The Meaning of Ruth 3:14 Explained

Ruth 3:14

KJV: And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.

YLT: And she lieth down at his feet till the morning, and riseth before one doth discern another; and he saith, 'Let it not be known that the woman hath come into the floor.'

Darby: And she lay at his feet until the morning; and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the threshing-floor.

ASV: And she lay at his feet until the morning. And she rose up before one could discern another. For he said, Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing-floor.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And she lay  at his feet  until the morning:  and she rose up  before  one  could know  another.  And he said,  Let it not be known  that a woman  came  into the floor. 

What does Ruth 3:14 Mean?

Context Summary

Ruth 3:1-18 - The Part Of A Kinsman
According to the old Hebrew law, Ruth was already married to Boaz, on the supposition that he was next of kin. Naomi apparently had no knowledge of a nearer kinsman than he. Compare Ruth 2:20, R.V., 3:12; Deuteronomy 25:5-10. There was therefore no immodesty in Naomi's proposals, though they are foreign to our modern practice. But clearly Boaz acted with admirable self-restraint. His earnest concern was for the good name of the young girl who had thrown herself on his protection, Ruth 2:11; Ruth 2:14. Next to God's grace, the one thought which helps us in the hour of testing is to put the interests of another before our own. Love to our neighbor is ultimately love to ourselves.
What confidence these two helpless women reposed in Boaz! The words with which Naomi closed their conversation suggest a character of absolute reliableness. His word was his bond. He was prompt, decisive and instant in carrying out any measure to which he felt himself pledged. Dilatoriness will wear out the heart of those who trust us. Let us finish promptly what we undertake! "Diligent in business, fervent in spirit!" Remember that when you trust Christ with anything, He also will not rest till He has finished it. [source]

Chapter Summary: Ruth 3

1  By Naomi's instruction
5  Ruth lies at Boaz's feet
8  Boaz acknowledges the right of a kinsman
14  He sends her away with six measures of barley

What do the individual words in Ruth 3:14 mean?

So she lay - at his feet until morning and she arose - before could recognize one - another And he said not do let it be known that came the woman to the threshing floor
וַתִּשְׁכַּ֤ב [מרגלתו] (מַרְגְּלוֹתָיוֹ֙‪‬‪‬‪‬‪‬) עַד־ הַבֹּ֔קֶר וַתָּ֕קָם [בטרום] (בְּטֶ֛רֶם) יַכִּ֥יר אִ֖ישׁ אֶת־ רֵעֵ֑הוּ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אַל־ יִוָּדַ֔ע כִּי־ בָ֥אָה הָאִשָּׁ֖ה הַגֹּֽרֶן

וַתִּשְׁכַּ֤ב  So  she  lay 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: שָׁכַב  
Sense: to lie down.
[מרגלתו]  - 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine singular
(מַרְגְּלוֹתָיוֹ֙‪‬‪‬‪‬‪‬)  at  his  feet 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מַרְגְּלֹות  
Sense: place of the feet, feet.
עַד־  until 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
הַבֹּ֔קֶר  morning 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֹּקֶר 
Sense: morning, break of day.
וַתָּ֕קָם  and  she  arose 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: קוּם 
Sense: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.
[בטרום]  - 
Parse: Preposition-b, Adverb
(בְּטֶ֛רֶם)  before 
Parse: Preposition-b, Adverb
Root: טְרֹום  
Sense: before, not yet, before that, ere (of time).
יַכִּ֥יר  could  recognize 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָכַר 
Sense: to recognise, acknowledge, know, respect, discern, regard.
אִ֖ישׁ  one 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
רֵעֵ֑הוּ  another 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: רֵעַ  
Sense: friend, companion, fellow, another person.
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙  And  he  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יִוָּדַ֔ע  do  let  it  be  known 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
כִּי־  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
בָ֥אָה  came 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
הָאִשָּׁ֖ה  the  woman 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אִשָּׁה  
Sense: woman, wife, female.
הַגֹּֽרֶן  to  the  threshing  floor 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: גֹּרֶן  
Sense: threshing-floor.