Ruth 3:10
“And he said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Boaz blesses Ruth, praising her kindness in seeking him rather than pursuing younger men.
What Does Ruth 3:10 Mean?
Boaz responds not with alarm but with blessing: Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter. He honors Ruth's request as an act of even greater kindness than her earlier devotion, for in seeking him, the kinsman who could restore Naomi's family, rather than pursuing younger men whether poor or rich, she has shown her heart is set on faithfulness to her late husband's house, not merely her own desire.
Boaz reads Ruth's approach rightly, as loyalty and integrity, and he treasures it. Her latter kindness surpasses the first because it seeks the restoration of a family name over personal preference. Such selfless faithfulness moves him deeply. God notices and honors this quality wherever it is found, devotion that thinks of others, of duty, of covenant, before itself. Ruth could have sought her own happiness; instead she sought to redeem a family, and in doing so she gained both. The Lord delights to bless those whose kindness reaches beyond their own advantage to the good of others.