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It shall be, when he lies down, that you shall mark the place where he shall lie, and you shall go in, and uncover his feet, and lay you down; and he will tell you what you shall do.
Verse Takeaways
1
A Culturally Specific Custom
Commentators explain that Naomi's instructions, while strange to modern readers, were rooted in ancient Israelite customs. Ruth was to go to the threshing floor, lift the covering at Boaz's feet, and lie down. This was a symbolic and culturally understood way for a widow to make a legal claim on her kinsman-redeemer, not a private or immoral act. Scholars stress it should not be judged by today's social rules.
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Ruth
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5
18th Century
Presbyterian
Uncover his feet - Rather, “the place of his feet;” the foot of his bed, as we should say. So also (Ruth 3:7–8).
19th Century
Anglican
Uncover his feet. —More literally, as the margin, lift up the clothes that are on his feet; so Septuagint and the Vulgate…
17th Century
Reformed Baptist
And it shall be, when he lies down On the threshingfloor, under the open air, in order to sleep, and take rest:
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