2:11a
Boaz replied: The Hebrew is more literally “and Boaz answered and said.” Introduce Boaz’s reply to Ruth in a way that is natural in your language.
I have been made fully aware of all you have done for your mother-in-law: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as made fully aware is more literally “have been told, have been told.” This repetition emphasizes the fact that Boaz had been told about Ruth’s actions toward her mother-in-law. Perhaps several people had talked to him about her. In addition, the word fully is used. This indicates that Ruth’s actions had been explained to him in detail. Boaz had heard a lot about Ruth and what she had done for Naomi.
Here are some other ways to translate this:
People have told me about everything you have done for your mother-in-law (God’s Word)
-or-
I know about all the help you have given your mother-in-law (New Century Version)
-or-
I have been hearing all about your ⌊kind⌋ actions to your mother-in-law
I have been made fully aware: The verb phrase I have been made fully aware is passive in form. Boaz does not say who had told him about Ruth. There are at least two ways to translate this:
• Use a passive verb. For example:
I have been given a full report (NET Bible)
• Use an active verb. For example:
⌊ People⌋have told me
-or-
I have heard
-or-
I have had a complete account (New American Bible, Revised Edition)
all you have done for your mother-in-law: This refers to the various things that Ruth had done to help and support Naomi. In some languages, it may be natural to make it explicit that Ruth had behaved well toward her mother-in-law. For example:
how you’ve helped your mother-in-law (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
all the help you have given your mother-in-law (New Century Version)
since the death of your husband: The phrase since the death of your husband refers in general to the period of time that had passed since the death of Ruth’s husband Mahlon. Here are some other ways to translate this:
following the death of your husband (NET Bible)
-or-
ever since your husband died (Contemporary English Version)
2:11b
how you left your father and mother and the land of your birth: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as how does not refer to the way Ruth left, but rather to the fact that she left. This verse part begins an explanation of what exactly Ruth had done for her mother-in-law. She had left her own parents and her own land.
In some languages, it may be more natural to begin a new sentence here. For example:
You even left your own father and mother to come and live in a foreign land (New Century Version)
-or-
I have heard how you left your own father and mother and your own land (New Living Translation (2004))
the land of your birth: This refers to the land of Moab, where Ruth had been born and where her family still lived.
2:11c
and how you came to a people you did not know before: This verse part continues to make explicit what Ruth had done for Naomi. She had come to live in Israel among strangers. The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as a people is a general word. It is contrasted with Ruth’s “land of…birth” of Moab in 2:11b, so here it refers to the people of Israel.
Here are some other ways to translate this:
and came to live among people you did not know previously (NET Bible)
-or-
to come to a nation where you did not know anyone (New Century Version)
a people you did not know before: This clause indicates that Ruth had not known the Israelites well or personally before this time. Ruth had never lived in Israel before. She knew about the Israelites but perhaps only knew the family of Elimelech personally.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
among complete strangers (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
⌊ us(excl.) ⌋foreigners
General Comment on 2:11a–c
This verse consists of a very long sentence. In the Book of Ruth, Boaz often speaks in long sentences. This seems to be part of the way that the author shows his character as a serious and dignified man. However, in some languages it may be better to translate this verse as two or three sentences. For example:
11a Boaz answered her, “People have told me about everything you have done for your mother-in-law since your husband died. 11b They told me how you left your father and mother and the country where you were born. 11c They also told me how you came to people that you didn’t know before….” (God’s Word)
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