English: Easy to Read Version

[1] 1:1 judge One of the civic leaders who judged, led, and protected the people of Israel before their first king was appointed.

[2] 1:1 famine A time when there is not enough rain for crops to grow, causing people and animals to die without enough food or water.

[3] 1:1 Moab A country east of the Dead Sea, named after one of Lot's sons. See Gen. 19:37.

[4] 1:17 I ask . separate us Literally, "May the Lord do this to me, and even more, unless death separates us!"

[5] 1:20 Naomi This name means "Happy" or "Pleasant."

[6] 1:20 Marah This name means "Bitter" or "Sad."

[7] 1:21 Happy This is the name Naomi.

[8] 2:1 close relative If a man died without children, one of his close relatives would take the dead man's wife so that she could have children. He would care for this family, but this family and their property would not belong to him. They would all be in the dead man's name.

[9] 2:3 There was a law that a farmer must leave some grain in his field during harvest, so poor people and travelers could find something to eat. See Lev. 19:9; 23:22.

[10] 2:7 That is her house over there Or, "She only rested a short time in that shelter."

[11] 2:12 You have . for safety Literally, "You have come under his wings for safety."

[12] 2:17 chaff The seed coverings and stems separated from the seeds of plants like wheat or barley. Farmers saved the seeds but let the wind blow the useless chaff away.

[13] 2:17 one-half bushel Literally, "one ephah" (22 l).

[14] 2:20 protector Or, "redeemer," someone who cared for and protected the family of a dead relative. Often this person bought back (redeemed) the poor relatives from slavery, making them free again.

[15] 3:2 close relative, protector A close relative who could marry Ruth so that she could have children. This man would care for this family, but this family and their property would not belong to him. They would belong to Ruth's dead husband. Also in 3:9, 12; 4:1, 3, 6.

[16] 3:2 threshing Putting newly harvested wheat or other grain on a hard floor and walking on it or beating it with special tools to separate the hulls from the grain.

[17] 3:4 lift the cover off his feet Literally, "uncover his legs." This showed that Ruth was asking Boaz to be her protector.

[18] 3:9 Spread your cover over me Or, "Spread your wing over me." This showed that Ruth was asking for help and protection. See Ruth 2:12.

[19] 3:13 help Or, "redeem." This meant the close relative would care for and protect the dead man's family and property, but that property would not be his.

[20] 3:13 I will marry . you Literally, "I will redeem you."

[21] 3:15 bushel of barley Literally, "six [measures] of barley."

[22] 4:2 elders (Old Testament) Older men who were city leaders and helped make decisions for the people.

[23] 4:3 She is selling the land Or, "She has sold the land."

[24] 4:11 built the house of Israel The Hebrew word "built" is like the word meaning "gave birth to sons."

[25] 4:11 Ephrathah Another name for Bethlehem.

[26] 4:12 Perez One of Boaz's ancestors.

[27] 4:14 child Literally, "protector" or "redeemer." This might refer to Boaz, or the women might have used this name for the baby because he would be the one to care for Naomi and her family and to carry on the name of Elimelech.

[28] 4:17 Naomi . now Literally, "A son was born for Naomi."