And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Ruth's request to "glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor" highlights that, despite a law allowing the poor and foreigners to glean, she felt it was her responsibility to humbly seek permission and goodwill, not to demand a right. This shows her deep modesty and her understanding that kindness, even when legally obligated, is still a gift to be gratefully received.
And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
With Naomi and Ruth having arrived in Bethlehem and facing dire poverty, Ruth, demonstrating remarkable humility and diligence, proposes to glean leftover grain in the fields during harvest. This ancient custom allowed the poor and strangers to gather what the reapers missed, though it often depended on the landowner's goodwill, so Ruth humbly asks for permission to seek favor from anyone who would allow her. Naomi, recognizing their desperate need and admiring Ruth's spirit, grants her request.
What did Ruth's request to glean really mean in her ancient world? Was it an automatic right, or something more personal?
In ancient Israel, the Law of Moses made specific provisions for the poor and for foreigners:
Ruth was a Moabite, a foreigner in Israel. How did her actions in this moment reveal her character and her commitment?
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Ruth's decision to glean speaks volumes about her character, especially given her background as a Moabite woman:
Understand the original words
laqat · Hebrew Verb
To gather leftover crops from a field after the main harvest. This was a God-ordained provision for the poor, the sojourner, and the widow, as commanded in the Mosaic Law.
chen · Hebrew Noun
An expression of gracious kindness, goodwill, or acceptance shown by one person toward another. In a theological sense, it is often linked to the unmerited extension of compassion or benevolence.
Ruth's willingness to glean highlights her deep loyalty and humility, embracing a practice ordained by Mosaic Law for the vulnerable, even as she navigates the cultural barriers of being a foreigner in Israel.
~1400 BC
Israel Enters the Promised Land
After 40 years in the wilderness, the Israelites, led by Joshua, crossed the Jordan River and began conquering Canaan, establishing their homeland.
c. 13th-11th Century BC
Period of the Judges
A turbulent era in Israel's history marked by cycles of disobedience, oppression, and deliverance, with various local leaders (judges) ruling.
c. 11th Century BC
Israelite Famine
A severe famine strikes the land of Judah, forcing Elimelech and Naomi, Israelites living in Bethlehem, to emigrate to the foreign land of Moab.
c. 11th Century BC
Elimelech's Death
Elimelech dies in Moab, leaving Naomi widowed with her two sons, who then marry Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth.
c. 11th Century BC
Sons' Deaths and Naomi's Return
Naomi's sons die, leaving her without husband or heirs. After a period of mourning, she decides to return to Bethlehem, accompanied by her loyal daughter-in-law Ruth.
c. 11th Century BC— this verse
Ruth Gleans in Bethlehem Fields
Arriving in Bethlehem during the barley harvest, Ruth seeks permission to glean leftover grain in the fields to support herself and Naomi, a practice allowed for the poor and foreigners.
This passage directly establishes the law that allowed the poor and strangers to glean leftover crops, highlighting Ruth's action as both an act of faith and a wise use of a divine provision for the vulnerable.
Deuteronomy 24:19Echoing Leviticus, this verse reiterates the commandment to leave gleanings for the poor and the sojourner, reinforcing that Ruth was exercising a legal and ethical right intended by God to care for those in need.
Matthew 13:30Jesus' parable about the wheat and the weeds, though about a different topic, uses the metaphor of harvesting and separating grain, reminding us of the structured process of gathering crops and how overlooked elements (like gleanings) fit into the larger picture.
1 Timothy 5:8This verse speaks to the responsibility of providing for one's own household, which Ruth embodies by proactively seeking to provide for herself and Naomi, demonstrating diligence and commitment to their welfare.
Philippians 2:3Ruth's humility in offering to glean, even though it was a right granted by law, showcases a 'better than yourself' attitude, showing she valued Naomi's well-being and was not seeking her own prestige, a core principle of this verse.
clarkeRuth 2:2: "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."
Glean ears of corn - The word glean comes from the French glaner, to gather ears or grains of corn. This was formerly a general custom in England and Ireland; the poor went into the fields and collected the straggling ears of corn after the reapers; and it was long supposed that this was their right, and that…
pooleRuth 2:2: "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."
Gleaning was permitted to the poor and the stranger, Deu 24:19 , both which she was; nor was she ashamed to confess her poverty, nor would she eat the bread of idleness; whereby she showeth herself to be a prudent, and diligent, and virtuous woman, as she is called, Ruth 3:11 . In whose sight I shall find grac…
Ruth's request to "glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor" highlights that, despite a law allowing the poor and foreigners to glean, she felt it was her responsibility to humbly seek permission and goodwill, not to demand a right. This shows her deep modesty and her understanding that kindness, even when legally obligated, is still a gift to be gratefully received.
With Naomi and Ruth having arrived in Bethlehem and facing dire poverty, Ruth, demonstrating remarkable humility and diligence, proposes to glean leftover grain in the fields during harvest. This ancient custom allowed the poor and strangers to gather what the reapers missed, though it often depended on the landowner's goodwill, so Ruth humbly asks for permission to seek favor from anyone who would allow her. Naomi, recognizing their desperate need and admiring Ruth's spirit, grants her request.
With Naomi and Ruth having arrived in Bethlehem and facing dire poverty, Ruth, demonstrating remarkable humility and diligence, proposes to glean leftover grain in the fields during harvest. This ancient custom allowed the poor and strangers to gather what the reapers missed, though it often depended on the landowner's goodwill, so Ruth humbly asks for permission to seek favor from anyone who would allow her. Naomi, recognizing their desperate need and admiring Ruth's spirit, grants her request.
"And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.”" — Ruth's request to "glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor" highlights that, despite a law allowing the poor and foreigners to glean, she felt it was her responsibil…
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Last reviewed October 2026