Ruth 3:8-9 NIV

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ruth 3:8

Turned 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 more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ruth 3:9

Spread thy skirt ... - The phrase indicates receiving and acknowledging her as a wife. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ruth 3:8-9

Ruth 3:8-9. At midnight He did not discover her sooner; the man was afraid Feeling something unusual at his feet. Behold a woman lay at his feet He perceived by her clothes, and, when she spake, by her voice, that it was a woman. Spread therefore thy skirt over thy handmaid A kind of proverbial expression, signifying, Take me to be thy wife, and perform the duty of a husband to me. From this answer of Ruth, and from what Boaz says in the two following verses, it is plain that she had... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ruth 3:1-18

Naomi’s plan (3:1-18)By the time reaping was over, the widows had put aside enough grain to last them till the next summer. But Naomi was concerned for Ruth’s future, and suggested that she marry (3:1).One difficulty was that Naomi had no sons still living; that is, there were no brothers of Ruth’s late husband whom Ruth could marry. Naomi therefore suggested Boaz, as he was apparently the closest living relative. In addition, he had shown some interest in Ruth. Naomi thought out a plan whereby... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ruth 3:9

thy skirt = wing (with Septuagint and Vulgate) Other codices, with two early printed editions, read "wings". "Wing" put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause) for protective care. App-6 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Ruth 3:9

Ruth 3:9. Spread, therefore, thy skirt over thine handmaid— See chap. Ruth 2:12. In the Hebrew it is, spread thy wing. It is a proverbial manner of speaking, signifying in general, take me under thy protection; and in particular, take me under thy protection as a husband: the Chaldee, therefore, plainly renders it, let thy name be called upon thine handmaid, by taking me for thy wife. Even to this day, it is a ceremony among the Jews for the man to throw the skirt of his talith, or veil, over... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Ruth 3:9

9. I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman—She had already drawn part of the mantle over her; and she asked him now to do it, that the act might become his own. To spread a skirt over one is, in the East, a symbolical action denoting protection. To this day in many parts of the East, to say of anyone that he put his skirt over a woman, is synonymous with saying that he married her; and at all the marriages of the modern Jews and... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ruth 3:6-13

2. Ruth’s encouragement and Boaz’s response 3:6-13Ruth carried out Naomi’s instructions exactly, further demonstrating her loyal love to her mother-in-law, and encouraged Boaz to pursue the possibility of marriage (Ruth 3:6-9). Boaz’s response to Ruth’s actions is as remarkable as what she did."Note that the threshingfloor was a public place and that these incidents all took place in the open. Both men and women were lying about the threshingfloor. Entire families were gathered there. There was... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 3:1-18

The Appeal to Boaz1. Marriages are always arranged by the parents in Eastern lands; here, of course, the mother-in-law must intervene.2-7. Grain is winnowed in the evening, to avoid the heat of the day and take advantage of the cool sea-wind, which blows in Palestine from 4 p.m. to half-an-hour before sunset. As a rule the threshing floor, which is an open space of clean, hard, dry ground, is on an elevated spot. But at Beth-lehem it was necessary to go ’down’ to it, because the town is on the... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Ruth 3:8

(8) Was afraid.—Was startled. See the use of the word in Genesis 27:33.Turned.—Literally, bent himself. (Comp. Judges 16:29.) He wakes with a start, and in turning sees a woman at his feet. read more