Ruth 2:23 (KJV)

What does Ruth 2:23 mean?

Ruth continued gleaning alongside Boaz’s young women until both the barley and wheat harvests were finished, while continuing to live with Naomi, her mother-in-law. The narrator describes Ruth following the arrangement that provided her with food and safety in Boaz’s fields.

The key expression is “kept fast,” from דָּבַק (davaq), meaning “cling,” “stay close,” or “hold firmly to.” Here the expression describes Ruth keeping closely alongside Boaz’s female workers. Naomi had just advised Ruth to remain with those women so that she would not face mistreatment in another field.

The Hebrew behind Ruth 2:23

• “maidens” — נַעֲרָה (na‘arah): This word means a girl or young woman and can describe a female servant or worker. Here the plural refers to the young women working for Boaz. The emphasis is on the group Ruth stayed with, rather than on their marital status.

• “glean” — לָקַט (laqat): This means to gather or pick up. In the harvest setting, Ruth gathered grain left behind by the reapers. Ruth was obtaining food through the provision that allowed poor people and foreigners to collect what harvesters left.

• “end” — כָּלָה (kalah); “harvest” — קָצִיר (qatsir); “barley” — שְׂעֹרָה (se‘orah); “wheat” — חִטָּה (chittah): The word translated “end” is a verb meaning “finish” or “be completed.” Ruth continued until the harvesting of both crops was completed. Barley was harvested before wheat, so the sentence carries the account through successive parts of the harvest season.

• “dwelt” — יָשַׁב (yashav); “mother in law” — חָמוֹת (chamot): “Dwelt” means to live or reside somewhere. The word tagged to “law” actually means “mother-in-law” as a whole; Hebrew does not divide the relationship into the English words “mother,” “in,” and “law.” Ruth continued sharing Naomi’s home during this period.

Why Ruth 2:23 matters

• The verse covers an extended period. “Unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest” moves the story beyond Ruth’s first day in Boaz’s field.
• Ruth’s work and home remain distinct. She worked alongside Boaz’s women, but “dwelt with her mother in law.” Her connection with Boaz’s workers did not mean that she moved into his household.