2:13a

My lord: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as lord also means “master” or “sir.” It is a polite form of address that is often used of men as well as of God. Ruth used this form of address in order to express her respect for Boaz.

she said: The Berean Standard Bible has placed this phrase in the middle of what Ruth was saying. You should place this speech introduction wherever it would be natural in your language.

may I continue to find favor in your eyes: The expression find favor in your eyes is an idiom that means to receive approval or goodwill from a person. This favor would normally be expressed in kind acts. See how you translated this idiom in 2:2b and 2:10b.

It is possible to understand this verse part in two ways:

(1) Ruth was expressing a hope or a wish that Boaz would continue to be pleased with her and be kind to her. For example:

I hope you will always look on me with favour (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
I hope I can continue to please you, sir. (New Century Version)

(2) Ruth was thanking Boaz for acting kindly toward her. For example:

You are very kind to me, sir. (Good News Translation)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Ruth was respectfully expressing her desire that Boaz would continue to be pleased with her (and so be kind to her).

2:13b

for you have comforted and spoken kindly to your maidservant: This verse part indicates Ruth’s appreciation for what Boaz was doing. She was thanking Boaz for speaking in an encouraging and reassuring way to her.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

You have comforted me by speaking so kindly to me (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
You have said kind and encouraging words to me, your servant (New Century Version)
-or-
You have comforted me and reassured me (God’s Word)

and spoken kindly: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as spoken kindly is literally “spoken upon the heart.”

your maidservant: Here Ruth referred to herself in the third person. In many languages, you may need to make it explicit that Ruth was speaking about herself. For example:

me, your servant (NET Bible)

Ruth was not actually a servant in the same sense as the other servant girls. She was speaking in a humble and respectful way. It was common at that time to refer to oneself as someone’s “servant” in order to show respect for the other person.

2:13c

though I am not like one of your servant girls: Ruth said that she was not actually one of Boaz’s servants. She implied that she was less important than they were, and that he need not have noticed her. By speaking in this way, she was showing great humility.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

even though I am not one of your servants (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
and I’m not even one of your own servants (God’s Word)

© 2024 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.