Ruth 2:22

2:22 Naomi then said to her daughter-in-law Ruth, “It is good, my daughter, that you should go out to work with his female servants. ¹  That way you will not be harmed, which could happen in another field.” ² 

Ruth 3:16

3:16 and she returned to her mother-in-law.

Ruth Returns to Naomi

When Ruth returned to her mother-in-law, Naomi ³  asked, ⁴  “How did things turn out for you, ⁵  my daughter?” Ruth ⁶  told her about all the man had done for her. ⁷ 

Ruth 3:18

3:18 Then Naomi ⁸  said, “Stay put, ⁹  my daughter, until you know how the matter turns out. For the man will not rest until he has taken care of the matter today.”

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¹ tn Naomi uses the feminine form of the word “servant” (as Boaz did earlier, see v. 8), in contrast to Ruth’s use of the masculine form in the preceding verse. Since she is concerned for Ruth’s safety, she may be subtly reminding Ruth to stay with the female workers and not get too close to the men.

² tn Heb “and they will not harm you in another field”; NRSV “otherwise you might be bothered in another field.”

³ tn Heb “she”; the referent (Naomi) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁴ tn Heb “said.” Since what follows is a question, the present translation uses “asked” here.

⁵ tn Heb “Who are you?” In this context Naomi is clearly not asking for Ruth’s identity. Here the question has the semantic force “Are you his wife?” See R. L. Hubbard, Jr., Ruth (NICOT), 223-24, and F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther (WBC), 184-85.

⁶ tn Heb “she”; the referent (Ruth) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁷ sn All that the man had done. This would have included his promise to marry her and his gift of barley.

⁸ tn Heb “she”; the referent (Naomi) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁹ tn Heb “sit”; KJV “Sit still”; NAB “Wait here”; NLT “Just be patient.”