Journal: Westminster Theological Journal
Volume: WTJ 87:1 (Spring 2025)
Article: A Defense Of Confusion: The Syntax Of Ruth 2:7B Is Supposed To Be Jumbled
Author: Robert D. Golding

WTJ 87:1 (Spring 2025) p. 1

A Defense Of Confusion: The Syntax Of Ruth 2:7B Is Supposed To Be Jumbled

Robert D. Golding

Robert D. Golding is pastor of First Christian Reformed Church in Artesia, California.

The author intended the essentially incomprehensible syntax of Ruth 2:7b. Since Moabites and Israelites were not to co-mingle (Deut 23:3 et al.), the provision given to Ruth—the Moabitess—by Boaz’s Israelite supervisor was difficult to justify. The disparity between Israelite and Moabite is apparent, but the author of Ruth makes it undeniable. Therefore, when presenting his case to Boaz, the supervisor understandably stuttered because he was describing the presence of a Moabitess in a group of God-fearing Israelites. Hence, the ungrammatical and unreadable “sentence” in 2:7b is a stylistic device employed to convey a stammering encounter with grace.

I. Introduction

Many commentators have noted that Ruth 2:7b is “unquestionably the most difficult line in the book.”1 Campbell is even pessimistic: “It is likely that the precise meaning here will permanently elude us.”2 After Boaz’s harvesting supervisor describes Ruth (2:6–7a), he then proceeds to describe where she is in tortured syntax. Avi Hurvitz’s tack in approaching this text is surely more prudent than rushing to repointing or, worse, emendation: “These linguistic peculiarities should be viewed as an artistic device deliberately employed by the narrator in order to convey the emotional mood of the

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hero(es)—excitement, embarassment [sic], confusion, etc.”3 The benefit of this approach is that it offers more developed characterization. The supervisor is very uncomfortable. Therefore, when he gets to the point of the report where he is to describe what Ruth was doing most recently, he stammers. The literal rendering of what he said is, “this … her sitting … the house … a little” (זֶה שִׁבְתָּהּ הַבַּיִת מְעָט). We should render the text as it stands.

Three of the final four words of the verse just mentioned are straightforward when read individually.4 However, Moore points out that שִׁבְתָּהּ can be interpreted in one of three ways.