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 everything her mother-in-law had instructed her to do. 7When Boaz had finished his meal and was feeling satisfied, he lay down to sleep at the far end of the grain heap. Then Ruth crept up quietly, uncovered his legs, and lay down beside him. In the middle of the night he was startled and turned over. Now he saw a woman lying beside him! 9He said, “Who are you?” She replied, “I am Ruth, your servant. Marry your servant, for you are a guardian of the family interests.” 10He said, “May you be rewarded by the Lord, my dear! This act of devotion is greater than what you did before. For you have not sought to marry one of the young men, whether rich or poor.

Ruth 3:8 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• And it came to pass at midnightלַ֫יְלָהlayil lêyl layelâh · nightH3915
• And it came to pass at midnightחֲצִיchêtsîy · halfH2677
• that the manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• was afraidחָרַדchârad · to trembleH2729
• and turnedלָפַתlâphath · to twistH3943
• himself: and, behold, a womanאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · womanH802
• layשָׁכַבshâkab · 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