Ruth 3:16-18 – “Amen”

As always, here’s my fairly literal translation of these verses:

¹⁶and she went to her mother-in-law and she said, “Who [are] you, my daughter?” And she told to her all which the man had done to her. ¹⁷And she said, “The six of the barley the these he gave me because he said to me, ‘Do not go empty to your mother-in-law.’” ¹⁸And she said, “Sit still my daughter, until which you know a matter will fall because the man will not rest until he completes the matter today.”

First of all I have to make a comment which includes verse 15. The end of verse 15 has caused no end of consternation to many commentators because it reads in Hebrew, “and he went to the city.” For some reason, when we read v15, in our minds it should end “and she went to the city.” But the pronoun is not feminine; it is masculine. In support of our intuitions, there are in fact a few old manuscripts which read it as a feminine and the KJV translated it, “and she went …” (in spite of the fact they were usually very faithful to the exact wording of the original). However, the predominance of evidence supports the masculine, “he went.”

My assertion is that, if we disregard the verse divisions, it actually makes perfect sense and flows nicely to accept it as it is written, as a masculine pronoun. In Hebrew (and without noting the verse division) it would read, “… and he went to the city, and she went to her mother-in-law…” Makes me want to say, “Duh,” but that is my cynical side. I was surprised in reading commentaries how many people debated the evidence but apparently never paused to consider the question leaving out the verse divisions. I suspect, to a large extent, it is because they did not take the time to look closely at the Hebrew text. Places like this are exactly why I wanted to study Greek and Hebrew and why I always start my study by carefully scrutinizing the original text itself. If we simply let the Hebrew or Greek say what it says, it often answers the very questions our English translations (and artificial verse divisions) create.

I’m not alone in my conclusion, as I found it written in the Pulpit Commentaries, “If there had been no division into verses, then the departure of both Boaz and Ruth on their respective routes, or in their respective order of sequence, would have been recorded close together: ‘and he went to the city, and she went to her mother-in-law’…” Glad someone else noticed! Obviously, not everyone can have the opportunity (nor the aptitude) to learn the original languages and work in them; but I wish that people who take it on themselves to write commentaries would take more seriously their responsibility to “rightly divide” the Word of Truth. But then again … I am an Engineer. I love to study and actually enjoy scratching around on the bedrock of the original languages. Others have their own aptitudes and probably find my scratchings to be too tedious. “The foot (me) shouldn’t say to the eye, ‘I have no need of you!’” It’s always true that we all need each other.

But, back to our delightful story … One can only imagine the excitement as Ruth arrives home to a waiting Naomi. Interesting how these events occur very early in the morning, yet Naomi is apparently awake and waiting when Ruth returns. In all likelihood, Naomi didn’t get much sleep either – a loving parent anxious and praying through the night for the welfare of this beloved daughter. In the Hebrew, Naomi literally asks, “Who you, my daughter?” Once again, people debate the possible meaning of these words, but I’ll say I strongly suspect this is just a Hebrew way of asking, “How did it go?” As I often note, they thought in pictures, while we think in logical sequences. Often when considering the meaning of an obscure or difficult passage, it seems like it helps a lot to deliberately get into their “picture” mentality and then it makes perfect sense.

Ruth replies by telling her “everything.” Sounds like two ladies! If Ruth was a man, she probably would have walked in the house and said, “Yeah. Looks like it’s a done deal. Is breakfast ready?” Men, it seems to me, generally love to “bottom-line” everything and move on. It’s the ladies who want to (need to) talk through the various details. And so they do here. Ruth tells Naomi “everything!”

I suspect it is significant to note that v17 includes the last recorded words of Ruth, saying “He gave me these six measures of barley, saying, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’” It is interesting that Naomi’s lament when she and Ruth first arrived back at Bethlehem were “I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty.” It was the same Hebrew word for “empty.” Naomi (Israel), in her grief, thought the Lord had left her empty, but now Boaz (the Redeemer) wants to make sure she, in fact, is not empty and he does it through Ruth (the Gentile). I don’t know if the pattern is simply fractal or if the Lord is deliberately painting a prophetic picture, but it is interesting to note.

Interesting too that Ruth’s last words are actually repeating Boaz’s words – the betrothed bride speaking the Redeemer’s words. How like the Church, yes? Our great Redeemer is the very Word of God, and yet He has called us His bride to speak and live out His words here on earth. Back to pictures – how does the world know of the great kindness of the Redeemer? When the Bride says, “He gave me these … and He doesn’t want you to be empty.” We are blessed to bless, yes?

Then it is of interest to note that v18 presents to us the last recorded words of Naomi. She says, “Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today.” I often think it interesting to note that the Bible was recorded for us entirely by Jewish writers. Even for this church age, this age of glory for us Gentiles, yet the Lord’s words come to us from Jewish hands. And what would be the counsel of our Jewish friends to us Gentiles? “Be patient, then, brothers, unto the coming of the Lord … be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near” (James 5:7,8). A Jewish writer (John) ends the Scriptures with the words, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” And the last recorded words of this Jewish woman to her Gentile daughter are in effect, “Be patient, my daughter, for, in just a little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay” (taken from Hebrews 10:37, quoting Habakkuk 2:3,4). The prophetic similarities between all of this and our heavenly Redeemer are striking, yes?

Also in a (perhaps) more immediately practical vein, I think it interesting to note Naomi’s words to Ruth. Here is an older woman, counseling a young woman, an older believer counseling this young one. Her counsel is to say, “Be patient. You can count on Boaz.” I think it admirable of Boaz that Naomi apparently knows of his character, that his word is his bond, that he will do exactly what he said he would, and that he will do it diligently. But then, what Naomi is teaching Ruth is that this is a man you too can admire, a man you can count on. Certainly for all of us, patience and waiting are virtues to be cultivated. They don’t come naturally to any of us and certainly not to the young. But there are people in this world we can count on and it behooves us all to figure out who they are! (and aren’t!) I think of Paul’s instruction to Titus to teach the older women “to teach the younger women to be sensible …” (Titus 2:4) That is precisely what Naomi is doing here. The strength of the young is their energy, but that energy begs wise disposal. Sometimes it simply needs to be corralled and the young person counselled to “sit still and wait.” Even those of us with far less energy need that counsel!

Of course, too, we can note the application to our waiting on the Lord. F.B. Meyer said,

In times of difficulty--be still! …hast thou not heard His voice saying: "This is the way, walk ye in it"? Then leave Him to deal with thy foes from whatever quarter they come. He is thy Rock, and rocks do not shake. He is thy High Tower, and a high tower cannot be flooded. Thou needest mercy, and to Him belongeth mercy. Do not run hither and thither in panic! Just quietly wait, hushing thy soul, as He did the fears of His friends on the eve of Gethsemane and Calvary. "Rest in the Lord, wait patiently for Him." "Be still, for He will not rest, until He hath finished the thing this day." If this day I should get lost amid the perplexities of life and the rush of many duties, do Thou search me out, gracious Lord, and bring me back into the quiet of Thy presence. AMEN.

Amen. And also, before leaving this post, I would like to include an extensive quote of the venerable old Robert Hawker (ca. 1790) who wrote of these verses:

“… I do not know any passage in the whole bible more interesting, considered in reference to the person of the Lord Jesus, and his love and attention to his people, than this; in which Naomi saith: the man will not rest until he have finished the thing this day. A word which every true believer may use. The God-man Christ Jesus will not cease; doth not even now in glory remit one moment his priestly office, in the carrying on, and completing that redemption in his people, which on earth he finished for his people; when by righteousness he justified them, and by the one offering of himself once offered, he perfected forever them that are sanctified. Hebrews 10:14. Lord! help both Writer and Reader to believe the record which God hath given of his Son! 1 John 5:10-12. And there is one circumstance more in those precious words, considered as applicable to the person of the God-man Christ Jesus, which I could wish ever to keep in view myself, And which I would affectionately recommend to every lover of Jesus: namely, that the seeking soul is not more earnest for a speedy issue in his treaty with Jesus, than the Lord Jesus himself is. Reader! it is equally true in the case of every humble follower of Jesus, as in the instance of Boaz and Ruth, and may be said with equal truth and confidence, the God-man will not rest, until he have finished the thing, in this day of salvation. And what a relief would such a thought bring in every dark and trying hour, if cherished with full faith and affection under the influence of the Holy Ghost in the heart, that the soul is not more desirous to win Christ, than Christ to reveal himself to that soul, and to form himself there the hope of glory.

… My soul! In the perusal of this chapter, I would say to thee, as Naomi did to Ruth, Shall I not seek rest for thee? And can there be any rest on this side the grave, but in Jesus? is he not the rest wherewith the Lord will cause the weary to rest, and is he not the refreshing! And as an encouragement to go to him, may I not say as sine did: Is he not of my kindred? Hath he not married our nature: united it to himself, and become bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh? And can I go to one nearer and dearer than he? And doth he not hold a constant feast in his harvest seasons? And are they not in his church perpetual? Oh! for grace to anoint myself, and the sweet washings of the Holy Spirit, that I may go forth and lie low at his feet, and seek from the blessed condescensions of his love, that he may spread his skirt of righteousness, and his garment of salvation, over me, and betroth me to himself forever, in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in mercies: yea betroth me unto himself in faithfulness and that I may know the Lord.

And, dearest Jesus! give me grace while I wait at thy feet, that I may lie passive until the morning. Oh! for the lively actings of faith to believe what my God hath promised, and that he will do the kinsman's part, for he hath said it.

Amen and amen.