Ruth 4
Commentary from 6 fathers
And Booz took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye here; and they sat down.
καὶ ἔλαβε Βοὸζ δέκα ἄνδρας ἀπὸ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων τῆς πόλεως καὶ εἶπε· καθίσατε ὧδε· καὶ ἐκάθισαν.
И҆ поѧ̀ воо́зъ де́сѧть мꙋже́й ѿ старѣ́йшинъ гра́да, и҆ речѐ: сѧ́дите здѣ̀. И҆ сѣдо́ша.
And Booz said to the relative, [The matter regards] the portion of the field which was our brother Elimelech’s which was given to Noemin, now returning out of the land of Moab;
καὶ εἶπε Βοὸζ τῷ ἀγχιστεῖ· τὴν μερίδα τοῦ ἀγροῦ, ἥ ἐστι τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ ἡμῶν τοῦ ᾿Ελιμέλεχ, ἣ δέδοται Νωεμὶν τῇ ἐπιστρεφούσῃ ἐξ ἀγροῦ Μωάβ,
И҆ речѐ воо́зъ ᲂу҆́жикꙋ: ча́сть села̀, ꙗ҆́же є҆́сть бра́та на́шегѡ є҆лїмеле́ха, ꙗ҆́же даде́сѧ ноеммі́нѣ возврати́вшейсѧ ѿ села̀ мѡа́влѧ:
and I said, I will inform thee, saying, Buy it before those that sit, and before the elders of my people: if thou wilt redeem it, redeem it, but if thou wilt not redeem it, tell me, and I shall know; for there is no one beside thee to do the office of a kinsman, and I am after thee: and he said, I am [here], I will redeem it.
κἀγὼ εἶπα· ἀποκαλύψω τὸ οὖς σου λέγων· κτῆσαι ἐναντίον τῶν καθημένων καὶ ἐναντίον τῶν πρεσβυτέρων τοῦ λαοῦ μου· εἰ ἀγχιστεύεις, ἀγχίστευε· εἰ δὲ μὴ ἀγχιστεύεις, ἀνάγγειλόν μοι καὶ γνώσομαι· ὅτι οὐκ ἔστι πάρεξ σοῦ τοῦ ἀγχιστεῦσαι, κἀγώ εἰμι μετὰ σέ. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· ἐγώ εἰμι, ἀγχιστεύσω.
а҆́зъ же реко́хъ: ꙗ҆влю̀ тебѣ̀ сїѐ во ᲂу҆́хо твоѐ, глаго́лѧ: пристѧжѝ пред̾ сѣдѧ́щими и҆ пред̾ старѣ̑йшины люді́й мои́хъ: и҆ а҆́ще ᲂу҆́жичествꙋеши, ᲂу҆́жичествꙋй: а҆́ще же не ᲂу҆́жичествꙋеши, повѣ́ждь мѝ, да вѣ́даю: ꙗ҆́кѡ нѣ́сть ра́звѣ тебє̀ є҆́же ᲂу҆́жичествовати бли́жшїй, и҆ а҆́зъ є҆́смь по тебѣ̀. Ѻ҆́нъ же речѐ: а҆́зъ є҆́смь, ᲂу҆́жичествꙋю.
And Booz said, In the day of thy buying the field of the hand of Noemin and of Ruth the Moabitess the wife of the deceased, thou must also buy her, so as to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.
καὶ εἶπε Βοόζ· ἐν ἡμέρᾳ τοῦ κτήσασθαί σε τὸν ἀγρὸν ἐκ χειρὸς Νωεμὶν καὶ παρὰ Ῥοὺθ τῆς Μωαβίτιδος γυναικὸς τοῦ τεθνηκότος, καὶ αὐτὴν κτήσασθαί σε δεῖ ὥστε ἀναστῆσαι τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ τεθνηκότος ἐπὶ τῆς κληρονομίας αὐτοῦ.
И҆ речѐ воо́зъ: въ де́нь во́ньже пристѧ́жеши село̀ ѿ рꙋкѝ ноеммі́ни, и҆ ѿ рꙋ́ѳы мѡаві́тѧныни жены̀ ᲂу҆ме́ршагѡ, и҆ сїю̀ досто́итъ тѝ поѧ́ти, да возста́виши и҆́мѧ ᲂу҆ме́ршагѡ въ наслѣ́дїе є҆гѡ̀.
And the kinsman said, I shall not be able to redeem it for myself, lest I mar my own inheritance; do thou redeem my right for thyself, for I shall not be able to redeem [it].
καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ἀγχιστεύς· οὐ δυνήσομαι ἀγχιστεῦσαι ἐμαυτῷ, μή ποτε διαφθείρω τὴν κληρονομίαν μου· ἀγχίστευσον σεαυτῷ τὴν ἀγχιστείαν μου, ὅτι οὐ δυνήσομαι ἀγχιστεῦσαι.
И҆ речѐ ᲂу҆́жикъ: не возмогꙋ̀ ᲂу҆́жичествовати себѣ̀, да не разсы́плю наслѣ́дїѧ моегѡ̀: ᲂу҆́жичествꙋй себѣ̀ ты̀ ᲂу҆́жичество моѐ, а҆́зъ бо не возмогꙋ̀ ᲂу҆́жичествовати.
And this [was] in former time the ordinance in Israel for redemption, and for a bargain, to confirm every word: A man loosed his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour that redeemed his right; and this was a testimony in Israel.
καὶ τοῦτο τὸ δικαίωμα ἔμπροσθεν ἐν τῷ ᾿Ισραὴλ ἐπὶ τὴν ἀγχιστείαν καὶ ἐπὶ τὸ ἀντάλλαγμα τοῦ στῆσαι πάντα λόγον, καὶ ὑπελύετο ἀνὴρ τὸ ὑπόδημα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐδίδου τῷ πλησίον αὐτοῦ τῷ ἀγχιστεύοντι τὴν ἀγχιστείαν αὐτοῦ, καὶ τοῦτο ἦν μαρτύριον ἐν ᾿Ισραήλ.
И҆ сїѐ ᲂу҆правле́нїе бы́сть пре́жде во і҆и҃ли ѡ҆ ᲂу҆́жичествованїи и҆ ѡ҆ премѣне́нїи, є҆́же ᲂу҆крѣпи́ти всѧ́кое сло́во: и҆ и҆ззꙋва́ше мꙋ́жъ сапо́гъ сво́й, и҆ даѧ́ше по́дрꙋгꙋ своемꙋ̀ ᲂу҆́жичествꙋющꙋ ᲂу҆́жичество є҆гѡ̀: и҆ сїѐ бѧ́ше свидѣ́тельство во і҆и҃ли.
7–10For, by the law, when a man died, the marriage bond with his wife was passed on to his brother or other male next of kin, in order that the seed of the brother or next of kin might renew the life of the house. And so it was that Ruth, though she was foreign-born, had possessed a husband of the Jewish people who had left a kinsman of near relation. Although she was seen and loved by Boaz while gleaning and maintaining herself and her mother-in-law with what she gleaned, she could not become the wife of Boaz until she had first loosed the shoe from him whose wife she ought, by the law, to have become.The story is a simple one, but deep are its hidden meanings, for that which was done was the outward signs of something more. If indeed we should stretch the sense so as to fit the letter exactly, we should almost find the words an occasion of a certain shame and horror, that we should regard them as intending and conveying the thought of common bodily intercourse. Rather it was the foreshadowing of one who was to arise from the Jewish people—whence Christ was, after the flesh—who should, with the seed of heavenly teaching, revive the seed of his dead kinsman, that is to say, the people, and to whom the precepts of the law, in their spiritual significance, assigned the sandal of marriage, for the espousals of the church.
Exposition of the Christian Faith 3.69-70
7–12It was an old custom that if a groom wished to divorce his bride he took off his sandal and this was the sign of the divorce. Consequently, he was ordered to take off his sandals, lest he approach the church wearing sandals like a bridegroom; for this office was reserved for Christ, who is the true bridegroom. However, the blessing of the ten elders showed that all Gentile peoples were saved and blessed in the name of Christ. For iota signifies ten in Greek, and this first letter will signify the name of the Lord Jesus in full; which shows, as we said, that all peoples are saved through him and are blessed. Therefore, let no one doubt these things that were said, since it may be seen that they were everywhere and from the beginning prefigured by antecedent figures; and they were clearly fulfilled in this way through the advent of the Lord; and which were superfluous, being completed in this way by the accord of all voiced in truth; and by all “figures” of the holy Scriptures, which he who promised [them] fulfilled through his son, Jesus Christ our Lord, king, and redeemer and savior, with whom is honor and glory from age to age. Amen.
On Ruth
And the kinsman said to Booz, Buy my right for thyself: and he took off his shoe and gave it to him.
καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ἀγχιστεὺς τῷ Βοόζ· κτῆσαι σεαυτῷ τὴν ἀγχιστείαν μου· καὶ ὑπελύσατο τὸ ὑπόδημα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ.
И҆ речѐ ᲂу҆́жикъ воо́зꙋ: пристѧжѝ себѣ̀ ᲂу҆́жичество моѐ. И҆ и҆ззꙋ́въ сапо́гъ сво́й, дадѐ є҆мꙋ̀.
And Booz said to the elders and to all the people, Ye [are] this day witnesses, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that belonged to Chelaion and Maalon, of the hand of Noemin.
καὶ εἶπε Βοὸζ τοῖς πρεσβυτέροις καὶ παντὶ τῷ λαῷ· μάρτυρες ὑμεῖς σήμερον, ὅτι κέκτημαι πάντα τὰ τοῦ ᾿Ελιμέλεχ καὶ πάντα, ὅσα ὑπάρχει τῷ Χελαιὼν καὶ τῷ Μααλὼν ἐκ χειρὸς Νωεμίν·
И҆ речѐ воо́зъ старѣ́йшинамъ и҆ всѣ̑мъ лю́демъ: свидѣ́телє вы̀ дне́сь, ꙗ҆́кѡ пристѧжа́хъ дне́сь всѧ̑, ꙗ҆̀же є҆лїмеле́хѡва, и҆ всѧ̑ є҆ли̑ка сꙋ́ть хелеѡ́нѡва и҆ маалѡ́нѡва, ѿ рꙋкѝ ноеммі́ни:
Moreover I have bought for myself for a wife Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Maalon, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance; so the name of the dead shall not be destroyed from among his brethren, and from the tribe of his people: ye [are] this day witnesses.
καί γε Ῥοὺθ τὴν Μωαβῖτιν τὴν γυναῖκα Μααλὼν κέκτημαι ἐμαυτῷ εἰς γυναῖκα τοῦ ἀναστῆσαι τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ τεθνηκότος ἐπὶ τῆς κληρονομίας αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ἐξολοθρευθήσεται τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ τεθνηκότος ἐκ τῶν ἀδελφῶν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐκ τῆς φυλῆς λαοῦ αὐτοῦ· μάρτυρες ὑμεῖς σήμερον.
ксемꙋ́ же рꙋ́ѳь мѡаві́тѧныню женꙋ̀ маалѡ́ню пое́млю себѣ̀ въ женꙋ̀ возста́вити и҆́мѧ ᲂу҆ме́ршагѡ въ наслѣ́дїе є҆гѡ̀, да не поги́бнетъ и҆́мѧ ᲂу҆ме́ршагѡ ѿ бра́тїи є҆гѡ̀ и҆ ѿ пле́мене люді́й є҆гѡ̀: свидѣ́телє вы̀ дне́сь.
Those things which happened to Ruth should be seen as figures. For she was an outsider and had fallen into extreme penury; but Boaz, seeing her, did not despise her on account of her poverty, nor was he horrified on account of her impiety; even as Christ received the church, who was both a stranger and laboring, in need of great good things. Ruth is not joined with her consort before forsaking her parents and her nation and her native land: never was anyone so much ennobled by marriage. Thus the church was not made loveable to her spouse before she had forsaken her prior customs. The prophet says, “Forget your people.”
Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew 3
And all the people who were in the gate said, [We are] witnesses: and the elders said, The Lord make thy wife who goes into thy house, as Rachel and as Lia, who both [together] built the house of Israel, and wrought mightily in Ephratha, and there shall be a name [to thee] in Bethleem.
καὶ εἴποσαν πᾶς ὁ λαὸς οἱ ἐν τῇ πύλῃ· μάρτυρες. καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι εἴποσαν· δῴη Κύριος τὴν γυναῖκά σου τὴν εἰσπορευομένην εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου ὡς Ῥαχὴλ καὶ ὡς Λείαν, αἳ ᾠκοδόμησαν ἀμφότεροι τὸν οἶκον τοῦ ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ ἐποίησαν δύναμιν ἐν ᾿Εφραθά, καὶ ἔσται ὄνομα ἐν Βηθλεέμ·
И҆ ѿвѣща́ша всѝ лю́дїе и҆̀же ᲂу҆ вра́тъ: свидѣ́телє є҆смы̀. И҆ старѣ̑йшины рѣ́ша: да да́стъ гдⷭ҇ь женѣ̀ твое́й, входѧ́щей въ до́мъ тво́й, ꙗ҆́коже рахи́ли и҆ ꙗ҆́кѡ лі́и, ꙗ҆̀же созда́ша ѻ҆́бѣ до́мъ і҆и҃левъ, и҆ сотвори́ша си́лꙋ во є҆фра́ѳѣ, и҆ бꙋ́детъ и҆́мѧ въ виѳлее́мѣ:
The elders confirmed the marriage with a blessing, saying, "The Lord made this woman," etc. Moreover, "So that she may be an example of virtue in Ephrathah," they predicted the salvific birth through which Bethlehem was made famous among all people.
Questions on Ruth
And let thy house be as the house of Phares, whom Thamar bore to Juda, of the seed which the Lord shall give thee of this handmaid.
καὶ γένοιτο ὁ οἶκός σου ὡς ὁ οἶκος Φαρές, ὃν ἔτεκε Θάμαρ τῷ ᾿Ιούδᾳ, ἐκ τοῦ σπέρματος οὗ δώσει Κύριός σοι ἐκ τῆς παιδίσκης ταύτης.
и҆ бꙋ́ди до́мъ тво́й ꙗ҆́коже до́мъ фаре́совъ, є҆го́же родѝ ѳама́рь і҆ꙋ́дѣ, ѿ сѣ́мене твоегѡ̀ да́стъ тебѣ̀ гдⷭ҇ь ѿ рабы̀ сеѧ̀ ча̑да.
And Booz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he went in to her; and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son.
καὶ ἔλαβε Βοὸζ τὴν Ῥούθ, καὶ ἐγενήθη αὐτῷ εἰς γυναῖκα, καὶ εἰσῆλθε πρὸς αὐτήν, καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῇ Κύριος κύησιν, καὶ ἔτεκεν υἱόν.
И҆ поѧ̀ воо́зъ рꙋ́ѳь, и҆ бы́сть є҆мꙋ̀ жена̀, и҆ вни́де къ не́й: и҆ дадѐ є҆́й гдⷭ҇ь зача́ти, и҆ родѝ сы́на.
13–17Let Tamar rejoice that her Lord has come, for her name announced the son of her Lord, and her appellation called you to come to her.By you honorable women made themselves contemptible, [you] the One who makes all chaste. She stole you at the crossroads, [you] who prepared the road to the house of the kingdom. Since she stole life, the sword was insufficient to kill her. Ruth lay down with a man on the threshing floor for your sake. Her love was bold for your sake. She teaches boldness to all penitents. Her ears held in contempt all [other] voices for the sake of your voice. The fiery coal that crept into the bed of Boaz went up and lay down. She saw the Chief Priest hidden in his loins, the fire for his censer. She ran and became the heifer of Boaz. For you she brought forth the fatted ox. She went gleaning for love of you; she gathered straw. You repaid her quickly the wage of her humiliation: instead of ears [of wheat], the Root of kings, and instead of straw, the Sheaf of Life that descends from her.
Hymns on the Nativity 9.12-16
And Boaz begat Obed of Ruth. Ruth was a foreigner, but nevertheless she was married to Boaz. So, too, the church is from among the Gentiles. For like Ruth, these Gentiles had been foreigners and outside the covenants, yet they forsook their people, their idols and their father, the devil. And as Ruth was wed to Boaz of the seed of Abraham, so too was the church taken as bride by the Son of God.
Explanation of Matthew 1.3-4
And the woman said to Noemin, Blessed [is] the Lord, who has not suffered a redeemer to fail thee this day, even to make thy name famous in Israel.
καὶ εἶπαν αἱ γυναῖκες πρὸς Νωεμίν· εὐλογητὸς Κύριος, ὃς οὐ κατέλυσέ σοι σήμερον τὸν ἀγχιστέα, καὶ καλέσαι τὸ ὄνομά σου ἐν ᾿Ισραήλ,
И҆ реко́ша жєны̀ къ ноеммі́нѣ: блгⷭ҇ве́нъ гдⷭ҇ь, и҆́же не разсы́па ᲂу҆́жика твоегѡ̀ дне́сь, и҆ прозове́тсѧ и҆́мѧ твоѐ во і҆и҃ли,
And he shall be to thee a restorer of thy soul, and one to cherish thy old age; for thy daughter-in-law which has loved thee, who is better to thee than seven sons, has born him.
καὶ ἔσται σοι εἰς ἐπιστρέφοντα ψυχὴν καὶ τοῦ διαθρέψαι τὴν πολιάν σου, ὅτι ἡ νύμφη ἡ ἀγαπήσασά σε ἔτεκεν αὐτόν, ἥ ἐστιν ἀγαθή σοι ὑπὲρ ἑπτὰ υἱούς.
и҆ бꙋ́детъ тебѣ̀ во ѡ҆браща́ющаго дꙋ́шꙋ и҆ въ прекормле́нїе ста́рости твоеѧ̀, ꙗ҆́кѡ сноха̀ твоѧ̀, возлюби́вшаѧ тебѐ, родѝ сы́на, ꙗ҆́же є҆́сть блага̀ тебѣ̀ па́че седмѝ сынѡ́въ.
And Noemin took the child and laid it in her bosom, and became a nurse to it.
καὶ ἔλαβε Νωεμὶν τὸ παιδίον καὶ ἔθηκεν εἰς τὸν κόλπον αὐτῆς καὶ ἐγενήθη αὐτῷ εἰς τιθηνόν.
И҆ взѧ̀ ноеммі́нь ѻ҆троча̀, и҆ положѝ є҆̀ на ло́нѣ свое́мъ, и҆ бы́сть є҆мꙋ̀ корми́лица.
And the neighbours gave it a name, saying, A son has been born to Noemin; and they called his name Obed; this [is] the father of Jessae the father of David.
καὶ ἐκάλεσαν αὐτοῦ αἱ γείτονες ὄνομα λέγουσαι· ἐτέχθη υἱὸς τῇ Νωεμίν· καὶ ἐκάλεσαν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ᾿Ωβήδ· οὗτος πατὴρ ᾿Ιεσσαὶ πατρὸς Δαυίδ.
И҆ прозва́ша сосѣ́ди и҆́мѧ є҆гѡ̀, глаго́люще: роди́сѧ сы́нъ ноеммі́нѣ. И҆ нареко́ша и҆́мѧ є҆мꙋ̀ ѡ҆ви́дъ: се́й є҆́сть ѻ҆те́цъ і҆ессе́а, ѻ҆тца̀ дв҃дова.
And these [are] the generations of Phares: Phares begot Esrom:
καὶ αὗται αἱ γενέσεις Φαρές· Φαρὲς ἐγέννησε τὸν ᾿Εσρώμ,
И҆ сїѧ̑ рѡдства̀ фаре́сѡва: фаре́съ родѝ є҆срѡ́ма:
Esrom begot Aram; and Aram begot Aminadab.
᾿Εσρὼμ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν ᾿Αράν, καὶ ᾿Αρὰν ἐγέννησε τὸν ᾿Αμιναδάβ,
є҆срѡ́мъ же родѝ а҆ра́ма: а҆ра́мъ же родѝ а҆мїнада́ва:
And Aminadab begot Naasson; and Naasson begot Salmon.
καὶ ᾿Αμιναδὰβ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ναασσών, καὶ Ναασσὼν ἐγέννησε τὸν Σαλμάν,
а҆мїнада́въ же родѝ наассѡ́на: наассѡ́нъ же родѝ салмѡ́на:
And Salmon begot Booz; and Booz begot Obed.
καὶ Σαλμὰν ἐγέννησε τὸν Βοόζ, καὶ Βοὸζ ἐγέννησε τὸν ᾿Ωβήδ,
салмѡ́нъ же родѝ воо́за: воо́зъ же родѝ ѡ҆ви́да:
And Obed begot Jessae; and Jessae begot David.
καὶ ᾿Ωβὴδ ἐγέννησε τὸν ᾿Ιεσσαί, καὶ ᾿Ιεσσαὶ ἐγέννησε τὸν Δαυίδ.
ѡ҆ви́дъ же родѝ і҆ессе́а: і҆ессе́й же родѝ дв҃да.
And Booz went up to the gate, and sat there; and behold, the relative passed by, of whom Booz spoke: and Booz said to him, Turn aside, sit down here, such a one: and he turned aside and sat down.
ΚΑΙ Βοὸζ ἀνέβη ἐπὶ τὴν πύλην, καὶ ἐκάθισεν ἐκεῖ, καὶ ἰδοὺ ὁ ἀγχιστεὺς παρεπορεύετο, ὃν ἐλάλησε Βοόζ. καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτὸν Βοόζ· ἐκκλίνας κάθισον ὧδε, κρύφιε. καὶ ἐξέκλινε καὶ ἐκάθισε.
И҆ воо́зъ прїи́де ко вратѡ́мъ и҆ сѣ́де та́мѡ: и҆ сѐ, ᲂу҆́жикъ мимоидѧ́ше, ѡ҆ не́мже глаго́ла воо́зъ. И҆ речѐ є҆мꙋ̀ воо́зъ: ᲂу҆клони́всѧ сѧ́ди здѣ̀. Ѻ҆́нъ же ᲂу҆клони́сѧ и҆ сѣ́де.