The Meaning of Ruth 3:3 Explained

Ruth 3:3

KJV: Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.

YLT: and thou hast bathed, and anointed thyself, and put thy garments upon thee, and gone down to the threshing-floor; let not thyself be known to the man till he complete to eat and to drink;

Darby: Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thyself, and put thy raiment upon thee, and go down to the floor; make not thyself known to the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.

ASV: Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the threshing-floor, but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Wash  thyself therefore, and anoint  thee, and put  thy raiment  upon thee, and get thee down  to the floor:  [but] make not thyself known  unto the man,  until he shall have done  eating  and drinking. 

What does Ruth 3:3 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 3:3 mean?

Therefore wash yourself and anoint yourself and put on - your [best] garment on - and go down to the threshing floor not [but] do make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking
וְרָחַ֣צְתְּ ׀ וָסַ֗כְתְּ וְשַׂ֧מְתְּ [שמלתך] (שִׂמְלֹתַ֛יִךְ) עָלַ֖יִךְ [וירדתי] (וְיָרַ֣דְתְּ) הַגֹּ֑רֶן אַל־ תִּוָּדְעִ֣י לָאִ֔ישׁ עַ֥ד כַּלֹּת֖וֹ לֶאֱכֹ֥ל וְלִשְׁתּֽוֹת

וְרָחַ֣צְתְּ ׀  Therefore  wash  yourself 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person feminine singular
Root: רָחַץ  
Sense: to wash, wash off, wash away, bathe.
וָסַ֗כְתְּ  and  anoint  yourself 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person feminine singular
Root: סוּךְ  
Sense: to anoint, pour in anointing.
וְשַׂ֧מְתְּ  and  put  on 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person feminine singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
[שמלתך]  - 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person feminine singular
(שִׂמְלֹתַ֛יִךְ)  your  [best]  garment 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, second person feminine singular
Root: שִׂמְלָה  
Sense: wrapper, mantle, covering garment, garments, clothes, raiment, a cloth.
[וירדתי]  - 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular
(וְיָרַ֣דְתְּ)  and  go  down 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person feminine singular
Root: יָרַד  
Sense: to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down.
הַגֹּ֑רֶן  to  the  threshing  floor 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: גֹּרֶן  
Sense: threshing-floor.
תִּוָּדְעִ֣י  [but]  do  make  yourself  known 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, second person feminine singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
לָאִ֔ישׁ  to  the  man 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
עַ֥ד  until 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
כַּלֹּת֖וֹ  he  has  finished 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct, 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.
לֶאֱכֹ֥ל  eating 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
וְלִשְׁתּֽוֹת  and  drinking 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: שָׁתָה  
Sense: to drink.