Paragraph 3:6–9
3:6a–b
General Comment on 3:6a-b
This is a summary of Ruth’s actions from here to verse 9, but it omits some of the details. In some languages, it may be more natural to reorder these two clauses. For example:
6b So Ruth did everything her mother-in-law told her to do 6a and went down to the threshing floor.
3:6a
So: The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So begins the summary of what Ruth did after she agreed to follow Naomi’s instructions.
Here are some other ways to begin this summary:
Then she went to the threshing floor
-or-
She said that and then
In some languages, it may be natural to not use a connection here.
she went down to the threshing floor: See how you translated 3:3b.
3:6b
and did everything her mother-in-law had instructed her to do: This clause means that Ruth followed Naomi’s instructions. The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as instructed means “commanded.”
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
and did everything her mother-in-law had instructed her to do (NET Bible)
-or-
and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her (English Standard Version)
-or-
and did just as her mother-in-law had instructed her (New Revised Standard Version)
her mother-in-law: The Hebrew and most versions refer to Naomi here by the phrase her mother-in-law rather than by her name. This form of reference here follows the pattern of Hebrew stories. It also showed Ruth’s respect for Naomi.
In some languages, it may be clearer or more natural to use Naomi’s name. For example:
And she did everything that Naomi had asked her to do. (Easy English Bible)
-or-
…her mother-in-law Naomi…
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