Ruth 2:10

KJV

Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I [am] a stranger?

KJV (with Strong's)

Then she fell {H5307} on her face {H6440}, and bowed {H7812} herself to the ground {H776}, and said {H559} unto him, Why have I found {H4672} grace {H2580} in thine eyes {H5869}, that thou shouldest take knowledge {H5234} of me, seeing I am a stranger {H5237}?

Complete Jewish Bible

She fell on her face, prostrating herself, and said to him, "Why are you showing me such favor? Why are you paying attention to me? After all, I'm only a foreigner."

Berean Standard Bible

At this, she fell on her face, bowing low to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you should take notice of me, even though I am a foreigner?”

American Standard Version

Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found favor in thy sight, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a foreigner?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ruth 2:10 captures Ruth's profound humility and astonishment in response to Boaz's unexpected and exceptional kindness. Having arrived in Bethlehem as a vulnerable Moabite widow and stranger, Ruth is overwhelmed by the preferential treatment extended to her by Boaz, a wealthy and respected kinsman. Her prostration and heartfelt question, "Why have I found grace in thine eyes... seeing I am a stranger?", underscore the unmerited nature of the favor she receives, highlighting themes of divine providence, grace, and the radical inclusion of the outsider within God's unfolding plan.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ruth 2:10 is a pivotal moment occurring during Ruth's first day of gleaning in Boaz's field. The preceding verses establish Ruth's diligent work ethic and Boaz's immediate notice of her. Boaz has already shown extraordinary favor by instructing his young men not to bother her, allowing her to glean among the sheaves, and even inviting her to drink from his servants' water vessels ([Ruth 2:8-9](/ruth/2-8 "Ruth 2:8-9 - Boaz's Initial Kindness to Ruth")). This verse is Ruth's direct, humble, and astonished response to this unprecedented kindness from a man of stature whom she has just met. It sets the stage for the deepening relationship between Ruth and Boaz, and for Boaz's recognition of Ruth's loyalty to Naomi, as detailed in [Ruth 2:11-12](/ruth/2-11 "Ruth 2:11-12 - Boaz Praises Ruth's Loyalty").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel, the Mosaic Law provided for the poor and vulnerable through the practice of gleaning, where landowners were commanded to leave the edges of their fields unharvested for the needy, including the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow ([Leviticus 19:9-10](/leviticus/19-9 "Leviticus 19:9-10 - Laws for Gleaning") and [Deuteronomy 24:19](/deuteronomy/24-19 "Deuteronomy 24:19 - Laws for Gleaning")). While gleaning was a right, the level of personal care and protection Boaz extends to Ruth goes far beyond mere legal obligation. Ruth's identity as a "stranger" (a Moabite) is crucial; Moabites were often viewed with suspicion due to historical animosity and their idolatrous practices. Her status as a widow further compounded her vulnerability in a patriarchal society where women depended on male relatives for protection and provision. Boaz's actions, therefore, represent a radical act of hospitality and *hesed* (loyal love/kindness) that transcends societal norms and prejudices.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within the Book of Ruth. It highlights the theme of **grace and unmerited favor**, as Ruth explicitly recognizes that Boaz's kindness is not something she has earned but is freely given. It underscores **humility and gratitude**, exemplified by Ruth's prostration and sincere question. The emphasis on Ruth's status as a "stranger" brings forth the theme of **inclusion of the outsider**, demonstrating God's heart for the marginalized and how His people are called to reflect that care. Furthermore, Boaz's actions subtly reveal the theme of **divine providence**, as the narrative consistently shows God's guiding hand bringing Ruth to Boaz's field and moving Boaz's heart to act with compassion, ultimately leading to the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan through the line of David, as foreshadowed in [Ruth 4:17](/ruth/4-17 "Ruth 4:17 - The Lineage of David").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Grace (Hebrew, _chen_):** This word (חֵן) denotes favor, kindness, charm, or graciousness. It implies an unmerited benevolence, often extended by a superior to an inferior, or by one who has the power to bless. Ruth's use of this term signifies her understanding that Boaz's actions are not due to any inherent claim or merit on her part, but rather stem from his generous disposition and compassionate heart. It is a recognition of favor that is freely given, not earned.
* **Take knowledge (Hebrew, _nakar_):** The Hebrew verb (נָכַר) means to recognize, acknowledge, discern, or pay attention to. For a wealthy and respected landowner like Boaz to "take knowledge" of a humble, foreign gleaner was a significant act of personal recognition and respect. It implies more than just seeing her; it suggests a deliberate act of noticing, understanding her situation, and extending personal care, rather than merely allowing her to exercise her legal right to glean.
* **Stranger (Hebrew, _nokriyah_):** This term (נָכְרִיָּה) specifically refers to a foreign woman, an outsider. Ruth's self-identification as a "stranger" emphasizes her vulnerable and marginalized status in Israelite society. It highlights her lack of family protection, social standing, and inherent rights within the community, making Boaz's extraordinary kindness all the more remarkable and demonstrating a profound act of hospitality towards one who had no claim on him.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground":** This physical posture signifies extreme humility, reverence, and profound astonishment. It is a gesture of deep respect and submission, common in the ancient Near East when approaching a superior or someone of high status. Ruth's immediate and dramatic reaction underscores her overwhelming sense of unworthiness in the face of such unexpected and generous favor.
* **"and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes":** This is a rhetorical question expressing profound surprise and a recognition of unmerited favor. Ruth is not questioning Boaz's right to show kindness, but rather expressing her bewilderment as to why *she*, specifically, would be singled out for such benevolence. It highlights the theme of grace—favor given without expectation of return or based on the recipient's merit.
* **"that thou shouldest take knowledge of me":** This clause elaborates on the nature of the "grace" she has found. It's not just a general kindness, but a personal acknowledgment and recognition from Boaz. For a man of his standing to notice, address, and provide for a lowly gleaner like Ruth was an act that elevated her status and provided her with a sense of security and belonging she had not expected.
* **"seeing I [am] a stranger?":** This final clause provides the reason for Ruth's astonishment. Her status as a Moabite, an outsider with no familial ties or social standing in Bethlehem, makes Boaz's kindness all the more extraordinary. She emphasizes her foreignness, highlighting her perceived lack of entitlement to such favor, and thereby magnifying the magnanimity of Boaz's character and actions.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices to convey Ruth's emotional state and the significance of Boaz's actions. **Hyperbole** is evident in Ruth's extreme physical reaction of falling on her face and bowing to the ground, emphasizing the depth of her humility and astonishment. Her rhetorical question, "Why have I found grace... seeing I am a stranger?", functions as **Irony**, as the narrative subtly reveals that it is precisely her loyalty and vulnerability as a stranger that God is using to bring about His redemptive plan. The **Dialogue** is direct and emotionally charged, allowing Ruth's character to express profound gratitude and humility. Furthermore, Boaz's actions and Ruth's response serve as **Foreshadowing** of the deeper redemptive relationship that will unfold, with Boaz acting as a kinsman-redeemer, mirroring divine grace.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ruth's experience in Boaz's field is a profound illustration of God's unmerited favor, or grace, extended to the undeserving. Her status as a "stranger" from Moab, a nation historically antagonistic to Israel, underscores the radical nature of the kindness she receives. This narrative beautifully demonstrates how God works through human agents, like Boaz, to extend His *hesed* (loyal love) and provide for the vulnerable, often in unexpected ways. It is a testament to divine providence, showing that even in seemingly ordinary circumstances, God is actively orchestrating events to fulfill His purposes, bringing an outsider into the very lineage of the Messiah. This act of grace in Ruth's life foreshadows the broader theological truth that God's favor is not earned by human merit or national identity, but is freely given to those He chooses to bless, drawing them into His covenant family.

* [Ephesians 2:8-9](/ephesians/2-8 "Ephesians 2:8-9 - Salvation by Grace Through Faith")
* [Deuteronomy 10:19](/deuteronomy/10-19 "Deuteronomy 10:19 - Love the Sojourner")
* [Psalm 146:9](/psalm/146-9 "Psalm 146:9 - The Lord Preserves the Sojourner")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ruth's humble and grateful response to Boaz's unexpected kindness offers a powerful paradigm for our own lives, particularly in how we receive God's grace. Like Ruth, we are often "strangers" or outsiders in need of favor, utterly undeserving of the profound love and redemption offered to us through Christ. Her prostration and question, "Why have I found grace?", should resonate deeply within our hearts as we contemplate the immeasurable gift of salvation. This verse calls us to cultivate a spirit of profound humility and genuine gratitude, recognizing that all good things, especially our spiritual blessings, are unmerited gifts from a gracious God. Furthermore, Boaz's example challenges us to embody this same grace in our interactions with others. Just as he "took knowledge" of a vulnerable stranger, we are called to see, acknowledge, and extend kindness and hospitality to those who are marginalized, overlooked, or considered "outsiders" in our communities, reflecting God's own heart for the sojourner and the needy.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Ruth's extreme humility in this verse challenge my own understanding and reception of God's grace?**
* **In what ways might I be a "stranger" in need of God's grace, and how does recognizing this deepen my gratitude?**
* **Who are the "strangers" or marginalized individuals in my life or community whom God might be calling me to "take knowledge of" and show unexpected kindness?**

### FAQ
**Why was Ruth's reaction so extreme, falling on her face and bowing to the ground?**

Answer: Ruth's physical reaction was a culturally appropriate and deeply significant expression of profound humility, reverence, and astonishment. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, such prostration was common when approaching a superior, a king, or someone of great authority and status. For Ruth, a poor, foreign widow, to receive such personal attention and generous favor from Boaz, a wealthy and respected landowner, was utterly unexpected and overwhelming. Her extreme humility underscored her recognition that she had no inherent claim to such kindness and that it was a pure act of unmerited grace, prompting an equally extreme display of gratitude and respect.

**What does Ruth mean by "take knowledge of me"?**

Answer: The phrase "take knowledge of me" (from the Hebrew *nakar*) means more than just a casual glance or recognition of her presence. It implies a deliberate act of noticing, acknowledging, and showing personal interest in her specific situation. For a man of Boaz's stature to "take knowledge" of a humble gleaner meant he was singling her out, understanding her vulnerability, and extending a personal, protective concern that went beyond the general provisions of the law. It was an act of dignifying her and treating her as a person worthy of attention and care, despite her low social standing and foreign origin.

**What is the significance of Ruth calling herself a "stranger"?**

Answer: Ruth's self-identification as a "stranger" (*nokriyah*) is highly significant because it highlights her status as an outsider, a Moabite woman in Israelite society. Moabites were often viewed with suspicion or hostility by Israelites, and Ruth had no family or social network in Bethlehem to protect or provide for her. By emphasizing her foreignness, Ruth underscores her perceived lack of entitlement to Boaz's kindness. This accentuates the extraordinary nature of Boaz's grace and hospitality, demonstrating a radical inclusion that transcends ethnic and social barriers. It also subtly points to God's broader redemptive plan, which often includes those who are considered outsiders, drawing them into His covenant family.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ruth 2:10, with its profound display of unmerited favor shown to a vulnerable stranger, beautifully prefigures the ultimate grace extended through Jesus Christ. Ruth, as a Moabite outsider, represents humanity alienated from God by sin, having no claim or merit to receive divine favor. Yet, just as Boaz, a kinsman-redeemer figure, "took knowledge" of Ruth and extended extraordinary grace, so too does Christ, our ultimate Kinsman-Redeemer, reach out to us in our estranged state. The "grace" Ruth found in Boaz's eyes is a shadow of the boundless, undeserved favor God lavishes upon us through His Son. We, who were once "strangers and foreigners" to the covenants of promise, are now, by God's grace through faith in Christ, "fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God" ([Ephesians 2:12-19](/ephesians/2-12 "Ephesians 2:12-19 - No Longer Strangers")). Boaz's compassionate inclusion of Ruth, an act of *hesed*, points directly to God's faithful love in Christ, who not only acknowledges our need but fully redeems us, bringing us into His family and providing for our every need, making us heirs according to the promise ([Galatians 3:29](/galatians/3-29 "Galatians 3:29 - Heirs According to the Promise")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Samuel 25:23

And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,

Ruth 2:13

Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens.

Luke 1:48

For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

2 Samuel 9:8

And he bowed himself, and said, What [is] thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I [am]?

Romans 12:10

[Be] kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Luke 1:43

And whence [is] this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

Luke 17:16

And fell down on [his] face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.