Deep Dive

Ruth 2:13

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“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.”

Commentaries

Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.

Keil-Delitzsch Old Testament Commentaryv. 13

Ruth replied with true humility, "May I find favour in thine eyes; for thou hast comforted me, and spoken to the heart of thy maiden (see Jdg 19:3), though I am not like one of thy maidens," i.e., though I stand in no such near relation to thee, as to have been able to earn thy favour. In this last clause she restricts the expression "thy maiden." Carpzov has rightly pointed this out: "But what am I saying when I call myself thy maiden? since I am not worthy to be compared to the least of thy maidens." The word אמצא is to be taken in an optative sense, as expressive of the wish that Boaz might continue towards her the kindness he had already expressed. To take it as a present, "I find favour" (Clericus and Bertheau), does not tally with the modesty and humility shown by Ruth in the following words.

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Matthew Henry Bible Commentaryv. 13

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).

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Tyndale Open Study Notesv. 13

2:13 your workers (literally your maidservants): By her use of this term, Ruth placed herself lower on the social scale than Boaz’s servants.

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Cross-references

Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.

I Samuel 1:18rank 8

“May your maidservant find favor with you,” said Hannah. Then she went on her way, and she began eating again, and her face was no longer downcast.

Genesis 33:8rank 5

“What do you mean by sending this whole company to meet me?” asked Esau. “To find favor in your sight, my lord,” Jacob answered.

Philippians 2:3rank 5

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.

Genesis 34:3rank 5

And his soul was drawn to Dinah, the daughter of Jacob. He loved the young girl and spoke to her tenderly.

I Samuel 25:41rank 4

She arose, then bowed facedown and said, “Here is your maidservant, ready to serve and to wash the feet of my lord’s servants.”

Genesis 43:14rank 4

May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother along with Benjamin. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.”

Genesis 33:10rank 4

But Jacob insisted, “No, please! If I have found favor in your sight, then receive this gift from my hand. For indeed, I have seen your face, and it is like seeing the face of God, since you have received me favorably.

Genesis 33:15rank 4

“Let me leave some of my people with you,” Esau said. But Jacob replied, “Why do that? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.”

II Samuel 16:4rank 4

So the king said to Ziba, “All that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours!” “I humbly bow before you,” said Ziba. “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king!”

Proverbs 15:33rank 3

The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

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