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Ruth 2:17

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Ruth 2:17 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “So she gleaned in the field until even; and she beat out that which she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

So she gleaned in the field until even; and she beat out that which she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.
Ruth 2:17 — American Standard Version

Context — Ruth 2

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
14And at meal-time Boaz said unto her, Come hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers, and they reached her parched grain, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left thereof.
15And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not.
16And also pull out some for her from the bundles, and leave it, and let her glean, and rebuke her not.
17So she gleaned in the field until even; and she beat out that which she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.
18And she took it up, and went into the city; and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth and gave to her that which she had left after she was sufficed.
19And her mother-in-law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to-day? and where hast thou wrought? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she showed her mother-in-law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man`s name with whom I wrought to-day is Boaz.
20And Naomi said unto her daughter-in-law, Blessed be he of Jehovah, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is nigh of kin unto us, one of our near kinsmen.
← Ruth 2:16Ruth 2:18 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“So she gleaned in the field until even, etc.] An instance of her great diligence and industry, attending to this mean employment constantly from morning tonight: and beat out that she had gleaned: she did not bind up her gleanings in a bundle, and carry it home on her head, as gleaners with us do, but she beat it out with a staff in the field, where she gleaned it, and winnowed it, very probably in the threshingfloor of Boaz; by which means what she had gleaned was brought into a lesser size and weight, and was a lighter burden to carry home: and it was an ephah of barley; or three seahs of barley, as the Targum; which, according to Bishop Cumberland f49, was six gallons, and three pints,…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“and beat out that she had gleaned--When the quantity of grain was small, it was beat out by means of a stick. an ephah--supposed to contain about a bushel.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And beat out that she had gleaned - Namely, with a stick, as the word implies (compare Deuteronomy 24:20; Isaiah 27:12). This method is still commonly practiced. Ruth gleaned enough to support herself and her mother-in-law for five days Exodus 16:16. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“An Ephah - About a bushel. Ruth 2:18”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“she gleaned: Pro 31:27 ephah: Exo 16:36; Eze 45:11, Eze 45:12 Ruth 2:18”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“Thus Ruth gleaned till the evening in the field; and when she knocked out the ears, she had about an ephah (about 20-25 lbs.) of barley. Rut 2:18 This she brought to her mother-in-law in the city, and "drew out (sc., from her pocket, as the Chaldee has correctly supplied) what she had left from her sufficiency," i.e., of the parched corn which Boaz had reached her ( Rut 2:14). Rut 2:19-20 The mother inquired, "where hast thou gleaned to-day, and where wroughtest thou?" and praised the benefactor, who, as she conjecture from the quantity of barley collected and the food brought home, had taken notice of Ruth: "blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee!" When she heard the name of the man,…”
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Related study paths

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