RUTH 2:20 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. 180208,180209
3. And she/it said
4. responded and then
5. 559
6. SV-C,Vqw3fs
7. and=she/it_said
8. S
9. Y-1307
10. 124538
1. נָעֳמִי
2. 180210
3. Nāˊₒmī
4. Naomi
5. 5281
6. S-Np
7. Naomi
8. -
9. Person=Naomi; Y-1307
10. 124539
1. לְ,כַלָּתָ,הּ
2. 180211,180212,180213
3. to daughter-in-law of her
4. -
5. 3618
6. S-R,Ncfsc,Sp3fs
7. to,daughter-in-law_of,her
8. -
9. Y-1307
10. 124540
1. בָּרוּךְ
2. 180214
3. +be blessed
4. blessed
5. 1288
6. V-Vqsmsa
7. [be]_blessed
8. -
9. Y-1307
10. 124541
1. הוּא
2. 180215
3. he
4. -
5. 1931
6. S-Pp3ms
7. he
8. -
9. Y-1307
10. 124542
1. לַ,יהוָה
2. 180216,180217
3. to/for YHWH
4. -
5. 3068
6. S-R,Np
7. to/for=\nd YHWH\nd*
8. -
9. Person=God; Y-1307
10. 124543
1. אֲשֶׁר
2. 180218
3. who
4. -
6. S-Tr
7. who
8. -
9. Y-1307
10. 124544
1. לֹא
2. 180219
3. not
4. -
5. 3808
6. S-Tn
7. not
8. -
9. Y-1307
10. 124545
2. 180220
3. -
4. -
6. -x-maqqef
8. -
9. -
10. 124546
1. עָזַב
2. 180221
3. he has abandoned
4. -
6. V-Vqp3ms
7. he_has_forsaken
8. -
9. Y-1307
10. 124547
1. חַסְדּ,וֹ
2. 180222,180223
3. loyalty of his covenant
4. kindness
6. O-Ncmsc,Sp3ms
7. loyalty_of,his_covenant
8. -
9. Y-1307
10. 124548
1. אֶת
2. 180224
3. with
4. -
5. 854
6. S-R
7. with
8. -
9. Y-1307
10. 124549
2. 180225
3. -
4. -
6. -x-maqqef
8. -
9. -
10. 124550
1. הַ,חַיִּים
2. 180226,180227
3. the living
4. living
6. S-Td,Aampa
7. the,living
8. -
9. Y-1307
10. 124551
1. וְ,אֶת
2. 180228,180229
3. and DOM
4. -
5. 854
6. S-C,R
7. and=\untr DOM\untr*
8. -
9. Y-1307
10. 124552
2. 180230
3. -
4. -
6. -x-maqqef
8. -
9. -
10. 124553
1. הַ,מֵּתִים
2. 180231,180232
3. the dead
4. -
5. 4191
6. S-Td,Vqrmpa
7. the,dead
8. -
9. Y-1307
10. 124554
1. וַ,תֹּאמֶר
2. 180233,180234
3. and she/it said
4. -
5. 559
6. SV-C,Vqw3fs
7. and=she/it_said
8. -
9. Y-1307
10. 124555
1. לָ,הּ
2. 180235,180236
3. to/for her/it
4. -
6. S-R,Sp3fs
7. to/for=her/it
8. -
9. Y-1307
10. 124556
1. נָעֳמִי
2. 180237
3. Nāˊₒmī
4. -
5. 5281
6. S-Np
7. Naomi
8. -
9. Person=Naomi; Y-1307
10. 124557
1. קָרוֹב
2. 180238
3. +is near
4. -
5. 7138
6. P-Aamsa
7. [is]_near
8. -
9. Y-1307
10. 124558
1. לָ,נוּ
2. 180239,180240
3. to/for us
4. -
6. P-R,Sp1cp
7. to/for=us
8. -
9. Y-1307
10. 124559
1. הָ,אִישׁ
2. 180241,180242
3. the man
4. man
5. 376
6. S-Td,Ncmsa
7. the=man
8. -
9. Y-1307
10. 124560
1. מִ,גֹּאֲלֵ,נוּ
2. 180243,180244,180245
3. +is one of our kinsman-redeemers
4. -
6. P-R,Vqrmsc,Sp1cp
7. [is]_one,of,our_kinsman-redeemers
8. -
9. Y-1307
10. 124561
1. הוּא
2. 180246
3. he
4. -
5. 1931
6. S-Pp3ms
7. he
8. -
9. Y-1307
10. 124562
2. 180247
3. -
4. -
6. -x-sof-pasuq
8. -
9. -
10. 124563

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)

2:20a

Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the LORD,

Naomi responded to her daughter-in-law, “May Yahweh be kind/good to him!
Naomi said to her, “May Yahweh show him favor!

May he be blessed by the LORD: Naomi again asked the LORD to bless Boaz.

2:20b

who has not withdrawn His kindness from the living or the dead.”

Yahweh has not stopped being kind to those who are living and those who have died.”
Yahweh is continuing to do kind things for us who are alive and our husbands who are dead.”

who has not withdrawn His kindness from the living or the dead: The Hebrew verb that the BSB translates as withdrawn His kindness is more literally “forsaken, abandoned.”

There are two interpretation issues in this clause. The first is whether His kindness is the object or the subject of the Hebrew clause. The possibilities are:

His kindness is the object of the verb. According to this interpretation, “he” is the subject of the verb, and kindness is something that “he” has not abandoned or forsaken. For example:
he has not abandoned his loyalty to the living or to the dead (NET) (BSB, CEV, GNT, GW, KJV, NABRE, NASB, NET, NIV, NJB, NJPS, NLT, REB)
His kindness is the subject of the verb. According to this interpretation, God’s kindness has not abandoned or forsaken his people. For example:
whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead (NRSV) (ESV, NRSV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

The second issue is that in Hebrew it is not clear who has not withdrawn His kindness. Scholars have interpreted the clause in two ways:

The LORD is the subject of the verb. For example:
May he be blessed by the Lord, who never fails to show kindness to the living and to the dead. (NABRE) (BSB, CEV, GNT, GW, KJV, NABRE, NASB, NCV, NJB, NJPS, REB)
Boaz is the subject of the verb. For example:
May he be rewarded by the Lord because he has shown loyalty to the living on behalf of the dead. (NET) (ESV, NET, NIV, NLT)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with the majority of English versions.

who has not withdrawn His kindness: The verb that the BSB translates as withdrawn is more literally “abandoned” or “forsaken.” Naomi was saying that the LORD was still being kind and faithful to her family. The LORD was showing his kindness through Boaz.

In some languages, it may be more natural to say:

He has not stopped being kind

He has not stopped acting kindly

He has continued to act with kindness/faithfulness

His kindness: The Hebrew word ḥesed that the BSB translates as kindness means faithfulness, love, and loyalty. See also the note at 1:8d.

from the living: The phrase the living here refers to Naomi and Ruth. The LORD had been kind to them by guiding Ruth to the field of a relative who was generous to her.

or the dead: The phrase the dead here probably refers to Elimelech and his sons. Perhaps Naomi was already thinking that Boaz might act as a guardian-redeemer, marry Ruth, and so continue Elimelech’s family line. This would be considered a great kindness to Elimelech and his sons, who had all died.

2:20c

Naomi continued, “The man is a close relative.

Naomi added/said, “That man, Boaz, is a close relative of ours.^incl
Then Naomi continued, “The owner of the field is in my husband’s clan,

Naomi continued: The phrase Naomi continued indicates that Naomi continued speaking to Ruth. She started to talk about Boaz directly. Use the words that are normal in your language to indicate that the speaker continued to speak but changed the topic slightly.

The man is a close relative: Naomi referred to Boaz as The man. In some languages, it might not be polite to refer to a wealthy relative as The man. You should translate this with words that indicate respect.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

Boaz is a close relative (CEV)

That gentleman/landowner is a close relative

a close relative: The Hebrew phrase that the BSB translates as a close relative is literally “close/near to us.” It is clear from the context that Naomi was talking of kinship and family ties. Naomi refers to him as a close relative even though Boaz was a relative of her deceased husband. In some languages, it may be necessary to say “a close relative of our family/husbands.”

2:20d

He is one of our kinsman-redeemers.”

He is one of those responsible to care for our^incl family.”
so he is a relative with the duty to help us.”

He is one of our kinsman-redeemers: In Israel, close relatives had a responsibility to preserve the property and family name of those related to them. The closest relatives—a brother, uncle, or cousin—had the main responsibility. These closest relatives were called kinsman-redeemers. By using this special term, Naomi was saying that Boaz was one of the men who had a close enough family relationship to help both her and Ruth.

In some languages, a term such as “guardian/kinsman-redeemer” may be misunderstood, because most people will associate it with Christ’s role as the redeemer of sinners.

In some languages, it may be necessary to translate kinsman-redeemers with a phrase that clarifies the meaning in the context of this book. For example:

one of those who is supposed to look after us (CEV)

one who should take care of us (NCV)

one of those responsible for taking care of us (GNT)

one of those who have responsibility to care for our family

a relative with the duty to help us

It is suggested that you use one or more of the above examples where the phrase kinsman-redeemer occurs in the source line. In this verse part, Naomi is speaking to Ruth, so the inclusive pronoun “us” is used. In other contexts, such as where Ruth speaks to Boaz, the exclusive pronoun should be used.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: translate-blessing

בָּר֥וּךְ הוּא֙ לַ⁠יהוָ֔ה

blessed he/it to/for=YHWH

Naomi is asking God to bless Boaz. You could express this as either a blessing or a prayer, in whichever way is more natural in your language. Alternate translation: [I pray that he will be blessed by Yahweh]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

בָּר֥וּךְ הוּא֙ לַ⁠יהוָ֔ה

blessed he/it to/for=YHWH

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you use an active form, you may need to start a new sentence afterward, as in the UST.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / doublenegatives

אֲשֶׁר֙ לֹא־עָזַ֣ב

which/who not abandoned

If it would be clearer in your language, you could use a positive expression to translate this double negative that consists of the negative particle not and the negative word forsaken. Alternate translation: [who has continued to be loyal to]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / pronouns

אֲשֶׁר֙ לֹא־עָזַ֣ב

which/who not abandoned

Here, who could refer to: (1) Yahweh, who has continued to be faithful to the living and the dead by acting through Boaz. (2) Boaz, who is showing faithfulness to Naomi’s family by helping Ruth.

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

אֶת־הַ⁠חַיִּ֖ים

DOM the,living

Naomi is using the adjective living as a noun to mean those who continue to live, referring to herself and Ruth. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate this word with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: [with the people who are still living]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

וְ⁠אֶת־הַ⁠מֵּתִ֑ים

and=DOM the,dead

Naomi is using the adjective dead as a noun to mean those who have died. She is referring to her husband and sons. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate this word with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: [and with the people who have already died]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

קָר֥וֹב לָ֨⁠נוּ֙ הָ⁠אִ֔ישׁ מִֽ⁠גֹּאֲלֵ֖⁠נוּ הֽוּא

close to/for=us the=man [is]_one,of,our_kinsman-redeemers he/it

These two sentences mean basically the same thing. The second sentence repeats the meaning of the first using different words in order to emphasize the importance of this information for the story. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could combine the sentences or connect them in a way that shows that the second sentence is repeating the first one, not saying something additional. Alternate translation: [That man is closely related to us, which means that he is one of our kinsman-redeemers] or [That man is closely related to us. Yes, he is one of our kinsman-redeemers]

Note 8 topic: translate-unknown

מִֽ⁠גֹּאֲלֵ֖⁠נוּ

[is]_one,of,our_kinsman-redeemers

A kinsman-redeemer was a close male relative who had the responsibility to take care of any widows in the family. If one of his brothers died childless, he had the responsibility to marry the widow if she was still of child-bearing age, to raise a child for his brother. He would also reacquire the land his relatives had lost due to poverty and redeem family members who had sold themselves into slavery. See the Introduction for more information.

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

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.