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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 3

Translation and Transliteration of 

1Naomi, her mother-in-law, said to her, “Daughter, I must seek a home for you, where you may be happy.

va-TOM-er LAH no-a-MEE kha-MO-tah, bi-TEE, ha-LO a-va-KESH lakh ma-NO-akh a-SHER yi-TAV lakh

אוַתֹּ֥אמֶר לָ֖הּ נׇעֳמִ֣י חֲמוֹתָ֑הּ בִּתִּ֕י הֲלֹ֧א אֲבַקֶּשׁ־לָ֛ךְ מָנ֖וֹחַ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִֽיטַב־לָֽךְ׃

2Now there is our kinsman Boaz, whose girls you were close to. He will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor tonight.

v'-a-TAH ha-LO bo-AZ mo-DA-a-TA-nu a-SHER ha-YEET et na-a-ro-TAV, hi-NEH-hu ZO-reh et go-REN ha-se-o-REEM ha-la-YE-lah

בוְעַתָּ֗ה הֲלֹ֥א בֹ֙עַז֙ מֹֽדַעְתָּ֔נוּ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הָיִ֖ית אֶת־נַעֲרוֹתָ֑יו הִנֵּה־ה֗וּא זֹרֶ֛ה אֶת־גֹּ֥רֶן הַשְּׂעֹרִ֖ים הַלָּֽיְלָה׃

3So bathe, anoint yourself, dress up, and go down to the threshing floor. But do not disclose yourself to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.

v'-ra-KHATZ-t' va-SA-kh'-t' v'-SAM-t' (SIM-lo-TAYKH) [SIM-lo-TA-yikh] a-LA-yikh (vai-ya-ra-D'-TI) [v'-ya-ra-D'-t'] ha-go-REN al-ti-va-D'-I la-ISH, ad ka-LO-to le-e-KHOL v'-lish-TOt

גוְרָחַ֣צְתְּ ׀ וָסַ֗כְתְּ וְשַׂ֧מְתְּ (שמלתך) [שִׂמְלֹתַ֛יִךְ] עָלַ֖יִךְ (וירדתי) [וְיָרַ֣דְתְּ] הַגֹּ֑רֶן אַל־תִּוָּדְעִ֣י לָאִ֔ישׁ עַ֥ד כַּלֹּת֖וֹ לֶאֱכֹ֥ל וְלִשְׁתּֽוֹת׃

4When he lies down, note the place where he lies down, and go over and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what you are to do.”

v'-yi-HI b'-sho-KHO v'-ya-da-a-TET et ha-ma-KOM a-SHER yish-KAV-SHAM u-VA-at v'-gi-LIT mar-g'-LO-tav (v'-sha-KAV-ti) [v'-sha-KAV-t'] v'-HU ya-GID LAKH et a-SHER ta-a-SIN

דוִיהִ֣י בְשׇׁכְב֗וֹ וְיָדַ֙עַתְּ֙ אֶת־הַמָּקוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִשְׁכַּב־שָׁ֔ם וּבָ֛את וְגִלִּ֥ית מַרְגְּלֹתָ֖יו (ושכבתי) [וְשָׁכָ֑בְתְּ] וְהוּא֙ יַגִּ֣יד לָ֔ךְ אֵ֖ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר תַּעֲשִֽׂין׃

5She replied, “I will do everything you tell me.”

va-to-MER e-LE-ha, KOL a-SHER to-M'-REE [e-LAI] e-e-SEH

הוַתֹּ֖אמֶר אֵלֶ֑יהָ כֹּ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־תֹּאמְרִ֥י [אֵלַ֖י] אֶֽעֱשֶֽׂה׃

6She went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had instructed her.

va-TER-ed ha-go-REN va-ta-AS k'-KOL a-SHER tzi-VAT-ta KHA-mo-taH

ווַתֵּ֖רֶד הַגֹּ֑רֶן וַתַּ֕עַשׂ כְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוַּ֖תָּה חֲמוֹתָֽהּ׃

7Boaz ate and drank, and in a cheerful mood went to lie down beside the grainpile. Then she went over stealthily and uncovered his feet and lay down.

vai-YO-khal BO-az vai-YAYSH-t' vai-YI-tav LI-bo vai-ya-VO lish-KAV bik-TZE ha-a-RE-mah va-TA-vo va-LAT vai-t'-GAL mar-g'-lo-TAV vai-tish-KAV

זוַיֹּ֨אכַל בֹּ֤עַז וַיֵּשְׁתְּ֙ וַיִּיטַ֣ב לִבּ֔וֹ וַיָּבֹ֕א לִשְׁכַּ֖ב בִּקְצֵ֣ה הָעֲרֵמָ֑ה וַתָּבֹ֣א בַלָּ֔ט וַתְּגַ֥ל מַרְגְּלֹתָ֖יו וַתִּשְׁכָּֽב׃

8In the middle of the night, the man gave a start and pulled back—there was a woman lying at his feet!

vai-HI ba-kha-TZI ha-la-YE-lah, va-ye-khe-RAD ha-ISH va-yi-la-FET, v'-hi-NEH i-SHA sho-KHE-vet mar-ge-lo-TAV

חוַֽיְהִי֙ בַּחֲצִ֣י הַלַּ֔יְלָה וַיֶּחֱרַ֥ד הָאִ֖ישׁ וַיִּלָּפֵ֑ת וְהִנֵּ֣ה אִשָּׁ֔ה שֹׁכֶ֖בֶת מַרְגְּלֹתָֽיו׃

9“Who are you?” he asked. And she replied, “I am your handmaid Rut. Spread your robe over your handmaid, for you are a redeeming kinsman.”

va-YO-mer mee AT va-TO-mer a-no-KHEE RUT a-ma-TE-kha u-fa-ras-TA kh'-na-FE-kha al a-ma-t'-KHA KEE go-AYL A-tah

טוַיֹּ֖אמֶר מִי־אָ֑תְּ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר אָֽנֹכִי֙ ר֣וּת אֲמָתֶ֔ךָ וּפָרַשְׂתָּ֤ כְנָפֶ֙ךָ֙ עַל־אֲמָ֣תְךָ֔ כִּ֥י גֹאֵ֖ל אָֽתָּה׃

 3:9   For you are a redeeming kinsman

The concept of the “redeeming kinsman,” goel (גואל) in Hebrew, had great significance in biblical times. In Megillat Rut, the word goel is used to refer to a relative in the context of a levirate marriage, which occurs when a man dies without children. In such a case, his brother is supposed to marry his widow and perpetuate the name of the deceased. In the Tanakh, the term goel is also used in another context. Vayikra (25:25) says “his nearest redeemer shall come,” referring to someone so deeply in debt that he is forced to sell his property until his closest relative comes to bail him out. Once again, a person’s redeemer is his closest relative. Hashem has many names in the Bible, one of which is Redeemer, as in the “Redeemer of Yisrael” (Isaiah 49:7). By referring to God as our Redeemer, we are stating that He is even closer to us than any of our nearest relations.

10He exclaimed, “Be blessed of Hashem, daughter! Your latest deed of loyalty is greater than the first, in that you have not turned to younger men, whether poor or rich.

vai-YO-mer, b'-ru-KHA a-TET la-a-do-NAI bi-TEE, hay-TAV-t khas-DAYKH ha-a-kha-ROAN min ha-ree-SHON, l'-vil-TEE-le-KHET a-kha-RAY ha-ba-KHU-reem, im DAL v'-im a-SHEER

יוַיֹּ֗אמֶר בְּרוּכָ֨ה אַ֤תְּ לַֽיהֹוָה֙ בִּתִּ֔י הֵיטַ֛בְתְּ חַסְדֵּ֥ךְ הָאַחֲר֖וֹן מִן־הָרִאשׁ֑וֹן לְבִלְתִּי־לֶ֗כֶת אַֽחֲרֵי֙ הַבַּ֣חוּרִ֔ים אִם־דַּ֖ל וְאִם־עָשִֽׁיר׃

11And now, daughter, have no fear. I will do in your behalf whatever you ask, for all the elders of my town know what a fine woman you are.

v'-a-TAH bi-TEE al ti-RA-EE, kol a-SHER to-M'-REE e-a-SEH-lakh, kee yo-DAY-a kol sha-AR a-MEE, kee e-SHET kha-YIL a-TAH.

יאוְעַתָּ֗ה בִּתִּי֙ אַל־תִּ֣ירְאִ֔י כֹּ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־תֹּאמְרִ֖י אֶעֱשֶׂה־לָּ֑ךְ כִּ֤י יוֹדֵ֙עַ֙ כׇּל־שַׁ֣עַר עַמִּ֔י כִּ֛י אֵ֥שֶׁת חַ֖יִל אָֽתְּ׃

12But while it is true I am a redeeming kinsman, there is another redeemer closer than I.

v'-a-TAH, kee a-m'-NAM, kee (im) go-EL a-NO-khee, v'-GAM YESH go-EL ka-ROV mi-ME-ni

יבוְעַתָּה֙ כִּ֣י אׇמְנָ֔ם כִּ֥י (אם) גֹאֵ֖ל אָנֹ֑כִי וְגַ֛ם יֵ֥שׁ גֹּאֵ֖ל קָר֥וֹב מִמֶּֽנִּי׃

13Stay for the night. Then in the morning, if he will act as a redeemer, good! let him redeem. But if he does not want to act as redeemer for you, I will do so myself, as Hashem lives! Lie down until morning.”

li-NI ha-LAI-lah v'-ha-YAH va-BO-ker im-yig-a-LEKH TOV yig-a-AL v'-im-LO yakh-POTZ l'-go-a-LEKH u-g'-AL-tikh a-NO-khi khai-a-do-NAI shikh-VEE ad-ha-BO-ker

יגלִ֣ינִי ׀ הַלַּ֗יְלָה וְהָיָ֤ה בַבֹּ֙קֶר֙ אִם־יִגְאָלֵ֥ךְ טוֹב֙ יִגְאָ֔ל וְאִם־לֹ֨א יַחְפֹּ֧ץ לְגׇאֳלֵ֛ךְ וּגְאַלְתִּ֥יךְ אָנֹ֖כִי חַי־יְהֹוָ֑ה שִׁכְבִ֖י עַד־הַבֹּֽקֶר׃

14So she lay at his feet until dawn. She rose before one person could distinguish another, for he thought, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.”

va-tish-KAV marg'-lo-TAV ad ha-BO-ker va-TA-kom (b'-TE-rem) [b'-TE-rem] ya-KIR eesh et-re-E-hu va-YO-mer al yi-va-DA, kee-BA-a ha-i-SHA ha-go-REN

ידוַתִּשְׁכַּ֤ב מַרְגְּלוֹתָו֙ עַד־הַבֹּ֔קֶר וַתָּ֕קׇם (בטרום) [בְּטֶ֛רֶם] יַכִּ֥יר אִ֖ישׁ אֶת־רֵעֵ֑הוּ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אַל־יִוָּדַ֔ע כִּי־בָ֥אָה הָאִשָּׁ֖ה הַגֹּֽרֶן׃

15And he said, “Hold out the shawl you are wearing.” She held it while he measured out six measures of barley, and he put it on her back. When she got back to the town,

vai-YO-mer ha-VEE ha-mit-PA-khat a-SHER a-la-YIKH v'-e-kho-ZI-va v'-to-E-khez BA va-YA-mod shaysh-s'-O-rim va-YA-sheyt a-LE-ha va-YA-VO ha-IR

טווַיֹּ֗אמֶר הָ֠בִ֠י הַמִּטְפַּ֧חַת אֲשֶׁר־עָלַ֛יִךְ וְאֶחֳזִי־בָ֖הּ וַתֹּ֣אחֶז בָּ֑הּ וַיָּ֤מׇד שֵׁשׁ־שְׂעֹרִים֙ וַיָּ֣שֶׁת עָלֶ֔יהָ וַיָּבֹ֖א הָעִֽיר׃

16she came to her mother-in-law, who asked, “How is it with you, daughter?” She told her all that the man had done for her;

va-ta-VO el-kha-MO-tah va-TO-mer mee a-T'-bee-TEE va-TA-ged LAH AYT kol a-SHER a-SA lah ha-EESH

טזוַתָּבוֹא֙ אֶל־חֲמוֹתָ֔הּ וַתֹּ֖אמֶר מִי־אַ֣תְּ בִּתִּ֑י וַתַּ֨גֶּד־לָ֔הּ אֵ֛ת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָׂה־לָ֖הּ הָאִֽישׁ׃

17and she added, “He gave me these six measures of barley, saying to me, ‘Do not go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.'”

va-TOM-er shesh ha-se-o-RIM ha-EL-leh na-TAN lee, KEE a-MAR [e-LAI] al-ta-vo-EE ray-KAM el-kha-MO-tekh

יזוַתֹּ֕אמֶר שֵׁשׁ־הַשְּׂעֹרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה נָ֣תַן לִ֑י כִּ֚י אָמַ֣ר [אֵלַ֔י] אַל־תָּב֥וֹאִי רֵיקָ֖ם אֶל־חֲמוֹתֵֽךְ׃

18And Naomi said, “Stay here, daughter, till you learn how the matter turns out. For the man will not rest, but will settle the matter today.”

va-TOMER she-VEE bi-TEE ad a-SHER te-D'-EEN AYKH yi-POL da-VAR, KI lo yish-KOT ha-ISH, KI-im-KI-lah ha-DA-var ha-YOM.

יחוַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ שְׁבִ֣י בִתִּ֔י עַ֚ד אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֵּֽדְעִ֔ין אֵ֖יךְ יִפֹּ֣ל דָּבָ֑ר כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יִשְׁקֹט֙ הָאִ֔ישׁ כִּֽי־אִם־כִּלָּ֥ה הַדָּבָ֖ר הַיּֽוֹם׃