What is the meaning of Ruth 2:6? The foreman answered • Boaz greets his reapers with “The LORD be with you” (Ruth 2:4), then immediately turns to the foreman for an account—showing Boaz’s active, godly oversight, similar to how Joseph managed Potiphar’s house (Genesis 39:4). • The quick, respectful response of the foreman reflects good stewardship (Luke 12:42) and sets the stage for Ruth’s introduction. The narrative reminds us that God often works through ordinary workplace conversations to advance His redemptive plan (Colossians 3:23-24). She is the Moabitess • The foreman stresses Ruth’s ethnic identity twice (see also Ruth 2:2), highlighting that she is an outsider under Israel’s gleaning laws (Leviticus 19:9-10; Deuteronomy 24:19). • Moabites were historically excluded “to the tenth generation” (Deuteronomy 23:3), yet here stands Ruth, about to become part of Messiah’s lineage (Matthew 1:5). God’s grace breaks barriers (Ephesians 2:12-13). • By calling her “the Moabitess,” the text underscores the magnitude of divine inclusion: an unlikely foreigner is welcomed into covenant blessings (Galatians 3:28-29). Who returned with Naomi • The phrase links Ruth to Naomi’s bitter homecoming (Ruth 1:19-21), underlining Ruth’s steadfast loyalty (Ruth 1:16-17). • Scripture celebrates faithful companionship: “A friend loves at all times” (Proverbs 17:17); Ruth embodies this proverb in action. • Ruth’s choice to care for a widowed relative mirrors God’s heart for the vulnerable (James 1:27). The foreman’s report reminds Boaz—and us—that sacrificial love never goes unnoticed by the Lord (Hebrews 6:10). From the land of Moab • Mentioning Moab again stresses the distance Ruth traveled—geographically, culturally, and spiritually. She left a land tied to idolatry and past seductions of Israel (Numbers 25:1-3), choosing to seek refuge under the wings of Israel’s God (Ruth 2:12). • Her exodus parallels Abram’s call to leave his country (Genesis 12:1) and foreshadows believers’ call to come out from the world (2 Corinthians 6:17). • By foregrounding her origins, the verse magnifies the Lord’s sovereign hand: He brings outsiders “from far off” into His family (Isaiah 56:6-8). summary A simple workplace inquiry becomes a theological spotlight: an industrious field manager identifies “the Moabitess” whose loyal return with Naomi testifies to courageous faith. Every phrase underscores God’s ability to weave foreign, marginalized lives into His covenant story. Ruth’s origin, devotion, and humble presence in Boaz’s field prepare us to see the breadth of divine grace and the certainty that the Lord rewards those who take refuge in Him. |
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