RUTH 3:9 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) “Who are you?” he asked.
¶ “I’m your servant Ruth,” she replied, “Spread your cloak over me[fn] because you have a responsibility as our close relative.”

3:9 This was the cultural way for Ruth to request Boaz to take her as his wife.

3:9 OSHB note: We agree with both BHS 1997 and BHQ on an unexpected reading.

Key: khaki:verbs.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

BrLXX Εἶπε δὲ, τίς εἶ σύ; ἡ δὲ εἶπεν, ἐγὼ εἰμι Ῥοὺθ ἡ δούλη σου, καὶ περιβαλεῖς τὸ πτερύγιόν σου ἐπὶ τὴν δούλην σου, ὅτι ἀγχιστεὺς εἶ σύ.
(Eipe de, tis ei su; haʸ de eipen, egō eimi Ɽouth haʸ doulaʸ sou, kai peribaleis to pterugion sou epi taʸn doulaʸn sou, hoti agⱪisteus ei su. )

BrTr And he said, Who art thou? and she said, I am thine handmaid Ruth; spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid, for thou art a near relation.

ULT And he said, “Who are you?”
¶  Then she said, “I am Ruth, your female servant. So spread the edge of your cloak over your female servant, for you are a kinsman-redeemer.”

UST He asked her, “Who are you?” She replied, “I am your servant, Ruth. Since you are the one responsible for my dead husband’s family, please make me secure by marrying me.”

3:9 Or Spread your wing; the word for wing can also mean corner of a garment; see Ruth 2:12.

3:9 The Hebrew word for kinsman-redeemer or guardian-redeemer is a legal term for the kinsman who redeems or vindicates a relative; similarly in verses 12 and 13; see Leviticus 25:25–55.

OEB ‘Who are you?’ he said. ‘I am Ruth your servant,’ she answered, ‘Spread your cloak over your servant, for you are a near relative.’

CSB So he asked, “Who are you? ” “I am Ruth, your servant,” she replied. “Take me under your wing, for you are a family redeemer.”

NLT “Who are you?” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your covering over me, for you are my family redeemer.”

NIV “Who are you?” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she said. “Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family.”

CEV "Who are you?" he asked. "Sir, I am Ruth," she answered, "and you are the relative who is supposed to take care of me. So spread the edge of your cover over me."

ESV He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.”

NASB He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth your maid. So spread your covering over your maid, for you are a close relative.”

LSB And he said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth your maidservant. So spread your wing over your maidservant, for you are a kinsman redeemer.”

WEBBE He said, “Who are you?”
¶ She answered, “I am Ruth your servant. Therefore spread the corner of your garment over your servant; for you are a near kinsman.”

WMBB (Same as above)

MSG He said, “And who are you?”
She said, “I am Ruth, your maiden; take me under your protecting wing. You’re my close relative, you know, in the circle of covenant redeemers—you do have the right to marry me.”

NET He said, “Who are you?” She replied, “I am Ruth, your servant. Marry your servant, for you are a guardian of the family interests.”

LSV And he says, “Who [are] you?” And she says, “I [am] Ruth your handmaid, and you have spread your skirt over your handmaid, for you [are] a redeemer.”

FBV “Who are you?” he asked.
¶ “I'm Ruth, your servant,” she replied. “Please spread the corner of your cloak over me, for you are my family redeemer.”[fn]

3:9 Again this symbolic act was a request to fulfill the obligation of family redeemer, which included marriage.

T4T He asked her, “Who are you?” She replied, “I am your servant, Ruth. Since you are the one who has a responsibility to take care of someone like me whose dead husband was your close relative, spread the corner of your cloak over my feet to show that you will marry me.”

LEB And he said, “Who are you?” And she said, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread _⌊your garment_⌋[fn] over your servant because you are a redeemer.”

3:9 Literally “your wing”

NRSV He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant; spread your cloak over your servant, for you are next-of-kin.”

NKJV And he said, “Who are you?” So she answered, “I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative.”

NAB “Who are you?” he asked. She replied, “I am your servant Ruth. Spread the wing of your cloak over your servant, for you are a redeemer.”

BBE And he said, Who are you? And she answering said, I am your servant Ruth: take your servant as wife, for you are a near relation.

Moff No Moff RUTH book available

JPS And he said: 'Who art thou?' And she answered: 'I am Ruth thine handmaid; spread therefore thy skirt over thy handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.'

ASV And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thy handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thy handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.

DRA And he said to her: Who art thou? And she answered: I am Ruth thy handmaid: spread thy coverlet over thy servant, for thou art a near kinsman.

YLT And he saith, 'Who [art] thou?' and she saith, 'I [am] Ruth thy handmaid, and thou hast spread thy skirt over thy handmaid, for thou [art] a redeemer.'

Drby And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth, thy handmaid: spread thy skirt over thy handmaid; for thou hast the right of redemption.

RV And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.
(And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine/your handmaid: spread therefore thy/your skirt over thine/your handmaid; for thou/you art a near kinsman/relative. )

SLT And he will say, Who art thou? And she will say, I am Ruth thy servant: and spread thy wing over thy servant, for thou a blood relation.

Wbstr And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thy handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thy handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.

KJB-1769 And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.[fn]
(And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine/your handmaid: spread therefore thy/your skirt over thine/your handmaid; for thou/you art a near kinsman/relative. )

3.9 a near…: or, one that hath right to redeem

KJB-1611 And hee said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt ouer thine handmaid, for thou art [fn]a neare kinseman.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation and footnotes)

3:9 Or, one that hath right to redeeme.

Bshps And he sayde: What art thou? She aunswered, I am Ruth thyne handmayde: Spreade the wing of thy garment ouer thyne handmayde, for thou art the kinsman.
(And he said: What art thou? She answered, I am Ruth thine/your handmaid: Spreade the wing of thy/your garment over thine/your handmayde, for thou/you art the kinsman/relative.)

Gnva Then he sayd, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmayd: spread therefore the wing of thy garment ouer thine handmayd: for thou art the kinsman.
(Then he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine/your handmayd: spread therefore the wing of thy/your garment over thine/your handmayd: for thou/you art the kinsman/relative. )

Cvdl And he sayde: Who art thou? She answered: I am Ruth thy handmayden, sprede yi wynges ouer thy hadmayden: for thou art the nexte kynsman.
(And he said: Who art thou? She answered: I am Ruth thy/your handmaiden, spread ye/you_all wings over thy/your hadmayden: for thou/you art the next kinsman/relative.)

Wycl and he seide to hir, Who art thou? Sche answeride, Y am Ruth, thin handmayde; stretche forth thi cloth on thi seruauntesse, for thou art nyy of kyn.
(and he said to her, Who art thou? She answered, I am Ruth, thin handmayde; stretch forth thy/your cloth on thy/your servantsse, for thou/you art nigh/near of kin.)

Luth Und er sprach: Wer bist du? Sie antwortete: Ich bin Ruth, deine Magd. Breite deinen Flügel über deine Magd, denn du bist der Erbe.
(And he spoke: Who are you(sg)? They/She replied: I am Ruth, your Magd. Breite your(s) wing above your Magd, because/than you(sg) are the/of_the heritage.)

ClVg et ait illi: Quæ es? Illaque respondit: Ego sum Ruth ancilla tua: expande pallium tuum super famulam tuam, quia propinquus es.
(and he_said them: Which you_are? Illaque answered: I I_am Ruth maid your: expande cloak your(sg) over famulam your(sg), because propinquus you_are. )

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 3:1–18: Ruth asked Boaz to help her and Naomi

Life for widows in ancient Israel was difficult, especially for those who had no grown sons, because women depended on men to protect and provide for them. This fourth section tells how Naomi wanted to find a new husband for Ruth so that she could have a better living situation. So, she instructed Ruth to go and meet Boaz secretly at night. Ruth followed Naomi’s plan and asked him to take her into his care as his wife. She told him that this was his duty as a relative of her dead husband.

Boaz was happy to do this, but there was a problem. There was another relative who was more closely related to Naomi and Ruth than he was. If that man did not want to marry Ruth, Boaz promised that he would marry her. When Ruth returned home and told Naomi what had happened, Naomi assured her that Boaz would work hard to take care of the situation that very day.

Here are some other examples of a heading for this section:

Naomi’s Plan for Ruth’s Marriage (GW)

Ruth and Boaz at the Threshing Floor (NIV)

Ruth asked Boaz to marry her

3:9a

“Who are you?” he asked.

And he said, “Who are you?”
He asked, “Who is there?”

“Who are you?” he asked: As in previous verses, you may want to put the quote introducer at the beginning. For example:

He asked, “Who are you?” (CJB)

3:9b

“I am your servant Ruth,” she replied.

And she answered, “I am Ruth, your female servant.
She replied, “Sir, it’s me, Ruth.

“I am your servant Ruth,” she replied: Again, the BSB has placed the words she replied after the quoted words of Ruth. In most languages, it is more natural to put this quote introducer at the beginning of the sentence. For example:

And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. (ESV)

your servant: When Ruth referred to herself as your servant, she spoke in a figurative way. She did not literally mean that she was his slave or servant.3:9 + Many commentators discuss here the slight difference in meaning between these two Hebrew words for a female servant. Both terms could be used by a woman to address someone with respect. But the word used here implies a slightly higher social status than the one used in 2:13 and it can imply that Ruth was available to Boaz as a wife or concubine. Ruth used this figure of speech to indicate her respect and humility to someone who had higher status than herself.

There are two options to translate this figure of speech:

Keep the literal meaning of the figure of speech. For example:
I am Ruth, your servant girl (NCV)
Use a term of respect that expresses the meaning of the figure of speech. For example:
Sir, I am Ruth (CEV)
My lord, it is I, Ruth

3:9c–d

(combined/reordered)

You are a relative who is supposed to take care of me. So spread the edge of your robe/covering over me.”
You are one of my husband’s relatives and you have a duty to protect our^(excl) family. So please take me into your care/protection as your wife.”

General Comment on reordering in 3:9c–d

Before you translate 9c–d you should consider the natural order in which your language should place the two clauses of this sentence. In 9c Ruth made an appeal or request to Boaz, and in 9d she gave the basis or reason for that appeal. In many languages, it will be more natural to reorder these clauses. For example:

^9dYou are a kinsman-redeemer of our family, ^9cso spread the corner of your garment over me.

3:9c

“Spread the corner of your garment over me,

Cover me, your servant, with the edge of your robe/covering,
Please take me into your care/protection as your wife,

Spread the corner of your garment over me: This clause is a Hebrew idiom with a double meaning. The figurative meaning of the idiom is “marry me” or “take me as your wife.” However, the literal meaning (expressed in the BSB) also fits this context. (See the note and footnote under corner of your garment below.) With this statement, Ruth was asking for two things. She wanted Boaz to take her as his wife, and she also wanted him to cover her up from the cold night air.

Here are some options to translate this idiom:

Translate the literal meaning and put the figurative meaning in a footnote. For example:
So spread the edge of your cover over me. (CEV)
FOOTNOTE: In Hebrew, these words have another meaning, which is, “Look after me as your wife.”
Translate the figurative meaning and put the literal meaning in a footnote. For example:
Please marry me.
FOOTNOTE: In Hebrew she said, “Cover me with the edge of your robe/blanket.” But these words have another meaning which is, “Look after me as your wife.”
Use a short clause that expresses both the literal and figurative meaning. For example:
Spread the edge of your robe over me to show that you will marry me.

Translate this clause in a natural and meaningful way in your language.

Spread…over me: This means “cover me with” or “stretch out over me.”

the corner of your garment: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as the corner of your garment refers to the “edge,” “boundary,” or “corner” of a blanket, covering, or item of clothing. This Hebrew word has a double meaning which is important in this context. It can also refer to the “wings” of a bird or animal. This was a figure of speech that referred to care and protection, like a young bird seeking protection under the “wings” of its mother.With this meaning, the whole idiom would be expressed literally as, “Spread your wings over me” (similarly as ESV). In 2:12b Boaz spoke to Ruth with a similar figure of speech, “under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” There, the Lord’s “wings” were a figurative reference to his care and protection for Ruth in a lasting relationship. Here Ruth was asking Boaz for care and protection in a lasting relationship of marriage. In ancient Hebrew culture, when one spoke of a man covering a woman with his “wings” (or edge of his robe), it meant that he was promising to take her into his protection and care as a wife (Block, page 180, and Bush, pages 164–165). See also Ezekiel 16:8.

me: In Hebrew, Ruth spoke of herself to Boaz here as “your servant.” She did not use the pronoun me. This is the same word for “servant” that she used to refer to herself in 3:9b. See the note there. In both places, she used this word as a figure of speech to show humility and respect to Boaz.

If referring to yourself as someone’s “servant” is a natural or possible way in your language to show respect, consider saying it that way here. For example:

Spread out your robe over your servant. (CEB)

If your audience would assume that Ruth meant that she was a literal servant to Boaz, you should follow the BSB and some other translations by using the pronoun me.

3:9d

for you are a kinsman-redeemer.”

because you are a relative who is responsible to care for our^(excl) family.”
for you are one of my husband’s relatives. And you have a duty to help our family.”

for: The Hebrew conjunction which the BSB translates as for means “because.” Here it introduces a basis or reason for the request that Ruth made to Boaz in 9c. If you are reordering 9c–d as described in the General Comment above, it may not be necessary to include an explicit translation of this conjunction.

you are a kinsman-redeemer: See the notes on 2:20d. The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as kinsman-redeemer refers to someone who was responsible to defend and protect the rights of needy relatives, including widows. Ruth reminded Boaz that this was his duty because he was a close relative of her dead husband.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

you are the relative who is supposed to take care of me (CEV)

one of those who have responsibility to care for our family

Because you are a close relative, you are responsible for taking care of me. So please marry me. (GNT)

you have a duty to help/protect our^(excl) family

See how you translated this word in 2:20d and use a similar expression here.

Parallel RUTH 3:9