Ruth 3:8

Ruth 3:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet.
• New International Version (NIV)In the middle of the night something startled the man; he turned—and there was a woman lying at his feet!
• English Standard Version (ESV)At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet!
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now it happened at midnight that the man was startled, and turned himself; and there, a woman was lying at his feet.

Context of Ruth 3:8

6So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law had commanded her. 7When Boaz had eaten and drunk and his heart was cheerful, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came secretly, and uncovered his feet and lay down. And it happened in the middle of the night that the man was startled and bent forward; and behold, a woman was lying at his feet. 9So he said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth your slave. Now spread your garment over your slave, for you are a redeemer.” 10Then he said, “May you be blessed of the Lord, my daughter. You have shown your last kindness to be better than the first, by not going after young men, whether poor or rich.

Ruth 3:8 word by word

וַיְהִי֙ בַּחֲצִ֣י הַלַּ֔יְלָה וַיֶּחֱרַ֥ד הָאִ֖ישׁ וַיִּלָּפֵ֑ת וְהִנֵּ֣ה אִשָּׁ֔ה שֹׁכֶ֖בֶת מַרְגְּלֹתָֽיו׃Read the interlinear

• And it happenedהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
• in the middleחֲצִיchêtsîy · halfH2677
• of the nightלַ֫יְלָהlayil lêyl layelâh · nightH3915
• that the manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• was startledחָרַדchârad · to trembleH2729
• bentלָפַתlâphath · to twistH3943
• and beholdהִנֵּהhinnêh · beholdH2009
• a womanאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · womanH802
• was lyingשָׁכַבshâkab · to lie down: lay downH7901
• at his feetמַרְגְּלוֹתmargelâh · feetH4772

Commentaries on Ruth 3:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8The man was afraid, and turned himself - The verb ילפת yillapheth, which we render he turned himself, has puzzled even the Targumist, who translates the clause thus: "The man trembled, and his flesh became like a (boiled) turnip through fear." It is fully evident Boaz had no intimation of the present proceedings. To this verse the Targumist adds much; he says, "Boaz subdued his concupiscence, and acted towards her as Joseph did to the Egyptian wife of his…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8Turned himself - Rather, “bent forward,” so as to feel what it was which was at his feet. The same word is translated “took hold of,” in Judges 16:29.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-13Verses 6-13 What in one age or nation would be improper, is not always so in another age or another nation. Being a judge of Israel, Boaz would tell Ruth what she should do; also whether he had the right of redemption, and what methods must be taken, and what rites used, in order to accomplishing her marriage with him or another person. The conduct of Boaz calls for the highest praise. He attempted not to take advantage of Ruth; he did not disdain her as…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8was startled (literally He was terrified): Boaz realized a woman was at his feet, but he did not know her identity or reason for being there.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-132. he winnoweth barley to-night in the threshing-floor--The winnowing process is performed by throwing up the grain, after being trodden down, against the wind with a shovel. The threshing-floor, which was commonly on the harvest-field, was carefully leveled with a large cylindric roller and consolidated with chalk, that weeds might not spring up, and that it might not chop with drought. The farmer usually remained all night in harvest-time on the…Read the comment

Topics related to Ruth 3:8

• Chastity
• Continence
• Inheritance
• Ruth
• Threshing

In the dictionaries

• Daughter
• Fall
• Levirate Law
• Skirt
• Boaz
• Midnight
• Naomi
• Ruth
• Threshing-Floor

Commentaries on Ruth 3

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary