Ruth 2:23
What does Ruth 2:23 mean?
A plain-English look at Ruth 2:23 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ruth 2:23 means
Ruth obeys, keeping fast by the maidens of Boaz through both barley and wheat harvests, while dwelling with her mother-in-law. Time passes in steady faithfulness. Ruth continues to work, to belong among Boaz’s people, and to care for Naomi at home. The season-long gleaning underscores stable provision and the deepening of relationships without haste. The narrative pauses here, content to show the ordinary rhythms of grace and labor that prepare for what comes next. Ruth’s constancy and Boaz’s kindness lay a firm foundation for the redemptive developments to follow.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz, to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and she dwelt with her mother-in-law.
KJV
King James Version · 1611So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz, to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and she dwelt with her mother-in-law.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949So she kept near the servant-girls of Boaz to take up the grain till the cutting of the early grain and the cutting of the late grain were ended; and she went on living with her mother-in-law.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And she cleaveth to the young women of Boaz to glean, till the completion of the barley-harvest, and of the wheat-harvest, and she dwelleth with her mother-in-law.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752So she kept close to the maids of Booz: and continued to glean with them, till all the barley and the wheat were laid up in the barns.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890So she kept with the maidens of Boaz to glean, until the end of the barley-harvest and of the wheat-harvest. And she dwelt with her mother-in-law.
Context
The chapter closes by summarizing Ruth’s sustained obedience to Naomi’s counsel and Boaz’s invitation. The mention of both harvests signals weeks of continued care and safety. No dramatic action follows immediately; instead, the text emphasizes faithful persistence. This ending sets the stage for the next chapter’s nighttime threshing-floor scene, which will move the story from provision toward formal redemption within the family line.
v.22And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter-in-law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, and that they meet thee not in any other field.
v.23This passage
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ephesians 6:1
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
- Proverbs 13:20
Walk with wise men, and thou shalt be wise; But the companion of fools shall smart for it.
- Proverbs 13:1
A wise sonhearethhis father’s instruction; But a scoffer heareth not rebuke.
- Proverbs 6:6
Go to the ant, thou sluggard; Consider her ways, and be wise:
- 1 Corinthians 15:33
Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals.
- Deuteronomy 16:9
Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: from the time thou beginnest to put the sickle to the standing grain shalt thou begin to number seven weeks.
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