof.
15 And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not.
16 And also pull out some for her from the bundles, and leave it, and let her glean, and rebuke her not.
17 So she gleaned in the field until even; and she beat out that which she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.
18 And she took it up, and went into the city; and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth and gave to her that which she had left after she was sufficed.
19 And her mother-in-law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to-day? and where hast thou wrought? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she showed her mother-in-law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man’s name with whom I wrought to-day is Boaz.
20 And Naomi said unto her daughter-in-law, Blessed be he of Jehovah, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is nigh of kin unto us, one of our near kinsmen.
21 And Ruth the Moabitess said, Yea, he said unto me, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.
22 And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter-in-law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, and that they meet thee not in any other field.
23 So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz, to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and she dwelt with her mother-in-law.
Summary
Naomi has a wealthy kinsman of her late husband's family named Boaz, though she does not yet realize how he will figure in their lives. Ruth asks leave to go and glean in the fields, gathering the leftover grain that the law reserved for the poor and the foreigner, and she “happened” to come to the portion of field belonging to Boaz. When Boaz arrives and greets his reapers in the name of Yahweh, he notices the young woman and learns that she is the Moabite who returned with Naomi. He speaks to Ruth with surprising tenderness, urging her to stay in his field, drink from his vessels, and glean safely under his protection. When she asks why she has found such favor as a foreigner, Boaz answers that he has heard all she has done for Naomi, and he blesses her: may Yahweh repay her, under whose wings she has come to take refuge. At mealtime he shares his bread with her, and he privately commands his young men to pull out grain from the bundles and leave it for her to gather. Ruth gleans a generous ephah of barley, and when she brings it home, Naomi blesses Boaz, recognizing that this man is one of their near kinsmen, one who has the right to redeem. For the first time, hope stirs in the older woman's heart.
Main Characters
- Ruth — The Moabite widow who humbly goes out to glean for herself and Naomi, finds unexpected favor in Boaz's field, and works diligently from morning until evening.
- Boaz — A worthy and wealthy man of Bethlehem and a near kinsman of Elimelech, who protects Ruth, provides generously for her, and blesses the God she has trusted.
- Naomi — Ruth's mother-in-law, who recognizes Boaz as a near kinsman with the right to redeem and begins to see God's kindness reaching toward the living and the dead.
- Boaz's foreman — The servant set over the reapers, who identifies Ruth to Boaz as the Moabite woman who came back with Naomi and testifies to her steady labor.
Key Verse
Ruth 2:12 (WEB)
May Yahweh repay your work, and a full reward be given you from Yahweh, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”
Lessons Learned
- God's providence often works through what looks to us like happenstance.
- Faithful generosity makes room for the vulnerable and treats them with dignity.
- Those who take refuge in the God of Israel find a welcome that exceeds their expectation.
- God's kindness to us reaches both the living and the dead, restoring what was lost.
- God guides our 'accidental' steps. Ruth “happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz” (Ruth 2:3, WEB). What seems like chance is the quiet hand of a providing God.
- Kindness protects and provides. Boaz tells Ruth to stay close, gives her water, and commands his men not to touch her (Ruth 2:8-9, WEB). Godly generosity shields the vulnerable rather than exploiting them.
- Refuge is found under God's wings. Boaz blesses Ruth as one “under whose wings you have come to take refuge” (Ruth 2:12, WEB). The Lord welcomes all who run to him for shelter, even the foreigner.
- Grace gives more than is asked. Boaz orders grain pulled from the bundles and left for Ruth (Ruth 2:15-16, WEB). True kindness goes beyond the minimum, providing abundantly for those in need.
- The narrator says Ruth “happened” to come to the field of Boaz. How does the book invite us to see God's hand behind such ordinary events?
- List the specific ways Boaz shows kindness to Ruth. What do they reveal about his character and his faith?
- Ruth marvels that Boaz takes notice of her, “since I am a foreigner” (2:10). How does Boaz's response in verse 12 reframe her place before God?
- Naomi blesses Boaz for not leaving off his kindness “to the living and to the dead” (2:20). How is God beginning to answer Naomi's earlier bitterness?
- Where have you experienced unexpected kindness or provision that, looking back, seems to have been God's quiet care?
- The word translated 'happened' is almost playful; the narrator winks at the reader. To human eyes it is coincidence, but the whole book testifies that God was directing Ruth's steps to the very field where redemption would unfold (2:3). Help the group trust God's hidden providence in their own ordinary days.
- Boaz greets Ruth warmly, invites her to stay safely in his field, provides water and food, protects her from harm, and arranges for extra grain (2:8-16). His kindness flows from a heart that fears Yahweh, shown by his blessing on the reapers and on Ruth herself.
- Ruth sees herself as an outsider with no claim, but Boaz declares she has come “to take refuge” under the wings of the God of Israel (2:12). Her status is no longer foreigner but one sheltered by the Lord. This anticipates the gospel welcome extended to all who trust him.
- Naomi, who felt the Almighty had emptied her, now blesses Boaz and sees Yahweh's unbroken kindness (2:20). The mention of a near kinsman plants the seed of redemption. God is already turning her bitterness toward hope, though she cannot yet see the full picture.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to recall provision or kindness that arrived just when it was needed, and to consider whether God's hand may have been at work. As leader, encourage gratitude and a posture of trust in God's ongoing care.