What number verse is Ruth 3:15 in the Bible?

Ruth 3:15 is the 7,188th verse of the Bible. Counting straight through the King James canon — all 31,102 verses from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 — Ruth 3:15 sits at position 7,188.

Translation

King James Version

Also he said, Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city.

Ask

KJV (with Strong's)

Also he said ^H559, Bring ^H3051 the vail ^H4304 that thou hast upon thee, and hold ^H270 it. And when she held ^H270 it, he measured ^H4058 six ^H8337 measures of barley ^H8184, and laid ^H7896 it on her: and she went ^H935 into the city ^H5892.

Ask

Complete Jewish Bible

He also said, "Bring the shawl you are wearing, and take hold of it." She held it while he put six measures of barley into it; then he went into the city.

Ask

Berean Standard Bible

And he told her, “Bring the shawl you are wearing and hold it out.” When she did so, he shoveled six measures of barley into her shawl. Then he went into the city.

Ask

American Standard Version

And he said, Bring the mantle that is upon thee, and hold it; and she held it; and he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and he went into the city.

Ask

World English Bible Messianic

He said, “Bring the mantle that is on you, and hold it.” She held it; and he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her; and he went into the city.

Ask

Geneva Bible (1599)

Also he sayd, Bring the sheete that thou hast vpon thee, and holde it. And when she helde it, he measured sixe measures of barly, and layde them on her, and she went into the citie.

Ask

Young's Literal Translation

And he saith, `Give the covering which is on thee, and keep hold on it;' and she keepeth hold on it, and he measureth six measures of barley, and layeth it on her; and he goeth into the city.

Ask

Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Ruth 3:15 captures a pivotal moment of transition and promise, immediately following Ruth's bold appeal to Boaz at the threshing floor. This verse details Boaz's tangible act of provision and commitment: he measures out a substantial six measures of barley into Ruth's mantle before she returns to Bethlehem. This generous gift serves not only as immediate sustenance for Ruth and Naomi but also as a public, undeniable pledge of Boaz's serious intent to fulfill his role as kinsman-redeemer, thereby safeguarding Ruth's reputation and signaling the imminent and honorable resolution of her future.

CONTEXT

Literary Context: This verse is the climactic conclusion to the threshing floor encounter, which forms the heart of Ruth chapter 3. It immediately follows Boaz's affirmation of his kinsman-redeemer responsibility and his promise to act, contingent on the closer relative's decision (Ruth 3:10-13). Boaz's instruction to Ruth to remain until morning and then depart discreetly underscores his concern for her reputation, a concern that is tangibly addressed by the gift of barley. The act of giving the barley is the practical outworking of Boaz's integrity and commitment, providing a concrete sign of his honorable intentions. This scene sets the stage for the public legal proceedings at the city gate in Ruth 4, where the promised redemption is formally executed.
Historical & Cultural Context: The threshing floor was a common agricultural site, typically an open, elevated area where grain was separated from chaff. While a place of communal labor during the day, it could be isolated and vulnerable at night. For a foreign widow like Ruth, maintaining an unblemished reputation was paramount in ancient Israelite society. Boaz's actions are deeply rooted in the cultural norms surrounding women's honor and the legal institution of the kinsman-redeemer (goel), which obligated the closest male relative to redeem family land and perpetuate the family line. The "vail" or mantle (Hebrew: mitpachat) was a large outer garment, commonly used by women to carry goods, making it a practical and culturally appropriate vessel for the grain. The "six measures" of barley, likely six seahs (a substantial amount, not a mere token), would have been a significant provision, showcasing Boaz's wealth and generosity, and serving as a public signal of his honorable intentions, effectively preventing any gossip or scandal about the night's encounter.
Key Themes: Ruth 3:15 powerfully encapsulates several overarching themes of the book of Ruth. Boaz's generosity and integrity are prominently displayed, as he provides abundantly for Ruth and Naomi, reinforcing his character as a "man of worth" (Ruth 2:1). The act of giving the barley functions as a pledge of commitment, a tangible promise that Boaz will follow through on his word to redeem Ruth, thereby reinforcing the theme of covenant faithfulness—both human and divine. Furthermore, Boaz's strategic timing of Ruth's departure and his concern for her reputation underscore the vital theme of protection of the vulnerable. Ultimately, this entire narrative, including Boaz's actions here, is a profound illustration of divine providence, where God works through the faithful and righteous actions of individuals to bring about His purposes, echoing the broader theme of God's care for the marginalized and the widow, as seen in passages like Deuteronomy 10:18.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

Vail (Hebrew, miṭpachath', H4304): This term (H4304) refers to a wide cloak, mantle, or shawl, a substantial outer garment worn by women. Its significance here is twofold: practically, it was large and sturdy enough to hold a considerable amount of grain; symbolically, Ruth's return to the city with such a visible, substantial gift in her mantle would publicly affirm Boaz's honorable intentions and protect her reputation from any suspicion following her nocturnal visit to the threshing floor. It transforms a potentially scandalous situation into a public declaration of honorable provision.
Hold (Hebrew, ʼâchaz', H270): The verb (H270) means "to seize" or "to hold in possession." In this context, it emphasizes Ruth's active participation in receiving the gift. Boaz instructs her to "hold it," implying a firm grasp of the garment to contain the grain. This word underscores the deliberate nature of the transfer and Ruth's readiness to accept the provision and the implicit promise it carries, signifying her trust and cooperation in Boaz's plan.
Six (Hebrew, shêsh'); Barley (Hebrew, sᵉʻôrâh', H8337): "Six" (H8337) is a primitive number, indicating a specific quantity. "Barley" (H8184) refers to the grain itself, often associated with sustenance for the poor due to its commonality. The "six measures" (likely seahs) represent a significant and generous quantity, far more than a token gift. This substantial provision demonstrates Boaz's lavish generosity and his wealth, ensuring ample sustenance for Ruth and Naomi. The number "six" itself might also carry symbolic weight, possibly hinting at a complete, yet incomplete, work (leading to the seventh, a day of rest or completion, which would be the marriage and full redemption), or simply emphasizing the abundance that precedes the final resolution.

Verse Breakdown

"Also he said, Bring the vail that [thou hast] upon thee, and hold it.": Boaz's instruction is direct and authoritative, yet caring. He recognizes Ruth's need for a vessel and utilizes her own garment, a practical and discreet choice. This act immediately establishes a physical connection between them centered on provision. It also ensures that Ruth departs with a visible, honorable gift, preempting any potential scandal or misinterpretation of her presence at the threshing floor by those who might see her leaving.
"And when she held it, he measured six [measures] of barley, and laid [it] on her:": This is the central action of the verse, a profound demonstration of Boaz's character, generosity, and commitment. The act of personally measuring and laying the substantial amount of barley onto Ruth signifies a deliberate, personal, and abundant transfer of provision. It is a physical manifestation of his promise to care for her and Naomi, functioning as a tangible pledge or down payment on his future redemption. This act secures Ruth's immediate needs and publicly validates Boaz's honorable intentions.
"and she went into the city.": Ruth's departure is swift, discreet, and purposeful, adhering to Boaz's counsel to leave before daybreak. Her return to the city, now visibly laden with the generous gift of barley, transforms her appearance from a potentially vulnerable woman returning from a clandestine meeting into someone under the honorable care and abundant provision of a wealthy kinsman, thereby protecting her reputation within the community.

Literary Devices

Ruth 3:15 is rich with Symbolism. The "six measures of barley" are not merely sustenance; they symbolize Boaz's abundant generosity, his tangible pledge of commitment to Ruth, and the security he intends to provide for her and Naomi. The barley, a staple grain, represents life, provision, and the promise of a bountiful future. The act of placing it in Ruth's "vail" (mantle) also carries symbolic weight, as the mantle itself can represent protection, honor, and even a covering of identity. Furthermore, the entire scene functions as powerful Foreshadowing, hinting at the imminent legal redemption and marriage that will secure Ruth's future and establish a lineage. There is also an element of subtle Irony in that a threshing floor, a place sometimes associated with illicit encounters in ancient Near Eastern literature, becomes the site of a profoundly honorable, redemptive, and publicly validating pledge.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Ruth 3:15 stands as a powerful testament to the outworking of God's providence through human faithfulness and generosity. Boaz's actions are far more than a cultural formality; they embody profound biblical principles of care for the vulnerable, integrity in promises, and commitment to covenant obligations. His lavish provision of barley is a tangible expression of his promise, mirroring God's own unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises to His people. This verse underscores that true love, compassion, and commitment are demonstrated through concrete, sacrificial deeds, not merely through words. It highlights that God often uses the righteous and compassionate actions of individuals to bring about His redemptive purposes and provide for His people, illustrating the beauty of a community where the strong care for the weak, thereby reflecting the very heart of God.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Ruth 3:15 offers profound lessons for contemporary believers, challenging us to move beyond mere sentiment to tangible action. Boaz's immediate and generous provision demonstrates that genuine commitment is not merely verbal but is substantiated by concrete deeds. He didn't just promise to act; he immediately provided for Ruth and Naomi's well-being, ensuring their sustenance and safeguarding their reputation while he pursued the legal resolution. This challenges us to consider how our own faith, love, and compassion are expressed in practical, sacrificial ways. Are we merely professing our care for others, or are we actively providing for their needs, especially for the vulnerable and marginalized, thereby reflecting God's own generous character? Furthermore, Boaz's concern for Ruth's reputation teaches us the importance of acting with integrity and wisdom, not only in our intentions but also in how our actions are perceived by others, ensuring that our good is not spoken of as evil. This verse also serves as a beautiful reminder of God's meticulous providential care, often working through the kindness and faithfulness of His people to meet needs and bring about blessing, even in uncertain circumstances.

Questions for Reflection

How does Boaz's tangible act of provision challenge our understanding of commitment and generosity in our relationships and service to others?
In what practical ways can we, like Boaz, use our resources (time, talent, treasure) to protect, provide for, and affirm the vulnerable in our communities or families?
How does this verse encourage us to trust in God's providential care, even when circumstances seem uncertain or require patience and strategic action?

FAQ

Why did Boaz give Ruth six measures of barley?

Answer: Boaz gave Ruth six measures of barley for several significant reasons, all demonstrating his integrity and commitment. Firstly, it was a substantial amount, providing immediate and ample provision for both Ruth and Naomi, ensuring they would not go hungry while the legal matters of redemption were being resolved. This was a practical act of generosity. Secondly, it served as a public and tangible pledge of Boaz's serious intent to redeem Ruth. In ancient cultures, such a generous gift could function as a form of engagement token or a down payment on a promise, signaling honorable intentions. Lastly, and crucially, it was for protecting Ruth's reputation. By returning to the city with such a visible and honorable gift from Boaz, any rumors of impropriety regarding her overnight stay at the threshing floor would be dispelled, presenting her instead as someone under his honorable care and provision, as hinted at in Ruth 3:14.

What is the "vail" mentioned in this verse?

Answer: The "vail" (KJV) or "mantle" (ESV, NIV) mentioned in Ruth 3:15 refers to a large outer garment, such as a cloak, shawl, or blanket, that Ruth was wearing. It was not a small face covering. This type of garment was commonly used in ancient times not only for warmth and modesty but also as a practical means of carrying goods. Its size and strength made it suitable for holding the considerable quantity of barley Boaz gave her, highlighting its functional purpose in this context as a vessel for provision.

Did Boaz and Ruth spend the night together in an inappropriate way?

Answer: No, the biblical narrative carefully emphasizes Boaz's integrity and Ruth's honorable intentions, ensuring that their encounter at the threshing floor was not inappropriate. Boaz explicitly states, "Let it not be known that a woman came to the threshing floor" (Ruth 3:14), and he sends her away before dawn. He acts with the utmost care for Ruth's reputation and his own. The generous gift of barley was a tangible sign of his honorable commitment and served precisely to protect Ruth's reputation, preventing any gossip or suspicion in the city. The text portrays Boaz as a righteous man who acts with wisdom and care, upholding the law and protecting the vulnerable, rather than exploiting the situation.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Ruth 3:15, with Boaz's generous provision and tangible pledge, beautifully foreshadows the ultimate provision and redemption found in Jesus Christ, our supreme Kinsman-Redeemer. Just as Boaz, a man of wealth and integrity, freely gave of his abundance to secure Ruth's future and provide for her needs, so too does Christ, in His infinite riches and divine grace, freely give Himself for our salvation. The "six measures of barley" symbolize the abundant, life-sustaining provision that Christ offers, far surpassing mere physical sustenance. He is the true Bread of Life, who came down from heaven to satisfy our deepest spiritual hunger and thirst, offering eternal life to all who believe. Boaz's act of laying the barley on Ruth's mantle signifies a personal, tangible transfer of blessing and security, much like Christ's sacrifice on the cross, where He took our sin upon Himself to bestow upon us His righteousness and eternal inheritance (see 2 Corinthians 5:21 and 2 Corinthians 8:9). Through His redemptive work, Jesus not only secures our eternal future but also protects our spiritual reputation, clothing us in His righteousness and bringing us into His family, fulfilling the deepest longings for security, belonging, and an unblemished standing before God that Ruth experienced in Boaz's care (see Ephesians 1:7 and Colossians 1:13-14). He is the one who truly provides for all our needs, both temporal and eternal.

Copy as

Commentary on Ruth 3 verses 14–18

14 ¶ And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.

15 Also he said, Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city.

16 And 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.

17 And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law.

18 Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.

We are here told, I. How Ruth was dismissed by Boaz. It would not have been safe for her to go home in the dead of the night; therefore she lay at his feet (not by his side) until morning. But as soon as ever the day broke, that she had light to go home by, she got away, before one could know another, that, if she were seen, yet she might not be known to be abroad so unseasonably. She was not shy of being known to be a gleaner in the field, nor ashamed of that mark of her poverty. But she would not willingly be known to be a night-walker, for her virtue was her greatest honour, and that which she most valued. Boaz dismissed her, 1. With a charge to keep counsel (Rut 3:14): Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor, and lay all night so near to Boaz; for, though they needed not to care much what people said of them while they were both conscious to themselves of an unspotted purity, yet, because few could have come so near the fire as they did and not have been scorched, had it been known it would have occasioned suspicions in some and reflections from others. Good people would have been troubled, and bad people would have triumphed, and therefore let it not be known. Note, We must always take care, not only to keep a good conscience, but to keep a good name: either we must not do that which, though innocent, is liable to be misinterpreted, or, if we do, we must not let it be known. We must avoid not only sin, but scandal. There was likewise a particular reason for concealment here. If this matter should take wind, it might prejudice the freedom of the other kinsman's choice, and he would make this his reason for refusing Ruth, that Boaz and she had been together. 2. He dismissed her with a good present of corn, which would be very acceptable to her poor mother at home, and an evidence for her that he had not sent her away in dislike, which Naomi might have suspected if he had sent her away empty. He gave it to her in her veil, or apron, or mantle, gave it to her by measure. Like a prudent corn-master, he kept an account of all he delivered out. It was six measures, that is six omers as is supposed, ten of which made an ephah; whatever the measure was, it is probable he gave her as much as she could well carry, Rut 3:15. And the Chaldee says, Strength was given her from the Lord to carry it; and adds that now it was told her by the spirit of prophecy that from her should descend six of the most righteous men of their age, namely, David, Daniel, his three companions, and the king Messiah.

II. How she was welcomed by her mother-in-law. She asked her, "Who art thou, my daughter? Art thou a bride or no? Must I give thee joy?" So Ruth told her how the matter stood (Rut 3:17), whereupon her mother, 1. Advised her to be satisfied in what was done: Sit still, my daughter, till thou know how the matter will fall (Rut 3:18) - how it is decreed in heaven, so the Chaldee reads it, for marriages are made there. She had done all that was fit for her to do, and now she must patiently wait the issue and not be perplexed about it. Let us learn hence to cast our care upon providence, to follow that and attend the motions of it, composing ourselves into an expectation of the event, with a resolution to acquiesce in it, whatever it be. Sometimes that proves best done for us that is least our own doing. "Sit still, therefore, and see how the matter will fall, and say, Let it fall how it will, I am ready for it." 2. She assured her that Boaz, having undertaken this matter, would approve himself a faithful careful friend: He will not be at rest till he have finished the matter. Though it was a busy time with him in his fields and his floor, yet, having undertaken to serve his friend, he would not neglect the business. Naomi believes that Ruth has won his heart, and that therefore he will not be easy till he knows whether she be his or no. This she gives as a reason why Ruth should sit still and not perplex herself about it, that Boaz had undertaken it, and he would be sure to manage it well. Much more reason have good Christians to be careful for nothing, but cast their care on God, because he has promised to care for them: and what need have we to care if he do? Sit still, and see how the matter will fall, for the Lord will perfect that which concerns thee, and will make it to work for good to thee, Psa 37:4, Psa 37:5; Psa 138:8. Your strength is to sit still, Isa 30:7.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 14–18. Public domain.

Copy as

Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.

Copy as

Continue studying Ruth 3:15 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.