The Meaning of Ruth 3:7 Explained

Ruth 3:7

KJV: And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down.

YLT: And Boaz eateth and drinketh, and his heart is glad; and he goeth in to lie down at the end of the heap; and she cometh in gently, and uncovereth his feet, and lieth down.

Darby: And Boaz ate and drank, and his heart was merry, and he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn. Then she went softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid herself down.

ASV: And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And when Boaz  had eaten  and drunk,  and his heart  was merry,  he went  to lie down  at the end  of the heap of corn:  and she came  softly,  and uncovered  his feet,  and laid her down. 

What does Ruth 3:7 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 3:7 mean?

And after had eaten Boaz and drunk and was cheerful his heart and he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain and she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down
וַיֹּ֨אכַל בֹּ֤עַז וַיֵּשְׁתְּ֙ וַיִּיטַ֣ב לִבּ֔וֹ וַיָּבֹ֕א לִשְׁכַּ֖ב בִּקְצֵ֣ה הָעֲרֵמָ֑ה וַתָּבֹ֣א בַלָּ֔ט וַתְּגַ֥ל מַרְגְּלֹתָ֖יו וַתִּשְׁכָּֽב

וַיֹּ֨אכַל  And  after  had  eaten 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
בֹּ֤עַז  Boaz 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֹּעַז 
Sense: ancestor of David, kinsman-redeemer to Ruth, daughter-in-law of Naomi.
וַיֵּשְׁתְּ֙  and  drunk 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁתָה  
Sense: to drink.
וַיִּיטַ֣ב  and  was  cheerful 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָטַב  
Sense: to be good, be pleasing, be well, be glad.
לִבּ֔וֹ  his  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
וַיָּבֹ֕א  and  he  went 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
לִשְׁכַּ֖ב  to  lie  down 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: שָׁכַב  
Sense: to lie down.
בִּקְצֵ֣ה  at  the  end 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קָצֶה 
Sense: end, extremity.
הָעֲרֵמָ֑ה  of  the  heap  of  grain 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: עֲרֵמָה  
Sense: heap, pile.
וַתָּבֹ֣א  and  she  came 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
בַלָּ֔ט  softly 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: לָט  
Sense: secrecy, mystery, enchantment.
וַתְּגַ֥ל  and  uncovered 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: גָּלָה  
Sense: to uncover, remove.
מַרְגְּלֹתָ֖יו  his  feet 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מַרְגְּלֹות  
Sense: place of the feet, feet.
וַתִּשְׁכָּֽב  and  lay  down 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: שָׁכַב  
Sense: to lie down.