The Meaning of Ruth 3:18 Explained

Ruth 3:18

KJV: Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.

YLT: And she saith, 'Sit still, my daughter, till thou dost know how the matter falleth, for the man doth not rest except he hath completed the matter to-day.'

Darby: Then she said, Be still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall; for the man will not rest until he have completed the matter this day.

ASV: Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall; for the man will not rest, until he have finished the thing this day.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then said  she, Sit still,  my daughter,  until thou know  how the matter  will fall:  for the man  will not be in rest,  until  he have finished  the thing  this day. 

What does Ruth 3:18 Mean?

Context Summary

Ruth 3:1-18 - The Part Of A Kinsman
According to the old Hebrew law, Ruth was already married to Boaz, on the supposition that he was next of kin. Naomi apparently had no knowledge of a nearer kinsman than he. Compare Ruth 2:20, R.V., 3:12; Deuteronomy 25:5-10. There was therefore no immodesty in Naomi's proposals, though they are foreign to our modern practice. But clearly Boaz acted with admirable self-restraint. His earnest concern was for the good name of the young girl who had thrown herself on his protection, Ruth 2:11; Ruth 2:14. Next to God's grace, the one thought which helps us in the hour of testing is to put the interests of another before our own. Love to our neighbor is ultimately love to ourselves.
What confidence these two helpless women reposed in Boaz! The words with which Naomi closed their conversation suggest a character of absolute reliableness. His word was his bond. He was prompt, decisive and instant in carrying out any measure to which he felt himself pledged. Dilatoriness will wear out the heart of those who trust us. Let us finish promptly what we undertake! "Diligent in business, fervent in spirit!" Remember that when you trust Christ with anything, He also will not rest till He has finished it. [source]

Chapter Summary: Ruth 3

1  By Naomi's instruction
5  Ruth lies at Boaz's feet
8  Boaz acknowledges the right of a kinsman
14  He sends her away with six measures of barley

What do the individual words in Ruth 3:18 mean?

And she said Sit still my daughter until that you know how will turn out the matter for not will rest the man until that he has concluded the matter this day
וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ שְׁבִ֣י בִתִּ֔י עַ֚ד אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֵּֽדְעִ֔ין אֵ֖יךְ יִפֹּ֣ל דָּבָ֑ר כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יִשְׁקֹט֙ הָאִ֔ישׁ כִּֽי־ אִם־ כִּלָּ֥ה הַדָּבָ֖ר הַיּֽוֹם

וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙  And  she  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
שְׁבִ֣י  Sit  still 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, feminine singular
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
בִתִּ֔י  my  daughter 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: בַּת  
Sense: daughter.
עַ֚ד  until 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
תֵּֽדְעִ֔ין  you  know 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person feminine singular, Paragogic nun
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
אֵ֖יךְ  how 
Parse: Interjection
Root: אֵיךְ 
Sense: how? interj.
יִפֹּ֣ל  will  turn  out 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָפַל  
Sense: to fall, lie, be cast down, fail.
דָּבָ֑ר  the  matter 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
יִשְׁקֹט֙  will  rest 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁקַט  
Sense: to be quiet, be tranquil, be at peace, be quiet, rest, lie still, be undisturbed.
הָאִ֔ישׁ  the  man 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
כִּֽי־  until 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
אִם־  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
כִּלָּ֥ה  he  has  concluded 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּלָה  
Sense: to accomplish, cease, consume, determine, end, fail, finish, be complete, be accomplished, be ended, be at an end, be finished, be spent.
הַדָּבָ֖ר  the  matter 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
הַיּֽוֹם  this  day 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.

What are the major concepts related to Ruth 3:18?

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