The Meaning of Ruth 3:13 Explained

Ruth 3:13

KJV: Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning.

YLT: Lodge to night, and it hath been in the morning, if he doth redeem thee, well: he redeemeth; and if he delight not to redeem thee, then I have redeemed thee -- I; Jehovah liveth! lie down till the morning.'

Darby: Stay over to-night, and it shall be in the morning, if he will redeem thee, well let him redeem; but if he like not to redeem thee, then will I redeem thee, as Jehovah liveth. Lie down until the morning.

ASV: Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as Jehovah liveth: lie down until the morning.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Tarry  this night,  and it shall be in the morning,  [that] if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman,  well;  let him do the kinsman's part:  but if he will  not do the part of a kinsman  to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman  to thee, [as] the LORD  liveth:  lie down  until the morning. 

What does Ruth 3:13 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 3:13 mean?

Stay this night and it shall be in the morning [that] if he will perform the duty of a close relative for you good let him do it but if not he does want to perform the duty for you then will perform the duty for you I [as] lives Yahweh Lie down until morning
לִ֣ינִי ׀ הַלַּ֗יְלָה וְהָיָ֤ה בַבֹּ֙קֶר֙ אִם־ יִגְאָלֵ֥ךְ טוֹב֙ יִגְאָ֔ל וְאִם־ לֹ֨א יַחְפֹּ֧ץ לְגָֽאֳלֵ֛ךְ וּגְאַלְתִּ֥יךְ אָנֹ֖כִי חַי־ יְהוָ֑ה שִׁכְבִ֖י עַד־ הַבֹּֽקֶר

לִ֣ינִי ׀  Stay 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, feminine singular
Root: לוּן 
Sense: to lodge, stop over, pass the night, abide.
הַלַּ֗יְלָה  this  night 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: לַיִל 
Sense: night.
וְהָיָ֤ה  and  it  shall  be 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
בַבֹּ֙קֶר֙  in  the  morning 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֹּקֶר 
Sense: morning, break of day.
אִם־  [that]  if 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
יִגְאָלֵ֥ךְ  he  will  perform  the  duty  of  a  close  relative  for  you 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, second person feminine singular
Root: גְּאוּלִים 
Sense: to redeem, act as kinsman-redeemer, avenge, revenge, ransom, do the part of a kinsman.
טוֹב֙  good 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: טָבַב 
Sense: good, pleasant, agreeable.
יִגְאָ֔ל  let  him  do  it 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: גְּאוּלִים 
Sense: to redeem, act as kinsman-redeemer, avenge, revenge, ransom, do the part of a kinsman.
וְאִם־  but  if 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
יַחְפֹּ֧ץ  he  does  want 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָפֵץ 
Sense: to delight in, take pleasure in, desire, be pleased with.
לְגָֽאֳלֵ֛ךְ  to  perform  the  duty  for  you 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, second person feminine singular
Root: גְּאוּלִים 
Sense: to redeem, act as kinsman-redeemer, avenge, revenge, ransom, do the part of a kinsman.
וּגְאַלְתִּ֥יךְ  then  will  perform  the  duty  for  you 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular, second person feminine singular
Root: גְּאוּלִים 
Sense: to redeem, act as kinsman-redeemer, avenge, revenge, ransom, do the part of a kinsman.
חַי־  [as]  lives 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.
יְהוָ֑ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
שִׁכְבִ֖י  Lie  down 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, feminine singular
Root: שָׁכַב  
Sense: to lie down.
עַד־  until 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
הַבֹּֽקֶר  morning 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֹּקֶר 
Sense: morning, break of day.