Ruth 2:10
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At this, she fell on her face, bowing low to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you should take notice of me, even though I am a foreigner?”
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Deeply affected by this generosity, Ruth fell upon her face, bowing down to the ground (as in Sa1 25:23; Sa2 1:2; cf. Gen 23:7), to thank him reverentially, and said to Boaz, "Why have I found favour in thine eyes, that thou regardest me, who am only a stranger?" הכּיר, to look at with sympathy or care, to receive a person kindly (cf. Rut 2:19).
Open source ↗There is scarcely any chapter in all the sacred history that stoops so low as this to take cognizance of so mean a person as Ruth, a poor Moabitish widow, so mean an action as her gleaning corn in a neighbour's field, and the minute circumstances thereof. But all this was in order to her being grafted into the line of Christ and taken in among his ancestors, that she might be a figure of the espousals of the Gentile church to Christ, Isa 54:1. This makes the story remarkable; and many of the passages of it are instructive and very improvable. Here we have, I. Ruth's humility and industry in gleaming corn, Providence directing her to Boaz's field (Rut 2:1-3). II. The great favour which Boaz showed to her in many instances (Rut 2:4-16). III. The return of Ruth to her mother-in-law (Rut 2:18-23).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
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When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey, fell facedown, and bowed before him.
“My lord,” she said, “may I continue to find favor in your eyes, for you have comforted and spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your servant girls.”
And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For He has looked with favor on the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed.
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.
For all the house of my grandfather deserves death from my lord the king, yet you have set your servant among those who eat at your table. What further right, then, do I have to keep appealing to the king?”
Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog like me?”
And Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.
For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in,
And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go into the fields and glean heads of grain after someone in whose sight I may find favor.” “Go ahead, my daughter,” Naomi replied.