3:7a
After Boaz had finished eating and drinking: In Hebrew, this clause is literally “And Boaz ate and he drank.” This clause simply means that Boaz had a meal. The Berean Standard Bible and some other versions use a time phrase such as After. They also supply the word finished. One of the reasons Boaz was in good spirits is that he was full after he had eaten.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
Boaz ate and drank (CEB)
-or-
After his evening meal (New Century Version)
-or-
Not much later, Boaz finished eating and drinking (The Voice)
and was in good spirits: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as was in good spirits is literally “his heart was good.” This is an idiom that means Boaz was “feeling happy and satisfied” after his meal.
There are two options to translate this idiom:
• Translate the meaning of the idiom. For example:
and he was in a good mood (CEB)
-or-
and he was in a contented mood (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
and was feeling happy (Contemporary English Version)
• Use an idiom in your language that means “feeling happy” or “satisfied/content.”
3:7b
he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain: This clause describes the movement of Boaz from where he ate to where he would sleep. This would probably have been a short distance away.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
and went to lie down at the edge of the pile of grain (New American Bible, Revised Edition)
-or-
and lay down beside the pile of barley (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
He lay down next to the heap of barley seeds (Easy English Bible)
-or-
Then he went over to the far end of the pile of grain. He lay down and ⌊went to sleep⌋ (Translation for Translators)
at the end of the heap of grain: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the end refers to the distant or opposite end of a space or area. Here it probably refers to the side of the pile of grain opposite from where Ruth could see him.
3:7c
Verse 7a–b described Boaz’s actions. Here the story describes what Ruth did. She probably waited until some time had passed. You should follow a natural way in your language to describe the change of actions from one character in a story to the actions of another.
Then: In Hebrew, this sentence begins with the common conjunction which the Berean Standard Bible translates as Then which is used for introducing the next event in a series of events.
Here are some ways to begin this sentence:
After a while
-or-
A little later
Ruth went in secretly: The word which the Berean Standard Bible translates as secretly means to do something quietly or without making a sound in order to avoid being seen, heard, or known.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
Then Ruth went to him very quietly (English Easy-to-Read Version)
-or-
Then she went over to him secretly (God’s Word)
-or-
she was quiet and came ⌊to where he was⌋
Ruth: The Hebrew text does not use Ruth’s name here but refers to her by the pronoun “she.” You may follow either approach. Be sure your readers clearly understand who is referred to.
uncovered his feet, and lay down: Translate similarly to 3:4b.
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