Ruth 3:16
What does Ruth 3:16 mean?
A plain-English look at Ruth 3:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ruth 3:16 means
When Ruth returns, Naomi asks, “Who art thou, my daughter?”—likely an idiom meaning, “How did it go?” Ruth recounts everything Boaz did for her. The careful reporting shows transparency and the shared nature of this redemption: Ruth seeks marriage, but it is also about Naomi’s family line and inheritance. Ruth does not embellish the story; she delivers facts, leaving Naomi to weigh the meaning. Their conversation is intimate and expectant, reflecting a faith that reads providence through concrete acts of kindness and oath-bound promises rather than through mere wishes.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And when she came to her mother in law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And when she came back her mother-in-law said to her, How did it go with you, my daughter? And she gave her an account of all the man had done to her.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And she cometh in unto her mother-in-law, and she saith, `Who <FI>art<Fi> thou, my daughter?' and she declareth to her all that the man hath done to her.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And came to her mother in law; who said to her: What hast thou done, daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And she came to her mother-in-law; and she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her.
Context
The scene moves from the threshing floor back to the home. The tension now resides in interpretation and waiting. Ruth’s full report sets up the significance of the grain gift in the next verse. Naomi will discern Boaz’s intentions and instruct Ruth on how to wait as the matter proceeds to public resolution.
Related questions readers ask
Keep reading
Want to dig deeper? Explore Ruth 3
Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Ruth 3.