In the Hebrew text the name Ruth is immediately followed by the expression “the Moabitess,” but it is not always necessary to repeat this expression (see the comments on 1.22 and 2.2). In a number of ancient versions also the repetition was regarded as superfluous. So in Septuagint, Vulgate, and Syriac versions. Some of the ancient versions do introduce, however, the person spoken to in this case, namely, her mother-in-law: “Ruth said to her mother-in-law.” So Septuagint and Syriac versions.

Since Ruth here provides information which she has not already communicated, it may be necessary to change the verb said to something such as “added” (New American Bible). It is not clear whether the information that Ruth provides in verse 21 is directly related to her recognizing that Boaz has certain responsibilities for her and Naomi, but it is certainly not out of keeping with what has been stated in the latter part of verse 20. Some commentators suggest this relation, Compare Hertzberg, op. cit., ad loc. and it is hinted at in some translations (cf. Moffatt “Yes, said Ruth…”). It is questionable, however, whether one is justified in trying to introduce this type of connection between verses 20 and 21.

Best of all, he told me is a free rendering of a complex Hebrew construction which may be literally rendered as “there is still this, which he said.” So Joüon, par. 157 N: “(il y a) encore (ceci) qu’il a dit.” Differently Gerleman, op. cit., ad loc.: “(ich muß) noch (hinzufügen).” NEB “And what is more…” seems to intensify the following statement, which is overtranslation. Even an omission (as in Moffatt) is semantically more justified. Direct discourse within direct discourse may present certain problems in some receptor languages. Therefore a second direct discourse can often be changed into an indirect one: “he told me to stay close” (New English Bible) or he told me to keep gathering grain with his workers.

To keep gathering grain with his workers reflects a Hebrew expression containing the phrase “keep close to.” (See the comments on verse 8.)

The term workers has in Hebrew the masculine form, but the emphasis is not here upon the sex of the servants; it is rather a more general term to include both male and female servants. The focus is upon “working with his servants,” that is, in his field rather than in the field of some other man. A number of ancient versions, however, used the feminine form of the noun for “servants” (namely, “women servants” So in some Septuagint manuscripts, the Ethiopic, Old Latin, and Armenian versions.), but that is a secondary reading introduced to harmonize this information with what occurs in verses 8, 22, and 23 of this chapter.

Until they finish the harvest involves both the barley and the wheat harvest. Normally the wheat harvest took place about a month later than the barley harvest. Traditionally the wheat harvest ended at the Feast of Weeks, seven weeks after the barley harvest had begun. See the Century Bible, page 416.

Quoted with permission from de Waard, Jan and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Ruth. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1978, 1992. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .