By Naomi’s instruction, Ruth lies at the feet of Boaz, a manifestation that Ruth desires to be Boaz’s wife. Boaz knows that Ruth is a “virtuous woman.” He promises to take her as his wife.
Ruth 3:1–5, 8–15
1 Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?2 And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor.3 Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.4 And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.5 And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do. . . .8 And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet.9 And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.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.11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.12 And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.13 Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman’s part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the Lord liveth: lie down until the morning.14 And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.15 Also he said, Bring the veil that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city.
Dr. Andrew C. Skinner wrote:
“The book of Ruth contains a wonderful story of loyalty and love that takes place in Bethlehem. Its heroine, an ancestor of Jesus of Nazareth, gave up her homeland, religion, and life to unite with her mother-in-law in Israel (see Ruth 1:14–16). Her life strikingly shows that participation in the kingdom of God is not decided by bloodlines but by obedience to God’s will. In the story God provides Ruth with a kinsman-redeemer named Boaz. The Hebrew word used to describe Boaz’s relationship with Ruth is go’el. It is translated as ‘kinsman,’ but it literally means ‘redeemer.’ Boaz redeemed the estate of his deceased relative by marrying the widowed Ruth and having a child by her, thus reenfranchising her as a member of Hebrew society. Thus Boaz is a type of Christ’s love and redemptive power. We have a Redeemer who has purchased or rescued us with a price—His precious blood (see Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 6:20).”
(“Finding Jesus Christ in the Old Testament,” Ensign, June 2002, 28.)
