RUTH 2:2 Interlinear View

1. Hebrew word
2. Hebrew lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. Gloss
8. CAPS codes
9. OET tags
10. OET word #
1. וַ,תֹּאמֶר
2. 179660,179661
3. And she/it said
4. and
5. 559
6. SV-C,Vqw3fs
7. and=she/it_said
8. S
9. Y-1307
10. 124172
1. רוּת
2. 179662
3. Rūt
4. Ruth
5. 7327
6. S-Np
7. Ruth
8. -
9. Person=Ruth; Y-1307
10. 124173
1. הַ,מּוֹאֲבִיָּה
2. 179663,179664
3. the Mōʼāⱱite woman
4. -
5. 4125
6. S-Td,Ngfsa
7. the_Moabite,[woman]
8. -
9. Y-1307
10. 124174
1. אֶֽל
2. 179665
3. to
4. -
5. 413
6. S-R
7. to
8. -
9. Y-1307
10. 124175
2. 179666
3. -
4. -
6. -x-maqqef
8. -
9. -
10. 124176
1. נָעֳמִי
2. 179667
3. Nāˊₒmī
4. Naomi
5. 5281
6. S-Np
7. Naomi
8. -
9. Person=Naomi; Y-1307
10. 124177
1. אֵלְכָה
2. 179668
3. let me go
4. -
5. 3212
6. V-Vqh1cs
7. let_me_go
8. -
9. Y-1307
10. 124178
2. 179669
3. -
4. -
6. -x-maqqef
8. -
9. -
10. 124179
1. נָּא
2. 179670
3. please
4. -
5. 4994
6. S-Tj
7. please
8. -
9. Y-1307
10. 124180
1. הַ,שָּׂדֶה
2. 179671,179672
3. the field
4. countryside
6. S-Td,Ncmsa
7. the=field
8. -
9. Y-1307
10. 124181
1. וַ,אֲלַקֳטָּה
2. 179673,179674
3. so that I may glean
4. -
5. 3950
6. SV-C,Vph1cs
7. so,that_I_may_glean
8. -
9. Y-1307
10. 124182
2. 179675
3. -
4. -
6. -
8. -
9. -
10. 124183
2. 179676
3. -
4. -
6. -
8. -
9. -
10. 124184
2. 179677
3. -
4. -
6. -
8. -
9. -
10. 124185
1. בַ,שִׁבֳּלִים
2. 179678,179679
3. among grain
4. grain
6. S-Rd,Ncfpa
7. among,grain
8. -
9. Y-1307
10. 124186
2. 179680
3. -
4. -
6. -
8. -
9. -
10. 124187
2. 179681
3. -
4. -
6. -
8. -
9. -
10. 124188
2. 179682
3. -
4. -
6. -
8. -
9. -
10. 124189
1. אַחַר
2. 179683
3. behind
4. -
6. S-R
7. behind
8. -
9. Y-1307
10. 124190
1. אֲשֶׁר
2. 179684
3. +the one whom
4. -
6. S-Tr
7. [the_one]_whom
8. -
9. Y-1307
10. 124191
1. אֶמְצָא
2. 179685
3. I will find
4. I'll
5. 4672
6. V-Vqi1cs
7. I_will_find
8. -
9. Y-1307
10. 124192
2. 179686
3. -
4. -
6. -x-maqqef
8. -
9. -
10. 124193
1. חֵן
2. 179687
3. favour
4. -
5. 2580
6. O-Ncmsa
7. favor
8. -
9. Y-1307
10. 124194
1. בְּ,עֵינָי,ו
2. 179688,179689,179690
3. in eyes of his
4. -
6. S-R,Ncbdc,Sp3ms
7. in,eyes_of,his
8. -
9. Y-1307
10. 124195
1. וַ,תֹּאמֶר
2. 179691,179692
3. and she/it said
4. -
5. 559
6. SV-C,Vqw3fs
7. and=she/it_said
8. -
9. Y-1307
10. 124196
1. לָ,הּ
2. 179693,179694
3. to/for her/it
4. -
6. S-R,Sp3fs
7. to/for=her/it
8. -
9. Y-1307
10. 124197
1. לְכִי
2. 179695
3. go
4. -
5. 3212
6. V-Vqv2fs
7. go
8. -
9. Y-1307
10. 124198
1. בִתִּ,י
2. 179696,179697
3. my daughter of my
4. daughter
5. 1323
6. S-Ncfsc,Sp1cs
7. my_daughter_of,my
8. -
9. Y-1307
10. 124199
2. 179698
3. -
4. -
6. -x-sof-pasuq
8. -
9. -
10. 124200

2:2 OSHB note: Marks a place where we agree with BHQ against BHS in reading L.

2:2 OSHB note: Marks an anomalous form.

2:2 OSHB note: We read punctuation in L differently from BHS.

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 2:1–23: Ruth gathered grain in a field belonging to Boaz

This third section in the book of Ruth tells how Ruth met Boaz. Since Naomi and Ruth were poor at this time, Ruth asked Naomi for permission to glean in the grain fields in order to find them some food.

Ruth chose a field in which to glean. Although she did not know it, the man who owned that field, Boaz, was a relative of Elimelech. Boaz had heard about Ruth already, but he had not met her. He was sympathetic and kind to her that day, and told her to continue to work in his field during the rest of the harvest time.

That evening, Ruth returned home and told Naomi that the owner of the field where she had gleaned was called Boaz and that he had treated her well. Naomi was very pleased. She encouraged Ruth to continue to work there just as Boaz had invited her to do.

Here are some other examples of section headings:

Ruth Meets Boaz (ESV)

Ruth Works in the Field of Boaz (NET)

2:2a

And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi,

One day Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi,
Then Ruth, who was a woman from the land/country of Moab, said to her mother-in-law, Naomi,

And: This verse continues the story from 1:22b after the background information in 2:1. In some languages, it may be helpful to use a phrase. For example:

One day, (GNT)

Then,

Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi: Here, the Moabitess means “the woman from Moab.” (See Ruth 1:4, 22.) The identification that Ruth is a Moabite occurs seven times in the book to draw attention to her being a foreigner.

2:2b

“Please let me go into the fields and glean heads of grain after someone in whose sight I may find favor.”

“Allow me go to the field to glean stalks/ears of grain, gathering them behind anyone who shows me goodwill/favor.”
“I ask you to permit me to go to the fields and pick up grain/barley that was not gathered by the harvesters. I will look for someone who is kind to me to let me follow him.”

Please let me go into the fields: Ruth was asking Naomi for permission to go to the fields to glean. Use the form that younger women use to ask older women for permission to do something.

the fields: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as fields is singular. It probably refers to the entire area where crops were planted near Bethlehem. Different people owned different parts of the area, with the boundaries probably marked by rows or piles of stones. You should use a term that refers to this general area where people plant their crops.

and glean heads of grain: In Hebrew, the expression that the BSB translates as glean heads of grain includes the technical verb “to glean.” (See “Gleaning and Harvesting” under “Important Cultural Items To Understand” in the Introduction for an explanation.) This refers to gathering grain that had fallen to the ground or that the reapers had not cut (intentionally or accidently). If your language does not have a specific word for “glean,” you may need to use a brief description. If you do use a descriptive phrase like this, you may want to use a shortened form of it for some of the later occurrences of “glean.”

Here are some other ways to translate this:

gather the grain that the harvest workers leave (GNT)

pick the grain left behind by the reapers (GW)

pick up the remaining stalks of grain

gather grain after the harvesters

It may be helpful for you to insert a footnote here that explains that Old Testament law gave poor people the right to pick up grain that was left uncut or dropped. Here is a suggested footnote:

Old Testament law gave instructions to not harvest all the grain in a field at harvest time. Poor people, strangers, widows, and orphans had the right to harvest this grain that was left so they would have food. See Leviticus 19:9–10 and Deuteronomy 24:19–22.

heads of grain: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as heads of grain refers to stalks of grain including the grain itself (also referred to in English as the “ear” of the grain; NRSV, for example, “the ears of grain”). If you have a specific term in your language for “stalks of grain” or “heads/ears of grain,” consider using it here. We know from Ruth 1:22 (and 2:22) that they were harvesting barley. If you don’t have a general word for grain, but have a word for barley (or similar grain like wheat), you could use it here.

after someone: The Hebrew preposition that the BSB translates as after refers to coming along behind the owner or his workers had completed cutting grain in an area to harvest it. This preposition can refer to either place or time. In this case, both are true. The gleaner worked in the field physically “behind” the other workers. In relation to time, he or she gleaned “after” the workers had finished harvesting grain and removed the bundles from that part of the field.Commentaries consistently cite two books where the process of gleaning is described and this point is made: Dalman, Arbeit und Sitte, 3:46–47, 62, and Borowski, Agriculture in Iron Age Israel, 59–61. But if your language does not have a preposition which can refer to both time or place in this way, choose one which refers to time, “after” the harvest workers.

in whose sight I may find favor: The Hebrew idiom often translated “to find favor in [someone’s] eyes” means to receive approval, favor, or goodwill from a person. Since the LORD had commanded his people to allow poor people to glean, it was not necessary to ask permission. However, Ruth wanted to glean in a field where the owner would treat her kindly. Because she was a foreigner, she realized that some owners might not be pleased to have her glean in their fields and might not allow it, in spite of the law.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

who shows me favor/goodwill

who treats me kindly/well

anyone who is kind enough to let me do it (NLT)

who will permit me to do that

2:2c

“Go ahead, my daughter,” Naomi replied.

Naomi answered her, “You may go, my daughter.”
Naomi replied, “Yes. Go and do that, my dear daughter-in-law.”

“Go ahead, my daughter,” Naomi replied: The Hebrew command that the BSB translates as Go ahead simply means “Go.” Naomi was giving Ruth permission to do as she asked. Make sure your translation includes this idea of giving permission.

my daughter: In some languages, it may be necessary to say “dear daughter-in-law.” Use the expression mothers-in-law use in your language to express affection to their daughters-in-law. See how you translated 1:11a.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-participants

ר֨וּת הַ⁠מּוֹאֲבִיָּ֜ה

Rūt the_Moabite,[woman]

Here the writer reintroduces Ruth after giving background information about someone else. If your language has its own way of reintroducing old participants when it resumes a story, you could use it here in your translation. Alternate translation: [the same Moabite woman, Ruth]

הַ⁠מּוֹאֲבִיָּ֜ה

the_Moabite,[woman]

Alternate translation: [from the country of Moab]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֶמְצָא־חֵ֖ן בְּ⁠עֵינָ֑י⁠ו

which/who find graciousness/kindness/favour/beauty in,eyes_of,his

The idiom in whose eyes I find favor means “whoever will approve of me.” Ruth speaks of gaining someone’s favor as gaining permission, kindness, or approval. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [anyone who gives me permission] or [whoever will be kind to me]

Note 3 topic: translate-kinship

בִתִּֽ⁠י

my_daughter_of,my

Ruth was caring for Naomi as if she were her own mother, and Naomi addressed Ruth affectionately as her daughter. If it would be helpful in your language, use the term in your language that would indicate this kind of close relationship between two women.

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

2:2 OSHB note: Marks a place where we agree with BHQ against BHS in reading L.

2:2 OSHB note: Marks an anomalous form.

2:2 OSHB note: We read punctuation in L differently from BHS.

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The Hebrew text, lemmas, and morphology are all thanks to the OSHB and some of the glosses are from Macula Hebrew.

OET interlinear RUTH 2:2

Hebrew word order

Section 2:1–23: Ruth gathered grain in a field belonging to Boaz

2:2a

2:2b

2:2c

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)