Ruth 3: Spread Your Wing Over Me
At Naomi's counsel, Ruth comes to Boaz at the threshing floor by night and asks him, as kinsman, to spread his garment over her in redemption.
Ruth 3 (WEB)
1 Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?
2 Now isn’t Boaz our kinsman, with whose maidens you were? Behold, he winnows barley tonight in the threshing floor.
3 Therefore wash yourself, anoint yourself, get dressed, and go down to the threshing floor, but don’t make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.
4 It shall be, when he lies down, that you shall mark the place where he shall lie, and you shall go in, and uncover his feet, and lay down; then he will tell you what you shall do.”
5 She said to her, “All that you say I will do.”
6 She went down to the threshing floor, and did according to all that her mother-in-law told her.
7 When Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. She came softly, uncovered his feet, and laid her down.
8 At midnight, the man was startled and turned himself; and behold, a woman lay at his feet.
9 He said, “Who are you?” She answered, “I am Ruth your handmaid. Therefore spread your skirt over your handmaid; for you are a near kinsman.”
10 He said, “Blessed are you by Yahweh, my daughter. You have shown more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, because you didn’t follow young men, whether poor or rich.
11 Now, my daughter, don’t be afraid; I will do to you all that you say; for all the city of my people does know that you are a worthy woman.
12 Now it is true that I am a near kinsman; however there is a kinsman nearer than I.
13 Stay this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform for you the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman’s part. But if he will not do the part of a kinsman for you, then I will do the part of a kinsman for you, as Yahweh lives. Lie down until the morning.”
14 She lay at his feet until the morning. She rose up before one could discern another. For he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.”
15 He said, “Bring the mantle that is on you, and hold it.” She held it; and he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her; and he went into the city.
16 When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did it go, my daughter?” She told her all that the man had done to her.
17 She said, “He gave me these six measures of barley; for he said, ‘Don’t go empty to your mother-in-law.’”
18 Then she said, “Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will fall; for the man will not rest, until he has finished the thing this day.”
Ruth 3 (KJV)
1 Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?
2 And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor.
3 Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.
4 And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.
5 And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do.
6 And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her.
7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down.
8 And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet.
9 And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.
10 And he said, Blessed be thou of the Lord, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.
11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.
12 And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.
13 Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman’s part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the Lord liveth: lie down until the morning.
14 And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.
15 Also he said, Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city.
16 And when she came to her mother in law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her.
17 And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law.
18 Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.
Ruth 3 (ASV)
1 And Naomi her mother-in-law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?
2 And now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to-night in the threshing-floor.
3 Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the threshing-floor, but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.
4 And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.
5 And she said unto her, All that thou sayest I will do.
6 And she went down unto the threshing-floor, and did according to all that her mother-in-law bade her.
7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down.
8 And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself; and, behold, a woman lay at his feet.
9 And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thy handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thy handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.
10 And he said, Blessed be thou of Jehovah, my daughter: thou hast showed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.
11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou sayest; for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a worthy woman.
12 And now it is true that I am a near kinsman; howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.
13 Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman’s part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as Jehovah liveth: lie down until the morning.
14 And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could discern another. For he said, Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing-floor.
15 And he said, Bring the mantle that is upon thee, and hold it; and she held it; and he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and he went into the city.
16 And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her.
17 And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said, Go not empty unto thy mother-in-law.
18 Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall; for the man will not rest, until he have finished the thing this day.
Summary
Naomi, longing to secure rest and a home for Ruth, devises a bold but honorable plan. Boaz will be winnowing barley at the threshing floor that night; Ruth is to wash, anoint herself, dress well, and go quietly down, then wait until Boaz has finished eating and lies down before uncovering his feet and lying there. Ruth obeys her mother-in-law in everything. At midnight Boaz startles awake to find a woman at his feet, and when he asks who she is, Ruth answers boldly: she is Ruth his servant, and she asks him to spread his garment over her, for he is a near kinsman. Rather than taking offense, Boaz blesses her, calling this kindness greater than the first, since she has sought a redeemer rather than chasing after younger men. He assures her she is known throughout the town as a worthy woman and promises to act, but he honestly tells her there is a kinsman nearer than himself who must first be given the opportunity. He pledges that if the nearer man will not redeem her, then he himself will, as Yahweh lives. Before dawn, so her honor is guarded, he sends her home with six measures of barley—a sign that he will not rest until the matter is settled that very day. Naomi tells Ruth simply to wait, confident that Boaz will finish the thing.
Main Characters
- Ruth — The Moabite widow who obeys Naomi's counsel, comes humbly to Boaz at the threshing floor, and boldly asks him to act as her kinsman-redeemer.
- Boaz — The worthy kinsman who responds to Ruth's request not with reproach but with blessing, vowing to redeem her if the nearer relative will not.
- Naomi — Ruth's mother-in-law, who seeks rest and security for Ruth and guides her wisely toward Boaz, then waits in confident trust for the outcome.
- The nearer kinsman — An unnamed relative, mentioned by Boaz, who holds the prior right of redemption and must be approached before Boaz can act.
Key Verse
Ruth 3:9 (WEB)
He said, “Who are you?” She answered, “I am Ruth your handmaid. Therefore spread your skirt over your handmaid; for you are a near kinsman.”
Lessons Learned
- Faith and wise initiative often work together as we seek God's provision.
- To ask for redemption is to admit our need and trust another to cover us.
- Godly character shows in how we treat the vulnerable when no one is watching.
- Integrity does the right thing in the right order, even when shortcuts are possible.
- We seek rest through a redeemer. Naomi asks, “shall I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?” (Ruth 3:1, WEB). Lasting security is found not in self-effort but in the one able to redeem.
- Redemption means being covered. Ruth asks Boaz to “spread your skirt over your handmaid; for you are a near kinsman” (Ruth 3:9, WEB). To be redeemed is to be drawn under the protection of another at his cost.
- Loyal love is honored, not exploited. Boaz blesses Ruth: “you have shown more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning” (Ruth 3:10, WEB). He guards her dignity rather than taking advantage of her vulnerability.
- Integrity follows the right order. Boaz acknowledges “there is a kinsman nearer than I” (Ruth 3:12, WEB) and insists on giving him first opportunity. Righteous action honors what is right even at personal cost.
- What does Naomi hope to secure for Ruth, and how does her plan show both wisdom and risk?
- When Ruth asks Boaz to spread his garment over her, what is she really requesting, and how does the image connect to Boaz's earlier blessing in 2:12?
- How does Boaz's response to finding Ruth at his feet reveal his character and his fear of God?
- Boaz could have simply taken Ruth, but he insists on honoring the nearer kinsman first. What does this teach us about integrity in pursuing what is good?
- Where might God be calling you to step out in faith while also acting wisely and with integrity, then to wait and trust him with the outcome?
- Naomi seeks 'rest'—a secure home and future—for Ruth, who has given up everything for her (3:1). The plan is daring and culturally delicate, yet honorable in its aim: to invite Boaz to fulfill the role of redeemer. Note how Naomi's earlier bitterness has turned into active, hopeful care for another.
- Ruth echoes Boaz's own words, asking the man who spoke of God's protective 'wings' (2:12) to spread his garment (the same word) over her. She is asking him to be the answer to his own prayer—to take her under his protection as kinsman-redeemer. Redemption and refuge are pictured as being covered.
- Startled at midnight, Boaz does not take advantage but blesses Ruth and reassures her (3:10-13). He praises her loyalty, affirms her reputation as a worthy woman, and guards her honor by sending her away before dawn. His conduct shows a man who fears God even in the dark.
- Boaz is eager to redeem Ruth, yet he refuses to grasp her unlawfully, insisting the nearer kinsman be given first right (3:12-13). His integrity will not cut corners even for a good end. Encourage the group that godliness pursues good things in godly ways and trusts God with the result.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to name a situation that calls for both courageous action and patient trust, and to discern wise next steps. As leader, hold together faith-filled initiative and restful confidence that God will finish what he begins.