Ruth 2:19-23
One of Our Kinsman-Redeemers
Read the passage
19Then her mother-in-law asked her, “Where did you glean today, and where did you work? Blessed be the man who noticed you.” So she told her mother-in-law where she had worked. “The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz,” she said.
20Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the LORD, who has not withdrawn His kindness from the living or the dead.” Naomi continued, “The man is a close relative. He is one of our kinsman-redeemers.”
21Then Ruth the Moabitess said, “He also told me, ‘Stay with my young men until they have finished gathering all my harvest.’”
22And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law Ruth, “My daughter, it is good for you to work with his young women, so that nothing will happen to you in another field.”
23So Ruth stayed close to the servant girls of Boaz to glean grain until the barley and wheat harvests were finished. And she lived with her mother-in-law.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Naomi sees what Ruth has brought home and asks where she worked, blessing the man who noticed her. Ruth gives a name: Boaz. Naomi recognizes more than a generous landowner. He is a close relative and one of their kinsman-redeemers.
Her blessing now names the LORD, who has not withdrawn His kindness from the living or the dead. This is a different note from her earlier statement that she returned empty. The day's provision and the family connection give her reason to speak of kindness, even though her losses remain.
A kinsman-redeemer is a relative who can act on behalf of family property in need of redemption. Boaz's connection opens a possibility; it does not mean the whole matter is already settled. Naomi says he is one of their redeemers, not the only one.
For now, she urges Ruth to remain with his young women rather than risk harm in another field. Ruth continues gleaning through the barley and wheat harvests and lives with Naomi. Food, safer work, and companionship are real help. They are not yet the whole answer, but they are far more than nothing.
How We Know
Leviticus 25:25 describes a relative redeeming property sold by an impoverished family member. This helps explain the family responsibility Naomi names. The marriage and inheritance arrangement in Ruth is developed in chapter 4; the land-redemption law alone does not specify every part of that arrangement.
Questions
1 What does Naomi learn when Ruth names Boaz?
AnswerShe recognizes him as a close relative and one of their kinsman-redeemers. His kindness has a family connection Ruth is only now being told.
2 What does Naomi say about the LORD’s kindness?
AnswerShe blesses Boaz by the LORD, who has not withdrawn His kindness from the living or the dead.
3 What does Ruth do for the rest of the harvests?
AnswerShe stays close to Boaz’s servant girls, gleaning through the barley and wheat harvests, and continues living with Naomi.
4 How can we receive partial help when a larger problem remains?
AnswerWe can thank God for what has actually improved while continuing to ask for what is still needed. Gratitude need not pretend everything is resolved.
What This Means for Us
A meal, steady work, or a person willing to help may be a significant answer even while grief and uncertainty remain. Name those gifts without demanding that they solve everything. Naomi's response gives us room for gratitude that is honest about both present provision and unfinished need.
Prayer
Lord, help us recognize the care You give while our larger needs remain. Keep us honest about what is hard and grateful for the help already present. Amen.