So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Ruth didn't just collect stray stalks; she processed her gleanings right there, threshing the barley herself before heading home. This incredible effort yielded a significant amount – about a bushel – showing her diligent spirit and the generous allowance Boaz's field provided.
So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Ruth has been working diligently in Boaz's fields, a foreigner in a foreign land, but Boaz has shown her favor. She continues gleaning until evening, processes her findings by threshing and winnowing, and discovers she's gathered a substantial amount—about a bushel of barley—enough to sustain herself and Naomi for several days. This impressive haul is a testament to both her hard work and the special provisions Boaz instructed his workers to allow her.
Ruth didn't just glean; she worked with focused effort until evening. What does this tell us about how God views our hard work?
Ruth's Tireless Effort
Ruth's actions in this verse highlight a profound respect for diligent labor. She didn't just pick up stray grains; she worked from morning until evening ('until even'). This wasn't a passive activity but an active, sustained effort.
Making Every Effort Count
After a long day, Ruth didn't just carry home the stalks. She 'beat out' the grain herself. This detail emphasizes her thoroughness and desire to maximize her efforts, transforming what she gathered into usable sustenance. It shows initiative and a refusal to waste her labor.
Profit in Diligence
The result of her hard work? 'About an ephah of barley.' This was a significant amount, estimated to be around a bushel or seven to eight gallons – a substantial provision for herself and Naomi. This demonstrates that diligent, thorough labor yields tangible and meaningful results.
An 'ephah of barley' was more than just a day's wage. How does this abundance point to God's hand at work?
The Gleaner's Reward
The quantity of barley – an ephah – was remarkably generous for a single day's gleaning. While Ruth's diligence was key, the context of the book suggests this abundance was also a sign of God's favor working through Boaz.
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More Than Just Earned
Commentators note that an ephah could provide sustenance for several days for Naomi and Ruth. This points beyond mere compensation for labor to a provision that exceeded expectations. It highlights how God can bless our honest efforts with more than we could achieve on our own.
Theological Significance
This generous outcome is a foreshadowing of God's abundant grace. Ruth, an outsider, finds favor and provision in a foreign land, not just through her own efforts but through the kindness of God extended to her.
Understand the original words
eyphah · Hebrew Noun
A dry measure for grain, equivalent to about 20-22 liters or approximately 0.6 bushels.
se'orah · Hebrew Noun
A common grain in the Ancient Near East, often associated with the beginning of the harvest season in Israel.
The historical context of gleaning laws and harvest practices reveals that Ruth's substantial day's work of 'an ephah' was not just a good effort, but a significant provision made possible by both her diligence and the specific kindness of Boaz, illustrating God's provision through human kindness.
c. 11th century BC
Period of the Judges
This era in Israel's history was marked by a cycle of sin, oppression, deliverance, and peace, often with weak or absent central leadership. The Book of Ruth is set within this period, highlighting themes of loyalty and provision in a time of instability.
c. 11th century BC
Gleaning during harvest
The Law of Moses mandated that landowners leave gleanings (leftover grain) and unharvested corners of fields for the poor and foreigners to collect. This was a vital social welfare system in ancient Israel.
c. 11th century BC— this verse
Ruth gleans barley in Bethlehem
Ruth, a Moabitess widow, diligently gleans barley in the fields of Boaz, a relative of her deceased father-in-law. She works from morning till evening, a testament to her strong work ethic.
c. 11th century BC
Ruth processes her gleanings
After a day of gleaning, Ruth beats out the barley she collected, an effort that yields about an ephah (roughly a bushel). This shows her initiative in preparing the grain for use.
c. 11th century BC
Boaz blesses Ruth
Boaz, impressed by Ruth's loyalty to Naomi and her diligent work, offers her special protection and favor, allowing her to glean only in his fields and even instructing his workers to leave extra grain for her.
c. 11th century BC
Naomi receives Ruth's harvest
Ruth brings her substantial gleaning of about an ephah of barley home to her mother-in-law, Naomi, providing for their needs.
This passage establishes the divine command for leaving gleanings in the field for the poor and needy, highlighting the compassionate and just system that Ruth was able to participate in.
Deuteronomy 24:19-22Echoing the command in Leviticus, this passage reiterates the importance of leaving gleanings, olives, and grapes for the sojourner, stranger, fatherless, and widow, underscoring the societal provision Ruth benefited from.
Matthew 13:3-9Jesus' parable of the sower, where some seed falls on good soil and yields a bountiful harvest, offers a spiritual parallel to Ruth's diligent gleaning yielding a substantial reward, illustrating the principle of diligent effort leading to abundance.
Philippians 4:11-13Paul's perspective on contentment and strength in all circumstances, including finding resources through diligent work, parallels Ruth's ability to provide through her hard work and God's provision.
1 Timothy 5:8This verse emphasizes the responsibility to provide for one's own household, reflecting Ruth's deep commitment to Naomi as she worked diligently to gather sustenance for them both.
henryRuth 2:17-23: "So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley."
2:17-23 It encourages industry, that in all labour, even that of gleaning, there is profit. Ruth was pleased with what she gained by her own industry, and was careful to secure it. Let us thus take care that we lose not those things which we have wrought, which we have gained for our souls' good, 2Jo 1:8. Parents should examine their children, as Naomi did, not to frig…
clarkeRuth 2:17: "So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley."
An ephah of barley - Not less than seven gallons and a half; a good day's work. On Hebrew measures of capacity, see the note on Exodus 16:16 .
Ruth didn't just collect stray stalks; she processed her gleanings right there, threshing the barley herself before heading home. This incredible effort yielded a significant amount – about a bushel – showing her diligent spirit and the generous allowance Boaz's field provided.
Ruth has been working diligently in Boaz's fields, a foreigner in a foreign land, but Boaz has shown her favor. She continues gleaning until evening, processes her findings by threshing and winnowing, and discovers she's gathered a substantial amount—about a bushel of barley—enough to sustain herself and Naomi for several days. This impressive haul is a testament to both her hard work and the special provisions Boaz instructed his workers to allow her.
Ruth has been working diligently in Boaz's fields, a foreigner in a foreign land, but Boaz has shown her favor. She continues gleaning until evening, processes her findings by threshing and winnowing, and discovers she's gathered a substantial amount—about a bushel of barley—enough to sustain herself and Naomi for several days. This impressive haul is a testament to both her hard work and the special provisions Boaz instructed his workers to allow her.
"So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley." — Ruth didn't just collect stray stalks; she processed her gleanings right there, threshing the barley herself before heading home. This incredible effort yielded a significant amount – about a bushe…
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Last reviewed October 2026