Ruth 3:2-4
Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Naomi isn't just pointing out Boaz is family; she's reminding Ruth that she's already familiar with his household, having worked alongside his women. This highlights that Boaz is not a stranger, but someone Ruth has already proven herself to and who has already shown her kindness, making Naomi's bold plan feel less risky and more strategically grounded.
Naomi, determined to secure a future for her daughter-in-law Ruth, reveals her bold plan. She reminds Ruth of Boaz's kindness and close kinship, then points out that he will be working late into the night at the threshing floor, a prime opportunity for Ruth to approach him under the cover of darkness. This scene sets the stage for Ruth to follow Naomi's unconventional instructions to seek her kinsman-redeemer.
Naomi doesn't just see Boaz as a wealthy landowner; she sees him through the lens of family obligation and opportunity. What does this tell us about God’s design for community?
A Relational Framework
Naomi reminds Ruth of Boaz’s connection to their family: 'Is not Boaz our relative?' (Ruth 3:2). This isn't just about a casual acquaintance; it’s about kinship, specifically the concept of a 'kinsman-redeemer' (go'el) that was vital in ancient Israelite society. This role involved a close male relative stepping in to protect family interests, buy back land that had been sold, or marry a widow to continue her deceased husband's line.
Naomi sees Boaz as a potential solution for Ruth's future, a way to secure 'rest' and well-being for her. She recalls Ruth working alongside his female servants, highlighting a previous, positive interaction and Boaz's kindness. This connection implies that Boaz has a responsibility, rooted in both blood and demonstrated character, to care for Ruth and her deceased husband's legacy.
Boaz is busy at the threshing floor at night. Why this specific time and place, and what does it reveal about the opportunities God sets before us?
Seizing the Moment
Naomi points Ruth to a specific, opportune moment: 'See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor' (Ruth 3:2). This wasn't just any evening; it was likely after the hard work of the day, when a cool evening breeze would rise. This breeze was essential for winnowing—the process of separating the grain from the chaff by tossing the harvested crop into the air.
The threshing floor itself was often an open, exposed area outside the village, sometimes on a hilltop, where the wind could do its work efficiently. Boaz, a man of wealth and stature, was personally involved in this labor. This suggests a leader who is hands-on and present with his workers. For Ruth, this specific setting and time offered a unique, albeit bold, opportunity to approach Boaz under the cover of night and relative isolation, guided by Naomi's strategic plan.
Understand the original words
muda' · Hebrew Noun
In the Old Testament, a relative or kinsman (goel) refers to a close family member who has the right and responsibility to redeem, protect, or assist their relatives in times of need, such as poverty, slavery, or the loss of family land/lineage.
goren · Hebrew Noun
The threshing floor was a flat, open area, often on high ground, where harvested grain was beaten to separate the edible grain from the chaff. It functioned as a significant community space in ancient Israelite agriculture, often associated with labor, provision, and sometimes divine judgment.
rachats / suwk · Hebrew Verb
To 'wash' and 'anoint' was a common preparatory act in the ancient Near East, symbolizing cleanliness, refreshment, and sometimes preparation for a special occasion or a formal meeting. It signals a shift from the state of mourning or labor to one of intentional presentation.
The specific time of harvest and the custom of winnowing grain at night, taking advantage of the evening breeze, provide Naomi with a unique opportunity to implement her plan for Ruth.
~1300-1100 BC
Period of the Judges
The Book of Ruth is set during this era in Israel's history, a time characterized by decentralized leadership, frequent conflict, and a cyclical pattern of sin, oppression, and deliverance.
~1100 BC
Boaz's Harvest
Boaz, a wealthy landowner in Bethlehem, is harvesting his barley crop. This agricultural context is crucial for understanding the customs and practices described in the book.
~1100 BC
Ruth gleans in Boaz's field
Ruth, a Moabite widow, gleans in the fields of Boaz, following the ancient practice that allowed the poor to gather leftover crops.
~1100 BC— this verse
Naomi's plan for Ruth
Naomi, Ruth's mother-in-law, devises a plan for Ruth to seek a kinsman-redeemer, based on ancient Israelite marriage customs.
The harvest theme connects these passages, highlighting the provision and blessings that come from diligent work, much like Boaz's careful attention to his harvest and Ruth's diligent labor.
Deuteronomy 25:5-10This passage outlines the law of the kinsman-redeemer (go'el), providing the crucial legal and cultural context for Naomi's plan and Boaz's potential obligations, which are central to Ruth's situation.
Ruth 2:14-16These verses show Boaz extending favor and protection to Ruth during the harvest, directly preceding this moment and establishing the basis for Naomi's belief in his kindness and suitability as a kinsman.
Ruth 4:9-10This passage shows Boaz publicly declaring his intention to redeem Ruth and marry her, fulfilling the plan Naomi sets in motion here and affirming his role as kinsman-redeemer.
clarkeRuth 3:2: "And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor."
He winnoweth barley tonight - It is very likely that the winnowing of grain was effected by taking up, in a broad thin vessel or sieve, a portion of the corn, and letting it down slowly in the wind; thus the grain would, by its own weight, fall in one place, while the chaff, etc., would be carried to a distance by the wind. It is said here that this was done…
henryRuth 3:1-5: "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?"
3:1-5 The married state should be a rest, as much as any thing upon earth can be so, as it ought to fix the affections and form a connexion for life. Therefore it should be engaged in with great seriousness, with earnest prayers for direction, for the blessing of God, and with regard to his precepts. Parents should carefully advise their children in this importan…
Naomi isn't just pointing out Boaz is family; she's reminding Ruth that she's already familiar with his household, having worked alongside his women. This highlights that Boaz is not a stranger, but someone Ruth has already proven herself to and who has already shown her kindness, making Naomi's bold plan feel less risky and more strategically grounded.
Naomi, determined to secure a future for her daughter-in-law Ruth, reveals her bold plan. She reminds Ruth of Boaz's kindness and close kinship, then points out that he will be working late into the night at the threshing floor, a prime opportunity for Ruth to approach him under the cover of darkness. This scene sets the stage for Ruth to follow Naomi's unconventional instructions to seek her kinsman-redeemer.
Naomi, determined to secure a future for her daughter-in-law Ruth, reveals her bold plan. She reminds Ruth of Boaz's kindness and close kinship, then points out that he will be working late into the night at the threshing floor, a prime opportunity for Ruth to approach him under the cover of darkness. This scene sets the stage for Ruth to follow Naomi's unconventional instructions to seek her kinsman-redeemer.
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simlah · Hebrew Noun
A cloak or garment was a vital piece of clothing that provided shelter, identification, and a covering. Symbolically, a garment can represent identity, protection, or the offer of covenantal covering and intimacy.
galah / regel · Hebrew Verb / Noun
To 'uncover the feet' in this cultural context is a symbolic act of seeking protection and proposing a marriage alliance. It acknowledges the superior status of the man and acts as a humble, physical appeal for the kinsman to exercise his responsibility of redemption.
~1100 BC
Boaz winnows barley
Boaz is winnowing barley on the threshing floor at night, taking advantage of the evening breeze to separate grain from chaff. This activity places him in a specific, accessible location.
"Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself k…" — Naomi isn't just pointing out Boaz is family; she's reminding Ruth that she's already familiar with his household, having worked alongside his women. This highlights that Boaz is not a stranger, but…
