Ruth 2:18 (KJV)

What does Ruth 2:18 mean?

Ruth carried her gleaned grain back to Bethlehem, where Naomi, her mother-in-law, saw how much she had gathered. Ruth also gave Naomi the food left over from the meal she had eaten earlier with Boaz’s workers.

The key is the phrase “that she had reserved after she was sufficed.” “Reserved” translates יָתַר (yatar), here meaning “left over.” Ruth 2:14 has already described Ruth eating until she was satisfied and having food remaining. Verse 18 returns to that leftover food: Ruth brought home both the grain she had gathered and food from her earlier meal.

The Hebrew behind Ruth 2:18

• “up” — נָשָׂא (nasa): This means to lift, take up, or carry. “She took it up” describes Ruth picking up the grain she had threshed in the preceding verse. She then carried that grain into the city.

• “gleaned” — לָקַט (laqat): This means to gather or pick up, especially the grain left behind by harvesters. Naomi saw the result of Ruth’s work in the fields. The preceding verse measures her collection at about an ephah of barley.

• “forth” — יָצָא (yatsa); “gave” — נָתַן (natan): The first word means “go out,” but its form here means “bring out.” Ruth brought out the remaining food and gave it to Naomi. These actions introduce the meal leftovers after Naomi has seen the gathered grain.

• “sufficed” — שֹׂבַע (sova): This means fullness or satisfaction from eating. The Hebrew phrase refers to Ruth’s own satisfaction: the food she gave Naomi was what remained after Ruth had eaten enough.

Why Ruth 2:18 matters

• Ruth brought home two kinds of provision. “What she had gleaned” refers to harvested grain; “that she had reserved” refers back to the food remaining from her meal in verse 14.

• Naomi saw the harvest before Ruth explained the day. Verse 18 describes Ruth’s arrival and the food she shared. Naomi’s questions about where Ruth had worked follow in verse 19.