Ruth Chapter 2: Ruth Meets Boaz

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¹ And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.
² And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.
³ And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.
⁴ And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The Lord be with you. And they answered him, The Lord bless thee.
⁵ Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this?
⁶ And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab:
⁷ 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.
⁸ Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens:
⁹ Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.
¹⁰ 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?
¹¹ And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.
¹² The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.
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.
¹⁴ And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left.
¹⁵ And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not:
¹⁶ And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.
¹⁷ So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.
¹⁸ And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed.
¹⁹ And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man’s name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz.
²⁰ And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the Lord, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.
²¹ And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.
²² And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter in law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field.
²³ So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law.


🌾 Provision in the Field of Grace 🌾

“The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.” – Ruth 2:12

Ruth Chapter 2 is a radiant portrait of divine providence, favor, and grace. After arriving in Bethlehem with Naomi, Ruth takes initiative to glean in the fields to provide for them both. By divine orchestration, she ends up in the field of Boaz, a wealthy relative of Naomi. Boaz notices Ruth’s diligence and virtue and extends kindness, protection, and provision toward her. This chapter sets the stage for redemption, offering a picture of how God provides for the humble and faithful.

📜 Structure of Ruth Chapter 2

Verses 1–3: Ruth Steps Out in Faith

Ruth humbly requests to glean in the fields—a right for the poor in Israel (Leviticus 19:9-10). Without knowing it, she ends up in Boaz’s field. This “chance” meeting is no accident, but the Lord guiding her steps.

“And her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz…” – Ruth 2:3

Verses 4–7: Boaz Arrives and Inquires

Boaz greets his reapers with a blessing—a sign of his godly character. He quickly notices Ruth and asks about her, learning of her loyalty to Naomi and her respectful work ethic.

Verses 8–14: Boaz Shows Kindness

Boaz personally speaks to Ruth, offering her safety, provision, and inclusion. He praises her for seeking refuge under God’s wings. At mealtime, she is invited to eat with the reapers, receiving more than she expected.

“Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them…” – Ruth 2:9

Verses 15–17: Extra Favor in the Field

Boaz commands his workers to let her glean freely and even pull out extra handfuls for her. Ruth gleans until evening, gathering an ephah of barley—abundant for one day.

Verses 18–23: Naomi’s Joy and God’s Hand

Ruth returns to Naomi with the bounty. Naomi is amazed and recognizes the hand of the Lord and the kindness of Boaz, who is revealed to be a kinsman.

“Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead.” – Ruth 2:20

💡 Key Themes

✨Divine Providence

God sovereignly directs Ruth to Boaz’s field. There is no such thing as coincidence for God’s people—only divine appointments.

✨Kindness and Character

Ruth’s humble service and Boaz’s generous heart reveal the beauty of godly character. Kindness echoes throughout this chapter.

✨Refuge in God

Boaz’s words highlight a deep truth: those who seek God’s shelter find more than provision—they find favor and peace.

👤 Key People

  • Ruth – A woman of valor and faith, stepping out to provide for Naomi and honored by God for her faithfulness.
  • Boaz – A wealthy, godly man whose compassion and honor foreshadow Christ’s redemptive love.
  • Naomi – Encouraged by the news of Ruth’s success and begins to see hope restored.

🔥 Why This Chapter Matters

Ruth Chapter 2 shows that God honors the faithful. Even in humble fields, His grace shines brightly. It also reflects Jesus Christ—our Redeemer—who welcomes the outsider and provides abundant favor to those who seek Him.

💭 Let’s Reflect

  • Have you seen God’s hand guiding you in “small” decisions like Ruth gleaning in a field?
  • Are you willing to work humbly, trusting God to bring the right people and opportunities?
  • How does Boaz’s kindness reflect the heart of Jesus?

Ready to Go Deeper?

👉 Click here to begin reading Ruth Chapter 3

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