Ruth 2:7

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house.

Complete Jewish Bible:

She said, 'Please, let me glean and gather what falls from the sheaves behind the reapers.' So she went and has kept at it from morning until now, except for a little rest in the shelter."

Berean Standard Bible:

She has said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the harvesters.’ So she came out and has continued from morning until now, except that she rested a short time in the shelter.”

American Standard Version:

and she said, Let me glean, I pray you, and gather after the reapers among the sheaves. So she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, save that she tarried a little in the house.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And she said^{H559}, I pray you, let me glean^{H3950} and gather^{H622} after^{H310} the reapers^{H7114} among the sheaves^{H6016}: so she came^{H935}, and hath continued^{H5975} even^{H227} from the morning^{H1242} until now, that she tarried^{H3427} a little^{H4592} in the house^{H1004}.

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Commentary for Ruth 2:7

Ruth 2:7 is a verse from the Old Testament that captures a pivotal moment in the story of Ruth, a Moabite woman who, after the death of her Israelite husband, chooses to remain with her mother-in-law, Naomi, and return to Naomi's homeland of Bethlehem in Judah. The historical context of this verse is set during the period of the judges, a time marked by social instability and a lack of centralized authority in Israel. The book of Ruth is often read as a contrast to this tumultuous backdrop, emphasizing themes of loyalty, kindness, and redemption.

In the verse, Ruth is speaking to Boaz, a wealthy landowner and relative of Naomi's deceased husband. She humbly requests permission to glean—to pick up leftover grain—in his fields after the harvesters have finished their work. This practice was rooted in the Mosaic Law, which commanded landowners to leave the corners of their fields unharvested and not to pick up fallen stalks so that the poor and the foreigner could gather food for themselves (Leviticus 19:9-10; Deuteronomy 24:19-22). Ruth's request reflects both her vulnerability as a foreign widow in a patriarchal society and her determination to provide for herself and Naomi.

The verse also highlights Ruth's diligence and work ethic, as she has been working in the field since morning and has only paused briefly. This diligence is not lost on Boaz, who soon learns of Ruth's loyalty to Naomi and her faithful character. Boaz's subsequent generosity towards Ruth is a demonstration of the Hebrew concept of "hesed," often translated as "loving-kindness" or "covenant loyalty," which is a central theme in the book. Ruth's actions and Boaz's response foreshadow the redemptive acts that will follow, leading to Ruth's eventual marriage to Boaz and the birth of their son Obed, who becomes the grandfather of King David, thus integrating Ruth into the lineage of Jesus Christ. Ruth 2:7, therefore, is a verse rich in themes of charity, righteousness, and the seeds of redemption that blossom through human kindness and divine providence.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
2. Strong's Number: H3950
   There are 34 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לָקַט
   Transliteration: lâqaṭ
   Pronunciation: law-kat'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to pick up, i.e. (generally) to gather; specifically, to glean; gather (up), glean.
   
3. Strong's Number: H622
   There are 281 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָסַף
   Transliteration: ʼâçaph
   Pronunciation: aw-saf'
   Description: a primitive root; to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e. remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.); assemble, bring, consume, destroy, felch, gather (in, together, up again), [idiom] generally, get (him), lose, put all together, receive, recover (another from leprosy), (be) rereward, [idiom] surely, take (away, into, up), [idiom] utterly, withdraw.
   
4. Strong's Number: H310
   There are 766 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אַחַר
   Transliteration: ʼachar
   Pronunciation: akh-ar'
   Description: from אָחַר; properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses); after (that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side), behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from, hereafter, hinder end, [phrase] out (over) live, [phrase] persecute, posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, thence(-forth), when, with.
   
5. Strong's Number: H7114
   There are 46 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קָצַר
   Transliteration: qâtsar
   Pronunciation: kaw-tsar'
   Description: a primitive root; to dock off, i.e. curtail (transitive or intransitive, literal or figurative); especially to harvest (grass or grain); [idiom] at all, cut down, much discouraged, grieve, harvestman, lothe, mourn, reap(-er), (be, wax) short(-en, -er), straiten, trouble, vex.
   
6. Strong's Number: H6016
   There are 14 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עֹמֶר
   Transliteration: ʻômer
   Pronunciation: o'-mer
   Description: from עָמַר; properly, a heap, i.e. a sheaf; also an omer, as a dry measure; omer, sheaf.
   
7. Strong's Number: H935
   There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בּוֹא
   Transliteration: bôwʼ
   Pronunciation: bo
   Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
   
8. Strong's Number: H5975
   There are 495 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָמַד
   Transliteration: ʻâmad
   Pronunciation: aw-mad'
   Description: a primitive root; to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive); abide (behind), appoint, arise, cease, confirm, continue, dwell, be employed, endure, establish, leave, make, ordain, be (over), place, (be) present (self), raise up, remain, repair, [phrase] serve, set (forth, over, -tle, up), (make to, make to be at a, with-) stand (by, fast, firm, still, up), (be at a) stay (up), tarry.
   
9. Strong's Number: H227
   There are 113 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָז
   Transliteration: ʼâz
   Pronunciation: awz
   Description: a demonstrative adverb; at that time or place; also as a conjunction, therefore; beginning, for, from, hitherto, now, of old, once, since, then, at which time, yet.
   
10. Strong's Number: H1242
    There are 189 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בֹּקֶר
    Transliteration: bôqer
    Pronunciation: bo'-ker
    Description: from בָּקַר; properly, dawn (as the break of day); generally, morning; ([phrase]) day, early, morning, morrow.
    
11. Strong's Number: H3427
    There are 980 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָשַׁב
    Transliteration: yâshab
    Pronunciation: yaw-shab'
    Description: a primitive root; properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry; (make to) abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease self, endure, establish, [idiom] fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, [idiom] marry(-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(-tle), (down-) sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate), take, tarry.
    
12. Strong's Number: H4592
    There are 92 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מְעַט
    Transliteration: mᵉʻaṭ
    Pronunciation: meh-at'
    Description: or מְעָט; from מָעַט; a little or few (often adverbial or compar.); almost (some, very) few(-er, -est), lightly, little (while), (very) small (matter, thing), some, soon, [idiom] very.
    
13. Strong's Number: H1004
    There are 1718 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בַּיִת
    Transliteration: bayith
    Pronunciation: bah'-yith
    Description: probably from בָּנָה abbreviated; a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.); court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out).