3:8a
In Hebrew, this sentence begins with a word that means “And it happened” or “And it was.” The conversation between Ruth and Boaz that begins in the next verse (3:9–15) is the main event or climax of this part of the book of Ruth. This word introduces the dramatic event that leads up to this climax.
Here are some ways to begin this sentence:
Suddenly (Living Bible)
-or-
Just then
-or-
Now it happened…that (New King James Version)
The Berean Standard Bible and most English versions do not translate this word here. But you should consider how your language naturally leads up to the main event or climax of a story.
At midnight: This phrase refers to an approximate time around midnight. The Hebrew language and culture did not divide the night hours into exact units.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
Around midnight (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
In the middle of the night (New International Version)
-or-
During the night (Good News Translation)
Boaz was startled: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Boaz was startled is literally “the man trembled.” The verb that means “tremble” usually refers to shaking from fear. The text does not say what made Boaz “tremble,” but the most likely reason was the cold air on his feet. And this is exactly what Naomi had planned.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
he woke up suddenly (Good News Translation)
-or-
the man was shivering (God’s Word)
-or-
the man was startled (English Standard Version)
-or-
Boaz suddenly woke up (New Living Translation (1996))
If the options in your language for translating “trembled” force you to be specific about why Boaz trembled, it should be from the cold rather than from fear.
Boaz: As in 3:3c, you may translate this phrase literally as “the man,” use the pronoun “he,” or refer to Boaz by name.
turned over: The word which the Berean Standard Bible translates as turned over is rare in the OT, so scholars are not sure what it means. There are four ways to interpret this word:
(1) It means he turned or rolled over. For example:
and turned over (English Standard Version)
-or-
and he rolled over (New Century Version)
(2) It means he groped around (for his covers). For example:
groped about (New American Bible, Revised Edition)
reached out
(New American Bible, Revised Edition)
(3) It means he looked all around. For example:
looked about him (New Jerusalem Bible)
(New Jerusalem Bible)
(4) It means he sat up or bent forward. For example:
bent forward (New American Standard Bible)
(New American Standard Bible)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most versions.
3:8b
and there lying at his feet was a woman!: The author of Ruth used dramatic language in this clause to help the reader to experience how surprising it was for Boaz to find a woman lying at his feet. In Hebrew, this clause begins with a phrase that means “and behold.” The Berean Standard Bible does not use words to translate this phrase, but the exclamation mark (!) at the end of the sentence helps to match this dramatic and lively Hebrew expression.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
and Look! A woman lying at his feet!
-or-
and was shocked to see a woman lying at his feet (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
He was surprised to find a woman lying at his feet! (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
he discovered there was a woman lying at his feet (The Voice)
-or-
he saw a woman who was lying there at his feet (Easy English Bible)
Translate this clause in a way that will help your readers to understand how very surprised Boaz must have felt by what he found.
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