Ruth and Boaz at the Threshing Floor

¹One day, Naomi said to Ruth: “I want to see you marry so that you’ll be happy and secure.[#3:1 The Hebrew text is literally “Should I not seek rest [a home] for you so it may go well with you?”]

²Now listen, a man named Boaz is our relative. You worked with his servant girls in his fields. This evening, he’ll be winnowing barley on the threshing floor.[#3:2 Boaz is a picture of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is our Kinsman-Redeemer. He is a kinsman, for he took upon himself flesh and blood to take away our curse (see Gal. 3:13; Heb. 2:11) and our slavery to sin. He is the appointed heir of all things (see Heb. 1:1–3). He has perpetuated the nature, character, and kingdom of God upon the earth. He has perpetuated God’s name (see Eph. 1:20–23; Phil. 2:6–11).; #3:2 Likewise, in the “evening” of this age, our heavenly Boaz is at his threshing floor separating the chaff from the grain (see Amos 9:9; Mal. 3:1–3; Matt. 13:1–58; Luke 3:16–17).]

³Now, take a bath and put on some nice perfume. Dress in your best clothes and go to the threshing floor, but don’t let him know you’re there until he’s had plenty to eat and drink.[#3:3 Or “anoint yourself.” In this final season of harvest, we too are to wash ourselves by the Word of God (see John 15:3; Eph. 5:25–27), and we also will receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit through prayer and devotion before the Lord.; #3:3 The believer today wears their “best clothes” when putting on Christ (cf. Rom. 13:11–14). We are clothed in his perfect righteousness. Then we go down humbly to meet our Beloved at his threshing floor.]

⁴Watch closely to see where he lies down. Then go, uncover his feet, and lie down there. He will tell you what to do.”[#3:4 We need to note the place where our Boaz lay down (the cross and empty tomb). He lay down to rest in his finished work (see John 19:30; Heb. 4:10).; #3:4 Symbolically, we too uncover (reveal) his feet, his walk of holiness and love. We appropriate his grace to walk in his ways when we take our place resting with him in his finished work. We are a company of lovers resting at his feet—“a feet company” who will walk like him. All we have to do is listen and obey him, for he will tell us what to do (see John 7:17). Jesus will have a loving bride worshiping at his feet at midnight.]

⁵Ruth answered, “I’ll do everything you’ve told me.”[#3:5 Like Mary, the mother of Jesus, Ruth accepted what the Lord had for her. “May everything you have told me come to pass” ( Luke 1:38).]

⁶That evening, Ruth went down to the threshing floor and did all her mother-in-law had told her to do.

⁷After his evening meal, Boaz was in a good mood. He went to lie down at the far end of the grain pile and fell fast asleep. Ruth quietly tiptoed over to him, uncovered his feet, and lay down.[#3:7 At the end of this age there will be a great harvest, a “pile of grain” brought to our Lord Jesus Christ.]

⁸Around midnight, Boaz was startled, and he awoke. He was surprised to find a woman lying at his feet.

⁹“Who are you?” Boaz asked.

“I am Ruth, your servant girl,” she answered. “Spread the corner of your garment over me because you are a close relative by marriage, one who is my kinsman-redeemer.”

¹⁰Boaz said: “Dear woman, may Yahweh bless you, for this act of kindness you are showing me exceeds the kindness you have shown to Naomi . You didn’t search for a young man to marry, either rich or poor.

¹¹My daughter, don’t worry. I promise to do everything you ask, because everyone knows you’re a brave woman of noble character.[#3:11 Ruth, the bride, could not hide her true character. See Matt. 5:13–16; cf. Acts 26:26.; #3:11 Or “virtuous woman.” This is the Hebrew word chayil , which is often used in connection with military prowess and moral excellence. See the first footnote on 2:1. We can see Ruth as a metaphor for the “last-days” church, the virtuous, overcoming bride of Jesus Christ. See Eph. 5:25–27.]

¹²It’s true that I am a kinsman-redeemer, but you have a closer kinsman-redeemer than I.

¹³Stay here tonight, and I will protect you . In the morning, we’ll see if he’s willing to redeem you. If he does, good; let him. But if he refuses to redeem you, then I promise, as surely as Yahweh lives, I will. Sleep here until morning.”[#3:13 Ruth rested at Boaz’s feet through the dark night until morning. See Ps. 23:2; Song. 1:16; Matt. 11:28; Heb. 4:1; 6:13–20.; #3:13 That is, “we will see if he chooses to marry you.”]

¹⁴So Ruth stayed near Boaz’s feet that night. She awoke before it was light enough for anyone to recognize her. Boaz thought, “No one must know that a woman visited me at the threshing floor.”

¹⁵As Ruth was about to leave , Boaz said to her, “Here, bring me the cloak you’re wearing and hold it open.”

As she held it open, Boaz poured six measures of barley into it. He then helped place it on her head to carry, and she went back to Bethlehem.

¹⁶When Ruth returned to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked her, “How did it go, my dear daughter? How did Boaz receive you? ”

Ruth told Naomi everything that he did for her.

¹⁷She added, “Boaz gave me all this barley, saying, ‘You must not go home empty-handed without a gift for your mother-in-law.’ ”

¹⁸Naomi answered, “My daughter, wait here until you see what happens. Boaz will not rest until he has finished doing what he promised he would do today.”[#3:18 Jesus has “finished” all he needed to do to redeem us fully. We rest from our own labors in his finished work. The Hebrew word for “finished” is kallah , which is a homonym of the word for “bride.” See John 19:30.]