Chapter
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Verse
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Ruth 2:3
ESV So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech.
NIV So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek.
NASB So she left and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.
CSB So Ruth left and entered the field to gather grain behind the harvesters. She happened to be in the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was from Elimelech’s family.
NLT So Ruth went out to gather grain behind the harvesters. And as it happened, she found herself working in a field that belonged to Boaz, the relative of her father-in-law, Elimelech.
KJV And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.
NKJV Then she left, and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.

What does Ruth 2:3 mean?

Ruth and Naomi are in Bethlehem. Without a source of income, Ruth has decided to glean barley after the harvesters (Ruth 2:2). Early in the morning, she happens upon a field owned by Boaz, a relative of her late father-in-law. The field is a section of open land not separated from other owners by a fence.

This is a summary statement; it doesn't describe Ruth's actions to this point. There's no indication she visited other fields before she came to Boaz's. She came to Boaz's field without knowing who he was or that he was related to her father-in-law (Ruth 2:19–20). Nor did Naomi send her; Naomi is so deeply depressed, shaken by the trauma of losing her husband and sons, that she doesn't even seem to remember that her husband has a kinsman-redeemer who could help. God sends Ruth to Boaz's field.

Once she arrives, she asks permission of the harvest foreman to glean (Ruth 2:2, 7). She's smart to do so; women aren't safe in fields (Judges 21:17–24).

When Boaz comes to the field, he asks his servant about her and is impressed by her devotion to an Israelite widow. Ruth has revoked her heritage and her gods and declared her allegiance to Naomi's people and the God of Israel (Ruth 1:16–17). Boaz not only invites her to continue gleaning in his field, but he also protects her and makes sure she can gather enough for the women to live on (Ruth 2:4–23).
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