Ruth 2:10

The stranger and outcast Humility

⁸ Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Do not go and glean in another field, and do not go away from this place, but stay here close to my servant girls.

⁹ Let your eyes be on the field they are harvesting, and follow along after these girls. Indeed, I have ordered the young men not to touch you. And when you are thirsty, go and drink from the jars the young men have filled.”

At this, she fell on her face, bowing low to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you should take notice of me, even though I am a foreigner?”

¹¹ Boaz replied, “I have been made fully aware of all you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, how you left your father and mother and the land of your birth, and how you came to a people you did not know before.

¹² May the LORD repay your work, and may you receive a rich reward from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have taken refuge.”

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: At this, she fell on her face, bowing low to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you should take notice of me, even though I am a foreigner?”
KJV: Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?
WEB: Then she fell on her face and bowed herself to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your sight, that you should take knowledge of me, since I am a foreigner?”
ASV: Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found favor in thy sight, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a foreigner?
DARBY: Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said to him, Why have I found favour in thine eyes, that thou shouldest regard me, seeing I am a foreigner?
BLB: And she fell on her face and she bowed herself to the earth and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me though I [am] a foreigner?”

ÅB: Da falt hun på sitt ansikt og bøyde seg til jorden og sa til ham: Hvorfor har jeg funnet nåde for dine øyne, så du tar deg av meg, enda jeg er en fremmed?
OTB: Da falt hun på sitt ansikt, bøyde seg til jorden og sa til ham: «Hvorfor har jeg funnet nåde i dine øyne, slik at du legger merke til meg, siden jeg er en fremmed?»
B1930: Da falt hun på sitt ansikt og bøide sig til jorden og sa til ham: Hvorfor har jeg funnet nåde for dine øine, så du tar dig av mig, enda jeg er en fremmed?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

1 Samuel 25:23
When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey, fell facedown, and bowed before him.
Read in context
Ruth 2:13
“My lord,” she said, “may I continue to find favor in your eyes, for you have comforted and spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your servant girls.”
Read in context
Luke 1:48
For He has looked with favor on the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed.
Read in context
Luke 17:16–18
He fell facedown at Jesus’ feet in thanksgiving to Him—and he was a Samaritan.
Read in context
Luke 1:43
And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
Read in context
Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.
Read in context
2 Samuel 19:28
For all the house of my grandfather deserves death from my lord the king, yet you have set your servant among those who eat at your table. What further right, then, do I have to keep appealing to the king?”
Read in context
2 Samuel 9:8
Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog like me?”
Read in context