Notes on Ruth
From the Original 1599 Geneva Bible Notes
Ru 1:1
1:1 Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the {a} land. And a certain man of {b} Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.
The Argument - This book is called Ruth, who is the main person spoken of in this writing. In which also the state of the Church is set forth figuratively, being subject to many afflictions and yet eventually God gives good and joyful offspring, teaching us to abide with patience till God delivers us out of troubles. In this also it is described how Jesus Christ, who according to the flesh came from David, proceeded by Ruth, of whom the Lord Jesus promised to come, nonetheless she was a Moabite of base condition, and a stranger to the people of God; declaring to us by it that the Gentiles would be sanctified by him, and joined with his people, and that there would be one sheepfold, and one shepherd. It would appear that this account belongs to the time of the judges.
(a) In the land of Canaan.
(b) In the tribe of Judah, which was also called Bethlehem Ephrathat, because there was another city so called in the tribe of Zebulun.
Ru 1:4
1:4 And they took them wives of the {c} women of Moab; the name of the one [was] Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.
(c) By this wonderful providence of God Ruth became one of God's household, of whom Christ came.
Ru 1:6
1:6 Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had {d} visited his people in giving them bread.
(d) By sending them plenty again.
Ru 1:9
1:9 The LORD grant you that ye may find {e} rest, each [of you] in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.
(e) By this it appears that Naomi by dwelling among idolaters, had become cold to the true zeal of God, having more respect for the comfort of the body than the comfort of the soul.
Ru 1:14
1:14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah {f} kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
(f) When she took leave and departed.
Ru 1:15
1:15 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: {g} return thou after thy sister in law.
(g) No persuasion can convince them to turn back from God, if he has chosen them to be his.
Ru 1:19
1:19 So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was {h} moved about them, and they said, [Is] this Naomi?
(h) By which it appears that she was of a great family of good reputation.
Ru 1:22
1:22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of {i} barley harvest.
(i) Which was in the month of Nisan, that is, part March and part April.
Ru 2:1
2:1 And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of {a} wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name [was] Boaz.
(a) Or power, both in virtue, authority and riches.
Ru 2:2
2:2 And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and {b} glean ears of corn after [him] in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.
(b) Her humility declares her great love for her mother in law, for she spared no hardship to get both their livings.
Ru 2:9
2:9 {c} [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.
(c) That is, take notice of what field they reap.
Ru 2:10
2:10 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 {d} stranger?
(d) Of the Moabites, who are enemies of God's people.
Ru 2:12
2:12 The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose {e} wings thou art come to trust.
(e) Signifying, that she would never lack anything, if she put her trust in God, and lived under his protection.
Ru 2:14
2:14 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 {f} left.
(f) Which she brought home to her mother in law.
Ru 2:18
2:18 And she took [it] up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she [g} brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed.
(g) That is, from her bag, as it is in the Chaldee text.
Ru 2:20
2:20 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 {h} dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man [is] near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.
(h) To my husband and children, when they were alive, and now to us.
Ru 3:1
3:1 Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek {a} rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?
(a) Meaning that she would provide her with a husband, with whom she might live peacefully.
Ru 3:3
3:3 Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: [but] make not thyself known unto the {b} man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.
(b) Boaz, nor yet any other.
Ru 3:7
3:7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his {c} heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down.
(c) That is, he had refreshed himself among his servants.
Ru 3:10
3:10 And he said, Blessed [be] thou of the LORD, my daughter: [for] thou hast {d} shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.
(d) You showed yourself repeatedly to be more virtuous.
Ru 3:13
3:13 Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, [that] if he {e} will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, [as] the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning.
(e) If he will take you to as his wife because of his relation by marriage, according to God's law, De 25:5.
Ru 3:16
3:16 And when she came to her mother in law, she said, {f} Who [art] thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her.
(f) Believing by her returning home that he had not taken her as his wife, she was astonished.
Ru 4:1
4:1 Then went Boaz up to the {a} gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, {b} Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.
(a) Which was the place of judgment.
(b) The Hebrews here use two words which have no proper meaning, but serve to denote a certain person, as we would say, "Ho, so-and-so".
Ru 4:4
4:4 And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy [it] before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem [it], redeem [it]: but if thou wilt not redeem [it, then] tell me, that I may know: for [there is] none to redeem [it] {c} beside thee; and I [am] after thee. And he said, I will redeem [it].
(c) For you are the next of kin.
Ru 4:5
4:5 Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy [it] also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his {d} inheritance.
(d) That his inheritance might bear his name that is dead.
Ru 4:7
4:7 Now this [was the manner] in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave [it] to his neighbour: and this [was] a {e} testimony in Israel.
(e) That he had resigned his right, De 25:9.
Ru 4:10
4:10 Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his {f} place: ye [are] witnesses this day.
(f) Or, of the city where he remained.
Ru 4:11
4:11 And all the people that [were] in the gate, and the elders, said, [We are] witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in {g} Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem:
(g) Ephratah and Bethlehem are both one.
Ru 4:14
4:14 And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed [be] the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that {h} his name may be famous in Israel.
(h) He shall leave continual posterity.
Ru 4:15
4:15 And he shall be unto thee a restorer of [thy] life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than {i} seven sons, hath born him.
Ru 4:18
4:18 Now these [are] the generations of {k} Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron,
(k) This genealogy is brought in to prove that David by succession came from the house of Judah.
Return to the Documents page
