And he said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.
And he said, 'May the LORD bless you, my daughter! You have shown even greater kindness now than you did before, because you didn't go after young men, whether they were poor or rich.'
Boaz is praising Ruth for her loyalty and kindness, especially for choosing to stay committed to her family obligations rather than pursuing younger men.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs after Ruth follows Naomi's plan to approach Boaz at the threshing floor, essentially asking him to marry her as her kinsman-redeemer. In ancient Israel, the kinsman-redeemer system allowed a close relative to marry a widow to preserve the family line and property. Boaz recognizes that Ruth could have chosen any younger man but instead honored her duty to her deceased husband's family.
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.