Ruth 2:21
“And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Ruth reports that Boaz invited her to stay with his workers through the entire harvest.
What Does Ruth 2:21 Mean?
Ruth adds another detail of Boaz's generosity: he had told her to keep fast by his workers until all his harvest was finished. This was no single day's charity but an open invitation to glean safely through the whole season, both barley and wheat. Boaz has secured not just one meal but weeks of provision for Ruth and Naomi.
Once again Ruth is named the Moabitess, the outsider, and yet she has been granted a settled place in an Israelite household's harvest. The kindness of Boaz keeps unfolding, reaching forward through the coming weeks. God's provision is often like this, not a single gift but a sustained care that carries His people through a whole season of need. Ruth, who hoped only to gather a little, now has a place to belong until the harvest ends. The Lord who began this kindness intends to see it through, and through Boaz He keeps both women in view.