God’s Word Translation
Ruth 2:10
10Ruth immediately bowed down to the ground and said to him, “Why are you so helpful? Why are you paying attention to me? I’m only a foreigner.”
Ruth 2:10 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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 stranger?
- New International Version (NIV)At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She asked him, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me—a foreigner?”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, "Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?"
- New King James Version (NKJV)So she fell on her face, bowed down to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?”
Context of Ruth 2:10
8Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Don’t go in any other field to gather grain, and don’t even leave this one. Stay here with my young women. 9Watch where my men are reaping, and follow the young women in that field. I have ordered my young men not to touch you. When you’re thirsty, go to the jars and drink some of the water that the young men have drawn.” Ruth immediately bowed down to the ground and said to him, “Why are you so helpful? Why are you paying attention to me? I’m only a foreigner.” 11Boaz answered her, “People have told me about everything you have done for your mother-in-law after your husband died. They told me how you left your father and mother and the country where you were born. They also told me how you came to people that you didn’t know before. 12May the Lord reward you for what you have done! May you receive a rich reward from the Lord God of Israel, under whose protection you have come for shelter.”
Read all of Ruth 2Ruth 2:10 word by word
וַתִּפֹּל֙ עַל־פָּנֶ֔יהָ וַתִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ אָ֑רְצָה וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֗יו מַדּוּעַ֩ מָצָ֨אתִי חֵ֤ן בְּעֵינֶ֙יךָ֙ לְהַכִּירֵ֔נִי וְאָּנֹכִ֖י נָכְרִיָּֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Then she fellנָפַלnâphal · to fall: fallH5307
- on her faceפָּנֶהpânîym · faceH6440
- and bowedשָׁחָהshâchâh · to bowH7812
- herself to the groundאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: soilH776
- and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto him, Why have I foundמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
- graceחֵןchên · favorH2580
- in thine eyesעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eyeH5869
- that thou shouldest take knowledgeנָכַרnâkar · to recognizeH5234
- a strangerנׇכְרִיnokrîy · foreignH5237
Cross-references for Ruth 2:10
- Genesis 18:2Abraham looked up, and suddenly he saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them, and he bowed with his face touching the ground.
- 1 Samuel 25:23When Abigail saw David, she quickly got down from her donkey. She immediately bowed down in front of David with her face touching the ground.
- Ruth 2:2Ruth, who was from Moab, said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field of anyone who will be kind to me. There I will gather the grain left behind by the reapers.” Naomi told her, “Go, my daughter.”
- 2 Samuel 9:8Mephibosheth bowed down ⌞again⌟ and answered, “Who am I that you would look at a dead dog like me?”
- 2 Samuel 19:28You could have killed anyone in my entire family, Your Majesty. Instead, you’ve seated me with those who eat at your table. So I no longer have the right to complain to the king.”
- Luke 1:43I feel blessed that the mother of my Lord is visiting me.
- Romans 12:10Be devoted to each other like a loving family. Excel in showing respect for each other.
- Isaiah 56:3Foreigners who have joined the Lord should not say, “The Lord will separate us from his people.” Castrated men should not say, “We’re only dead trees!”
- Matthew 15:22A Canaanite woman from that territory came ⌞to him⌟ and began to shout, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.”
- Matthew 25:35I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you took me into your home.
- Luke 7:6Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the officer sent friends to tell Jesus, “Sir, don’t bother. I don’t deserve to have you come into my house.
- Luke 17:16He quickly bowed at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. (The man was a Samaritan.)
Commentaries on Ruth 2:10
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10Then she fell on her face - Prostrated herself, as was the custom in the East when inferiors approached those of superior rank. The Targum adds to the conversation between Ruth and Boaz: "How, says she, have I obtained grace in thy sight, that thou shouldest acknowledge me who am a stranger and one of the daughters of Moab, of whom it is said, The unclean shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord? And Boaz, answered, It has been certainly told me…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10She fell on her face - With Oriental reverence (compare Genesis 33:3, and the marginal reference).Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-16Verses 4-16 The pious and kind language between Boaz and his reapers shows that there were godly persons in Israel. Such language as this is seldom heard in our field; too often, on the contrary, what is immoral and corrupt. A stranger would form a very different opinion of our land, from that which Ruth would form of Israel from the converse and conduct of Boaz and his reapers. But true religion will teach a man to behave aright in all states and…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4-234. Boaz came from Beth-lehem, and said unto the reapers, The Lord be with you--This pious salutation between the master and his laborers strongly indicates the state of religious feeling among the rural population of Israel at that time, as well as the artless, happy, and unsuspecting simplicity which characterized the manners of the people. The same patriarchal style of speaking is still preserved in the East.Read the comment
Topics related to Ruth 2:10
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ruth 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries