Ruth 3:17
“And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Ruth shows the barley Boaz gave, explaining he did not want her to return to Naomi empty.
What Does Ruth 3:17 Mean?
Ruth shows Naomi the six measures of barley and explains the words that came with them: Boaz said, Go not empty unto thy mother-in-law. The gift was given with Naomi in mind. Boaz thought not only of Ruth but of the older widow at home, sending provision to the one who had once declared herself empty before the whole town.
The phrase carries quiet healing. Naomi had come home from Moab saying the Lord had brought her back empty; now a redeemer sends word that she shall not be empty any longer. The very emptiness she lamented is being answered, gift by gift, through the kindness of Boaz and the providence of God. So the Lord tends to the wounds His people name before Him, filling what was hollow and reversing the losses that seemed final. Ruth carries home not just barley but a message of grace aimed straight at Naomi's old grief: the days of emptiness are ending, for a redeemer has taken up her cause.