BibleWord.ai› Bible› Ruth› Chapter 2› Verse 5

Ruth 2:5

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Ruth 2:5 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this?
Ruth 2:5 — American Standard Version

Context — Ruth 2

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
2And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.
3And she went, and came and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on the portion of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.
4And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, Jehovah be with you. And they answered him, Jehovah bless thee.
5Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this?
6And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab:
7And she said, Let me glean, I pray you, and gather after the reapers among the sheaves. So she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, save that she tarried a little in the house.
8Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither pass from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens.
← Ruth 2:4Ruth 2:6 →
← Full Chapter 2 Ruth Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, etc.] To direct them their work, what part each was to do, and to see that they did it well; to take care for provisions for them, and to pay them their wages when their work was done. Josephus f33 calls him agrokomov, that had the care of the field, and all things relative to it; the Jews f34 say, he was set over two and forty persons, whom he had the command of: whose damsel is this? to whom does she belong? of what family is she? whose daughter is she? or whose wife? for he thought, as Aben Ezra notes, that she was another man’s wife; the Targum is, of what nation is she? perhaps her dress might be somewhat different from that…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“his servant that was set over the reapers--an overseer whose special duty was to superintend the operations in the field, to supply provision to the reapers, and pay them for their labor in the evening.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“2:5 Boaz recognized Ruth as a marriageable young woman (Hebrew na‘arah).”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Rut 4:21; Ch1 2:11, Ch1 2:12 Ruth 2:6”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Read Ruth 2 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification