Ruth 2:10

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?”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Ruth addresses Boaz immediately after he grants her protection and provision in his harvest fields. She responds to his instructions by acknowledging her status as a foreigner in his view.

The words — The Hebrew מַדּוּעַ (maduaʿ) literally means "why?" and introduces her question about receiving unexpected favor. The verb וַתִּשְׁתַּחְוּ (vattishṭaḥav) describes her physical act of bowing down toward the ground.

The thread — This posture of bowing and questioning unmerited favor appears when Abigail falls facedown before David (1 Samuel 25:23) and recurs in Ruth’s continued plea for kindness (Ruth 2:13).

Why it lands — The text records a vulnerable worker asking why a landowner would notice her, ending with her status as a foreigner. It asks readers to examine how grace operates outside expected social boundaries without assuming reward or household status.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַתִּפֹּל֙va./ti.Poland/ she fell עַל־'al-on פָּנֶ֔יהָpa.Nei./haface/ her וַתִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּva./tish.Ta.chuand/ she bowed down אָ֑רְצָה'A.re.tza/h[the] ground/ towards וַתֹּ֣אמֶרva./To.merand/ she said אֵלָ֗יו'e.La/vto/ him מַדּוּעַ֩ma.du.a'why?מָצָ֨אתִיma.Tza.tihave I found חֵ֤ןchenfavor בְּעֵינֶ֙יךָ֙be./'ei.Nei./khain/ view/ your לְהַכִּירֵ֔נִיle./ha.ki.Re./nito/ pay regard to/ me וְאָּנֹכִ֖יve./'a.no.Khiand/ I נָכְרִיָּֽה׃na.khe.ri.Yah[am] a foreigner

King James Version

Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?

Cross-references

1 Samuel 25:23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey, fell facedown, and bowed before him.
Ruth 2:13 “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.”
2 Samuel 19:28 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?”
Luke 1:43 And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
Luke 1:48 For He has looked with favor on the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed.
Luke 17:16 He fell facedown at Jesus’ feet in thanksgiving to Him—and he was a Samaritan.
Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.
2 Samuel 9:8 Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog like me?”
Genesis 18:2 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.
Ruth 2:2 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.