Ruth 3:14

So she lay down at his feet until morning, but she got up before anyone else could recognize her. Then Boaz said, “Do not let it be known that a woman came to the threshing floor.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Boaz addresses Ruth at the threshing floor in the early morning after she has spent the night at his feet. He instructs her to depart before dawn to prevent others from discovering her presence.

The words — The Hebrew verb וַתִּשְׁכַּב (va.tish.kav) literally means "and she lay down," marking Ruth's physical position at Boaz's feet. The phrase בְּטֶרֶם יַכִּיר אִישׁ (be.t.rom ya.kir ish) translates to "before any man recognized," underscoring the necessity of her discreet departure.

The thread — This concern for public integrity runs through 2 Corinthians 8:21, which commands taking care to do what is right in the eyes of men, and Romans 12:17, which requires considering what is right before everyone. Romans 14:16 reinforces the principle by warning against allowing good actions to be slandered.

Why it lands — The passage requires readers to pair covenant obedience with practical discretion to avoid unnecessary scandal. It demands that believers manage their responsibilities in a way that protects both truth and public perception.

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

וַתִּשְׁכַּ֤בva./tish.Kavand/ she lay down מַרְגְּלוֹתָיו֙mar.ge.la.ta/vfeet/ his עַד־'ad-until הַבֹּ֔קֶרha./Bo.kerthe/ morning וַתָּ֕קָםva./Ta.komand/ she arose בְּטֶ֛רֶםbi/t.rom<in>/ before יַכִּ֥ירya.Kirhe recognized אִ֖ישׁ'ishanyone אֶת־'et-<obj.>רֵעֵ֑הוּre.'E./huneighbor/ his וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙va/i.Yo.merand/ he said אַל־'al-may not יִוָּדַ֔עyi.va.Da'it be known כִּי־ki-that בָ֥אָהVa.'ahshe came הָאִשָּׁ֖הha./'i.Shahthe/ woman הַגֹּֽרֶן׃ha./Go.renthe/ threshing floor

King James Version

And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.

Cross-references

2 Corinthians 8:21 For we are taking great care to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of men.
Romans 14:16 Do not allow what you consider good, then, to be spoken of as evil.
Romans 12:17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody.
1 Corinthians 10:32 Do not become a stumbling block, whether to Jews or Greeks or the church of God—
1 Peter 2:12 Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.
Ecclesiastes 7:1 A good name is better than fine perfume, and one’s day of death is better than his day of birth.
1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from every form of evil.