Ruth 3:7

Authorized King James Version

And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיֹּ֨אכַל
had eaten
to eat (literally or figuratively)
#2
בֹּ֤עַז
And when Boaz
boaz, the ancestor of david; also the name of a pillar in front of the temple
#3
וַיֵּשְׁתְּ֙
and drunk
to imbibe (literally or figuratively)
#4
וַיִּיטַ֣ב
was merry
to be (causative) make well, literally (sound, beautiful) or figuratively (happy, successful, right)
#5
לִבּ֔וֹ
and his heart
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything
#6
וַתָּבֹ֣א
and she came
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
#7
וַתִּשְׁכָּֽב׃
and laid her down
to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose)
#8
בִּקְצֵ֣ה
at the end
an extremity
#9
הָֽעֲרֵמָ֑ה
of the heap of corn
a heap; specifically, a sheaf
#10
וַתָּבֹ֣א
and she came
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
#11
בַלָּ֔ט
softly
properly, covered, i.e., secret; by implication, incantation; also secrecy or (adverb) covertly
#12
וַתְּגַ֥ל
and uncovered
to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication, to exile (captives being usually stripped); figuratively, to reveal
#13
מַרְגְּלֹתָ֖יו
his feet
(plural for collective) a footpiece, i.e., (adverbially) at the foot, or (direct.) the foot itself
#14
וַתִּשְׁכָּֽב׃
and laid her down
to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose)

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

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