Ruth 2:4
New International Version
Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, “The LORD be with you!” “The LORD bless you!” they answered.

New Living Translation
While she was there, Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters. “The LORD be with you!” he said. “The LORD bless you!” the harvesters replied.

English Standard Version
And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem. And he said to the reapers, “The LORD be with you!” And they answered, “The LORD bless you.”

Berean Standard Bible
Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and said to the harvesters, “The LORD be with you.” “The LORD bless you,” they replied.

King James Bible
And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee.

New King James Version
Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, “The LORD be with you!” And they answered him, “The LORD bless you!”

New American Standard Bible
Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers, “May the LORD be with you.” And they said to him, “May the LORD bless you.”

NASB 1995
Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers, “May the LORD be with you.” And they said to him, “May the LORD bless you.”

NASB 1977
Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers, “May the LORD be with you.” And they said to him, “May the LORD bless you.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers, “May Yahweh be with you.” And they said to him, “May Yahweh bless you.”

Amplified Bible
It was then that Boaz came back from Bethlehem and said to the reapers, “The LORD be with you!” And they answered him, “The LORD bless you!”

Christian Standard Bible
Later, when Boaz arrived from Bethlehem, he said to the harvesters, “The LORD be with you.” “The LORD bless you,” they replied.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Later, when Boaz arrived from Bethlehem, he said to the harvesters, “The LORD be with you."” The LORD bless you,” they replied.

American Standard Version
And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, Jehovah be with you. And they answered him, Jehovah bless thee.

Contemporary English Version
When Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and went out to his field, he said to the harvest workers, "The LORD bless you!" They replied, "And may the LORD bless you!"

English Revised Version
And, behold, Boaz came from Beth-lehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Just then, Boaz was coming from Bethlehem, and he said to his reapers, "May the LORD be with all of you!" They answered him, "May the LORD bless you!"

Good News Translation
Some time later Boaz himself arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the workers. "The LORD be with you!" he said. "The LORD bless you!" they answered.

International Standard Version
Now when Boaz arrived from Bethlehem, he told the harvesters, "The LORD be with you." "May the LORD bless you!" they replied.

Majority Standard Bible
Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and said to the harvesters, ?The LORD be with you.? ?The LORD bless you,? they replied.

NET Bible
Now at that very moment, Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, "May the LORD be with you!" They replied, "May the LORD bless you!"

New Heart English Bible
Look, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, "The LORD be with you." They answered him, "The LORD bless you."

Webster's Bible Translation
And behold, Boaz came from Beth-lehem, and said to the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee.

World English Bible
Behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, “May Yahweh be with you.” They answered him, “May Yahweh bless you.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And behold, Boaz has come from Beth-Lehem, and says to the reapers, “YHWH [is] with you”; and they say to him, “YHWH blesses you.”

Young's Literal Translation
And lo, Boaz hath come from Beth-Lehem, and saith to the reapers, 'Jehovah is with you;' and they say to him, 'Jehovah doth bless thee.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And behold, Boaz came from the house of bread, and he will say to the reapers, Jehovah be with you. And they will say to him, Jehovah will bless thee.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And behold, he came out of Bethlehem, and said to the reapers: The Lord be with you. And they answered him: The Lord bless thee.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And behold, he came out of Bethlehem and said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you.” They answered him, “May the Lord bless you.”

New American Bible
Soon, along came Boaz from Bethlehem and said to the harvesters, “The LORD be with you,” and they replied, “The LORD bless you.”

New Revised Standard Version
Just then Boaz came from Bethlehem. He said to the reapers, “The LORD be with you.” They answered, “The LORD bless you.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And, behold, Boaz came from Beth-lehem, and said to the reapers, Peace be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless you.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And behold, Baaz came from Bayth Lekhem and said to the reapers: “Peace with you!” They said to him: “LORD JEHOVAH bless you!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And, behold, Boaz came from Beth-lehem, and said unto the reapers: 'The LORD be with you.' And they answered him: 'The LORD bless thee.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And, behold, Booz came from Bethleem, and said to the reapers, The Lord be with you: and they said to him, The Lord bless thee.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Boaz Meets Ruth
3So Ruth departed and went out into the field and gleaned after the harvesters. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelech. 4Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and said to the harvesters, “The LORD be with you.” “The LORD bless you,” they replied. 5And Boaz asked the foreman of his harvesters, “Whose young woman is this?”…

Cross References
Numbers 6:24-26
‘May the LORD bless you and keep you; / may the LORD cause His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; / may the LORD lift up His countenance toward you and give you peace.’

Psalm 129:8
May none who pass by say to them, “The blessing of the LORD be on you; we bless you in the name of the LORD.”

2 Chronicles 15:2
So he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.

Judges 6:12
And the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon and said, “The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor.”

1 Samuel 17:37
David added, “The LORD, who delivered me from the claws of the lion and the bear, will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” “Go,” said Saul, “and may the LORD be with you.”

1 Samuel 20:42
And Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for the two of us have sworn in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘May the LORD be a witness between you and me, and between your descendants and mine forever.’” Then David got up and departed, and Jonathan went back into the city.

1 Samuel 23:21
“May you be blessed by the LORD,” replied Saul, “for you have had compassion on me.

2 Samuel 2:5
So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead to tell them, “The LORD bless you, because you showed this kindness to Saul your lord when you buried him.

2 Samuel 15:20
In fact, you arrived only yesterday; should I make you wander around with us today while I do not know where I am going? Go back and take your brothers with you. May the LORD show you loving devotion and faithfulness.”

2 Kings 2:2
and Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel.” But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.

2 Kings 4:29
So Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tie up your garment, take my staff in your hand, and go! If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not answer him. Then lay my staff on the boy’s face.”

Luke 1:28
The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Luke 10:5
Whatever house you enter, begin by saying, ‘Peace to this house.’

Luke 24:36
While they were describing these events, Jesus Himself stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”

John 20:19
It was the first day of the week, and that very evening, while the disciples were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them. “Peace be with you!” He said to them.


Treasury of Scripture

And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless you.

The Lord

Psalm 118:26
Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.

Psalm 129:7,8
Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand; nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom…

Luke 1:28
And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

And they

Ruth 4:11
And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem:

Genesis 18:19
For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

Joshua 24:15
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

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Ruth 2
1. Ruth gleans in the field of Boaz
4. Boaz takes notice of her
8. and shows her great favor
18. That which she got, she carries to Naomi














Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem
The phrase "Just then" indicates a divine timing, suggesting that Boaz's arrival was orchestrated by God. The Hebrew root for "arrived" (בּוֹא, bo) implies coming or entering, often used in contexts where significant events unfold. Boaz's arrival from "Bethlehem," meaning "house of bread," is symbolic, as Bethlehem is a place of provision and foreshadows the coming of Jesus, the Bread of Life, from the same town. Historically, Bethlehem was a small, yet significant town in Judah, known for its fertile lands and as the birthplace of King David.

and said to the harvesters
Boaz's interaction with the "harvesters" reflects the social and economic practices of ancient Israel. The harvesters were likely hired workers or servants, and Boaz's approach to them shows his character as a landowner who values and respects his workers. The Hebrew term for "harvesters" (קֹצְרִים, qotzerim) is rooted in agricultural life, emphasizing the importance of community and labor in sustaining life.

'The LORD be with you.'
This greeting, "The LORD be with you," is more than a mere salutation; it is a blessing invoking Yahweh's presence. The use of "LORD" (יהוה, YHWH) is the covenant name of God, signifying a personal and relational God who is involved in the lives of His people. This phrase reflects the theocentric worldview of the Israelites, where God's presence was central to daily life and work.

'The LORD bless you,' they replied
The response of the harvesters, "The LORD bless you," indicates a reciprocal relationship of respect and faith. The Hebrew root for "bless" (בָּרַךְ, barak) conveys the idea of kneeling or giving honor, suggesting that blessings are both received and given in humility. This exchange highlights the mutual acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and goodness, fostering a community grounded in faith and divine favor.

(4) The Lord be with you.--There is a trace here of the good feeling prevailing between Boaz and his servants. Though he has come to his field to supervise the work, it is not in a fault-finding spirit, but with true courtesy and friendliness; nor is it a frivolous jesting manner that he displays, but with gravity and soberness he presents a true gentleman in his intercourse with his inferiors.

Verse 4. - On the very day that the Moabitess entered on her gleaning, Boaz, in accordance with his wont, as a good and wise master, visited his harvest-field. And, behold, Boas came from Bethlehem. The law of kindness was on his lips; and while benevolence was beaming from his countenance, piety was ruling within his heart. He said to the reapers, Yahveh be with you! And they said to him, Yahveh bless thee! Courtesy met courtesy. It is a charming scene, and we may reasonably assume that there was reality in the salutations. Such civilities of intercourse between proprietors and their laborers are still, says Dr. W. M. Thomson, common in the East. "The Lord be with you is merely the Allah makum! of ordinary parlance; and so too the response, The Lord bless thee" ('The Land and the Book,' p. 648). Modern Moslems are particular in the matter of salutations. "Abuhurairah reports that he heard Mohammed say, You will not enter into paradise until you have faith, and you will not complete your faith until you love one another, and that is shown by. making salaam to friends and strangers" (Kitto's 'Bible Illustrations,' in loc.).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Just then
וְהִנֵּה־ (wə·hin·nêh-)
Conjunctive waw | Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

Boaz
בֹ֗עַז (ḇō·‘az)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1162: Boaz -- 'quickness', an ancestor of David, also a pillar before the temple

arrived
בָּ֚א (bā)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

from
מִבֵּ֣ית (mib·bêṯ)
Preposition
Strong's Hebrew

Bethlehem
לֶ֔חֶם (le·ḥem)
Preposition | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1035: Bethlehem -- 'place of bread', a city in Judah, also a city in Zebulun

and said
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to the harvesters,
לַקּוֹצְרִ֖ים (laq·qō·wṣ·rîm)
Preposition-l, Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 7114: To dock off, curtail, to harvest

“The LORD
יְהוָ֣ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

be with you.”
עִמָּכֶ֑ם (‘im·mā·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

“The LORD
יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

bless you,”
יְבָרֶכְךָ֥ (yə·ḇā·reḵ·ḵā)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1288: To kneel, to bless God, man, to curse

they replied.
וַיֹּ֥אמְרוּ (way·yō·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say


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OT History: Ruth 2:4 Behold Boaz came from Bethlehem and said (Ru Rut.)
Ruth 2:3
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