Rut 2:8-9 | NETfull | STEP | So Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen carefully, my dear! Do not leave to gather grain in another field. You need not go beyond the limits of this field. You may go along beside my female workers.

Ruth 2:8-9

8 So Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen carefully, ^{▼▼ Heb “Have you not heard?” The idiomatic, negated rhetorical question is equivalent to an affirmation (see F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther [WBC], 119, and GKC 474 #150.e).} my dear! ^{▼▼ Heb “my daughter.” This form of address is a mild form of endearment, perhaps merely rhetorical. It might suggest that Boaz is older than Ruth, but not necessarily significantly so. A few English versions omit it entirely (e.g., TEV, CEV).} Do not leave to gather grain in another field. You need not ^{▼▼ The switch from the negative particle אַל (’al, see the preceding statement, “do not leave”) to לֹא (lo’) may make this statement more emphatic. It may indicate that the statement is a policy applicable for the rest of the harvest (see v. 21).} go beyond the limits of this field. You may go along beside ^{▼▼ Heb “and thus you may stay close with.” The imperfect has a permissive nuance here.} my female workers. ^{▼▼ The female workers would come along behind those who cut the grain and bundle it up. Staying close to the female workers allowed Ruth to collect more grain than would normally be the case (see O. Borowski, Agriculture in Iron Age Israel, 61, and F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther [WBC], 121).} 9 Take note of ^{▼▼ Heb “let your eyes be upon” (KJV, NASB similar).} the field where the men ^{▼▼ Heb “they.” The verb is masculine plural, indicating that the male workers are the subject here.} are harvesting and follow behind with the female workers. ^{▼▼ Heb “and go after them.” The pronominal suffix (“them”) is feminine plural, indicating that the female workers are referred to here.} I will tell the men ^{▼▼ Male servants are in view here, as the masculine plural form of the noun indicates (cf. KJV, NAB, NRSV “the young men”).} to leave you alone. ^{▼▼ Heb “Have I not commanded the servants not to touch [i.e., “harm”] you?” The idiomatic, negated rhetorical question is equivalent to an affirmation (see v. 8). The perfect is either instantaneous, indicating completion of the action concurrent with the statement (see F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther [WBC], 107, 121–22, who translates, “I am herewith ordering”) or emphatic/rhetorical, indicating the action is as good as done.} When you are thirsty, you may go to ^{▼▼ The juxtaposition of two perfects, each with vav consecutive, here indicates a conditional sentence (see GKC 337 #112.kk).} the water jars ^{▼▼ Heb “vessels (so KJV, NAB, NRSV), receptacles”; NCV “water jugs.”} and drink some of the water ^{▼▼ Heb “drink [some] of that which” (KJV similar); in the context “water” is implied.} the servants draw.” ^{▼▼ The imperfect here either indicates characteristic or typical activity, or anterior future, referring to a future action (drawing water) which logically precedes another future action (drinking).}