3:2a

Now: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Now introduces a conclusion or main point of discussion. It does not refer to time. So you should not translate it literally as “Now,” unless that is how your language naturally introduces a conclusion or main point of discussion. Some versions do not use a conjunction here.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

So then,
-or-
Now then,

is not Boaz, with whose servant girls you have been working, a relative of ours?: In Hebrew, this clause is more literally “Is not Boaz a relative of ours whom you were with his young women?” This is another rhetorical question. Its function was to draw Ruth’s attention to an important fact. She emphasized the words relative of ours, even though Ruth already knew that Boaz was a relative.

There are two ways to translate this clause:

• Use a rhetorical question. For example:

Isn’t Boaz, whose young women you’ve been working with, our relative? (God’s Word)

• Use a statement. For example:

Remember that this man Boaz, whose women you have been working with, is our relative. (Good News Translation)

with whose servant girls you have been working: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as servant girls means “young women.” These were probably hired workers, mostly young adults. See how you translated 2:8c.

a relative: Boaz was related to the women only through Elimelech’s marriage to Naomi. See how you translated 2:1a. See also the note on Levirate marriage in the Introduction.

3:2b

In fact: In Hebrew, this sentence begins with a word that Berean Standard Bible translates as In fact and other traditional English versions translate as “Behold.” It functions here to draw Ruth’s attention to a very important opportunity.

Here are some ways to express this function:

Look (NET Bible)
-or-
Listen carefully
-or-
Now listen. (Good News Translation)

tonight: This word could be translated as “this night” or “this very night.” Naomi was probably referring to the late afternoon and early evening. You should not translate this in a way that implies that Boaz would have worked for a long time after dark.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

This evening (Good News Translation)
-or-
Late this afternoon

he is winnowing barley on the threshing floor: This clause describes one of the steps in the preparation of harvested barley. The term threshing floor refers to an open area with a hard level surface where harvested barley plants were crushed or “threshed.” The next step was winnowing. It refers to the work of separating the edible barley grain from its waste material or “chaff.” See the notes below for a more detailed explanation of these steps.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

He will be separating the barley from its husks on the threshing floor (God’s Word)
-or-
he will be working at the threshing floor (New Century Version)
-or-
he will be separating barley seeds from the chaff at the place where they crush the grain

To translate this clause well, it is important to understand how harvested barley was prepared. When harvesters took bundles of barley from the field, they brought it to the threshing floor and did two things:

(1) Threshing : The first thing they did with harvested barley was to “thresh” it. The workers “threshed” grain by beating or crushing it. This crushing process caused the heads or clusters of grain to break off from the stems of the plant, and the husks which contain the edible seeds would crack open.

(2) Winnowing : The people who winnowed the barley used a tool (shovel, fork, fan, or shallow basket) to pick up a bunch of crushed grain. They would then shake the grain and throw it up in the air. A gentle wind would blow the chaff and dust a distance away, and the heavier grain seeds would fall close by, where they were collected in heaps.

There are several options to translate the term winnowing :

• If there is no word in your language for winnowing, use a short phrase that describes the process. For example:

he will be separating the ⌊seeds/kernels of⌋ barley ⌊from the chaff/husks⌋

• Use a more general term such as “working.” See the New Century Version example above.

Naomi implied that after Boaz had finishing winnowing the grain, he would stay the whole night at the threshing floor, probably so that he could guard it. See 3:4a.

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