Ruth 3:3 Therefore wash yourself, put on perfume, and wear your best clothes. Go down to the threshing floor, but do not let the man know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking.

◄ Ruth 3:3 ►

New International Version
Wash, put on perfume, and get dressed in your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking.

New Living Translation
Now do as I tell you—take a bath and put on perfume and dress in your nicest clothes. Then go to the threshing floor, but don’t let Boaz see you until he has finished eating and drinking.

English Standard Version
Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.

Berean Standard Bible
Therefore wash yourself, put on perfume, and wear your best clothes. Go down to the threshing floor, but do not let the man know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Therefore wash yourself and anoint yourself, put on your best garment and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.

New American Standard Bible
Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself, and put on your best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor; but do not reveal yourself to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.

NASB 1995
“Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.

NASB 1977
“Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.

Legacy Standard Bible
So you shall wash yourself and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes, and you shall go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.

Amplified Bible
So wash and anoint yourself [with olive oil], then put on your [best] clothes, and go down to the threshing floor; but stay out of the man’s sight until he has finished eating and drinking.

Christian Standard Bible
Wash, put on perfumed oil, and wear your best clothes. Go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let the man know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Wash, put on perfumed oil, and wear your best clothes. Go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let the man know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking.

American Standard Version
Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the threshing-floor, but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.

Contemporary English Version
Now take a bath and put on some perfume, then dress in your best clothes. Go where he is working, but don't let him see you until he has finished eating and drinking.

English Revised Version
Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put on thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the threshing-floor: but make not thyself known to the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Freshen up, put on some perfume, dress up, and go down to the threshing floor. Don't let him know that you're there until he's finished eating and drinking.

Good News Translation
So wash yourself, put on some perfume, and get dressed in your best clothes. Then go where he is threshing, but don't let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking.

International Standard Version
So get cleaned up, put on some perfume, dress up, and go to the threshing floor, but don't let him see you until after he's finished eating and drinking.

Majority Standard Bible
Therefore wash yourself, put on perfume, and wear your best clothes. Go down to the threshing floor, but do not let the man know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking.

NET Bible
So bathe yourself, rub on some perfumed oil, and get dressed up. Then go down to the threshing floor. But don't let the man know you're there until he finishes his meal.

New Heart English Bible
Therefore wash yourself, anoint yourself, and put on your clothes, and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.

Webster's Bible Translation
Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and go down to the floor: but make not thyself known to the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.

World English Bible
Therefore wash yourself, anoint yourself, get dressed, and go down to the threshing floor; but don’t make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and you have bathed, and anointed yourself, and put your garments on you, and gone down to the threshing-floor; do not let yourself be known to the man until he completes to eat and to drink;

Young's Literal Translation
and thou hast bathed, and anointed thyself, and put thy garments upon thee, and gone down to the threshing-floor; let not thyself be known to the man till he complete to eat and to drink;

Smith's Literal Translation
And wash thou and anoint thyself, and put thy garments upon thee, and go down to the threshing-floor: thou shalt not make thyself known to the man till his finishing to eat and to drink.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Wash thyself therefore and anoint thee, and put on thy best garments, and go down to the barnfloor: but let not the man see thee, till he shall have done eating and drinking.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, wash and anoint yourself, and put on your decorative garments, and go down to the threshing floor, but do not let the man see you, while he finishes eating and drinking.

New American Bible
Now, go bathe and anoint yourself; then put on your best attire and go down to the threshing floor. Do not make yourself known to the man before he has finished eating and drinking.

New Revised Standard Version
Now wash and anoint yourself, and put on your best clothes and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself, and put on your best garments, and go down to the threshing floor; but do not show yourself to him until he has finished eating and drinking.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Bathe therefore and anoint and adorn yourself in your garments, and go down to the threshing floor, and do not appear to him until he eats and drinks

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the threshing-floor; but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But do thou wash, and anoint thyself, and put thy raiment upon thee, and go up to the threshing-floor: do not discover thyself to the man until he has done eating and drinking.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Naomi Instructs Ruth
…2Now is not Boaz, with whose servant girls you have been working, a relative of ours? In fact, tonight he is winnowing barley on the threshing floor. 3Therefore wash yourself, put on perfume, and wear your best clothes. Go down to the threshing floor, but do not let the man know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. 4When he lies down, note the place where he lies. Then go in and uncover his feet, and lie down, and he will explain to you what you should do.”…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Genesis 35:2
So Jacob told his household and all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you. Purify yourselves and change your garments.

2 Samuel 12:20
Then David got up from the ground, washed and anointed himself, changed his clothes, and went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they set food before him, and he ate.

Ezekiel 16:9
Then I bathed you with water, rinsed off your blood, and anointed you with oil.

Esther 2:12
In the twelve months before her turn to go to King Xerxes, the harem regulation required each young woman to receive beauty treatments with oil of myrrh for six months, and then with perfumes and cosmetics for another six months.

2 Kings 4:2-4
“How can I help you?” asked Elisha. “Tell me, what do you have in the house?” She answered, “Your servant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.” / “Go,” said Elisha, “borrow empty jars from all your neighbors. Do not gather just a few. / Then go inside, shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour oil into all these jars, setting the full ones aside.”

Matthew 6:17
But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,

John 11:44
The man who had been dead came out with his hands and feet bound in strips of linen, and his face wrapped in a cloth. “Unwrap him and let him go,” Jesus told them.

1 Timothy 2:9
Likewise, I want the women to adorn themselves with respectable apparel, with modesty, and with self-control, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes,

1 Peter 3:3-4
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes, / but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight.

Isaiah 61:3
to console the mourners in Zion—to give them a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

Leviticus 15:5-6
Anyone who touches his bed must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening. / Whoever sits on furniture on which the man with the discharge was sitting must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.

2 Corinthians 7:1
Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

James 4:8
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Revelation 19:7-8
Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him the glory. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready. / She was given clothing of fine linen, bright and pure.” For the fine linen she wears is the righteous acts of the saints.

Song of Solomon 4:10-11
How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride! Your love is much better than wine, and the fragrance of your perfume than all spices. / Your lips, my bride, drip sweetness like the honeycomb; honey and milk are under your tongue, and the fragrance of your garments is like the aroma of Lebanon.

Treasury of Scripture

Wash yourself therefore, and anoint you, and put your raiment on you, and get you down to the floor: but make not yourself known to the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.

anoint thee

2 Samuel 14:2
And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:

Psalm 104:15
And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.

Ecclesiastes 9:8
Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.

put thy

Esther 5:1
Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.

1 Timothy 2:9,10
In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; …

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Anoint Bath Best Body Clothes Clothing Drinking Eating End Meal Oil Perfume Raiment Robe Rubbing Sweet Threshing Threshing-Floor Thyself Wash

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Anoint Bath Best Body Clothes Clothing Drinking Eating End Meal Oil Perfume Raiment Robe Rubbing Sweet Threshing Threshing-Floor Thyself Wash

Ruth 3

1. By Naomi's instruction
5. Ruth lies at Boaz's feet
8. Boaz acknowledges the right of a kinsman
14. He sends her away with six measures of barley

Berean Study Bible

Wash
The act of washing in ancient Hebrew culture often symbolized purification and preparation for a significant event. In the context of Ruth 3:3, Naomi instructs Ruth to wash herself, which signifies a transition from mourning to a state of readiness for a new chapter in her life. This act of washing can be seen as a metaphor for spiritual cleansing, aligning oneself with God's will, and preparing for His blessings. The Hebrew root word "rachats" implies a thorough cleansing, indicating the importance of being spiritually and physically prepared for what God has in store.

and anoint yourself
Anointing with oil was a common practice in biblical times, symbolizing joy, health, and the presence of the Holy Spirit. The Hebrew word "suk" refers to the act of applying oil, which was often used to signify consecration or setting apart for a divine purpose. In Ruth's case, anointing herself was a way to present herself favorably to Boaz, but it also reflects a deeper spiritual readiness to embrace God's plan. This act can inspire believers to seek the anointing of the Holy Spirit in their own lives, preparing their hearts for God's work.

put on your best clothes
The instruction to put on her best clothes indicates a shift from mourning attire to garments of hope and new beginnings. In biblical times, clothing often represented one's status or emotional state. By changing her clothes, Ruth was symbolically stepping into a new role and identity. This phrase encourages believers to "put on" the virtues of Christ, as described in Colossians 3:12, embracing a new identity in Him and being ready to fulfill His purposes.

and go down to the threshing floor
The threshing floor was a place of separation and revelation, where grain was separated from chaff. It holds significant spiritual symbolism, representing a place where God reveals His plans and purposes. Ruth's journey to the threshing floor signifies her willingness to step into God's plan, trusting Him for provision and protection. For believers, this phrase can inspire a willingness to go where God leads, even when the path is uncertain, trusting that He will reveal His purposes in due time.

But do not let him know you are there
This instruction highlights the importance of humility and patience in God's timing. Ruth was to approach Boaz discreetly, allowing him to take the lead in the unfolding of God's plan. This teaches believers the value of waiting on the Lord and not rushing ahead of His timing. It encourages a posture of humility, trusting that God will work all things together for good in His perfect time.

until he has finished eating and drinking
This phrase underscores the importance of timing and discernment in approaching significant matters. Naomi's advice to wait until Boaz had finished eating and drinking reflects a sensitivity to the right moment for action. For believers, this can serve as a reminder to seek God's wisdom and discernment in all things, ensuring that actions are taken in His timing and not our own. It encourages a reliance on the Holy Spirit to guide decisions and interactions.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(3-5) The plan suggested by Naomi seems peculiar, yet some thoughts may give a certain colouring to it. (1) Naomi seems to have believed that Boaz was the nearest kinsman, being ignorant of the yet nearer one (Ruth 3:12). Consequently, according to Israelite law (Deuteronomy 25:5 sqq.), it would be the duty of Boaz to marry Ruth to raise up seed to the dead. (2) The general tone of Naomi's character is clearly shown in this book to be that of a God-fearing woman, so that it is certain that, however curious in its external form, there can be nothing counselled here which really is repugnant to God's law, or shocking to a virtuous man such as Boaz, otherwise Naomi would simply have been most completely frustrating her own purpose. (3) Her knowledge by long intimacy of Ruth's character, and doubtless also of that of Boaz by report, would enable her to feel sure that no ill effects could accrue.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 3. - So then wash thyself, and anoint thyself, and dress thyself? This latter phrase is in the original, "and put thy garments on thee." The verb וְשַׂמְתְּי with its final yod, was the archaic form of the second person feminine, though still much cut down and contracted from its oldest form. See Raabe's 'Zuruckfuhring,' and note the conduct of the verb, in its relation to the pronominal suffixes, when these are affixed. And go down to the threshing-floor. The town of Bethlehem lay on the summit of "the narrow ridge of a long gray hill" (Stanley's 'Sinai and Palestine,' p. 163), while the corn-fields, that gave the fortified place its name of Bread-town, stretched out expandingly in the valleys below. Dr. Robinson says, "We ascended gradually toward Bethlehem around the broad head of a valley running N.E. to join that under Mar Elyas The town lies on the E. and N.E. slope of a long ridge; another deep valley, Wady Ta'amirah, being on the south side, which passes down north of the Frank Mountain toward the Dead Sea, receiving the valley under Mar Elyas not far below. Toward the west the hill is higher than the village, and then sinks down very gradually toward Wady Ahmed ('Biblical Researches,' vol. 2. p. 158). Let not your presence be known to the man before he has finished eating and drinking. It would have been imprudent and impolite to have discovered her presence while his servants and himself were busied in operations which required to be actively prosecuted while the breeze was favorable, and the light of the moon serviceable. Ruth was to wait till the servants, having finished their work and their repast, had retired to their respective homes. The master, as Naomi knew, would remain gratefully and joyfully on the spot, to keep watch in the midst of his cereal treasures, and under the still magnificence of the broad canopy of heaven. Speaking of Hebron, Dr. Robinson says, "Here we needed no guard around our tent. The owners of the crops came every night and slept upon their threshing-floors to guard them, and this we had found to be universal in all the region of Gaza. We were in the midst of scenes precisely like those of the Book of Ruth, when Boaz winnowed barley in his threshing-floor, and laid himself down at night to guard the heap of corn" ('Biblical Researches, ' vol. 2. p. 446). Boaz's heart, when all was quiet around him, would be full of calm and comfort. He would pace about his well-heaped threshing-floor contentedly, contemplatively; and, as he paced, and thought, and adored, the figure of the beautiful and industrious gleaner might persist in coming in within the field of meditation. It might linger there, and be gladly allowed to linger.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Therefore wash yourself,
וְרָחַ֣צְתְּ ׀ (wə·rā·ḥaṣt)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person feminine singular
Strong's 7364: To wash, wash off or away, bathe

put on perfume,
וָסַ֗כְתְּ (wā·saḵt)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person feminine singular
Strong's 5480: To pour (in anointing), anoint

and wear
וְשַׂ֧מְתְּ (wə·śamt)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person feminine singular
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

your best clothes.
שִׂמְלֹתַ֛יִךְ (śim·lō·ṯa·yiḵ)
Noun - feminine plural construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 8071: A dress, a mantle

Go down
וְיָרַ֣דְתְּ (wə·yā·raḏt)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person feminine singular
Strong's 3381: To come or go down, descend

to the threshing floor,
הַגֹּ֑רֶן (hag·gō·ren)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1637: A threshing-floor, open area

but do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

let the man
לָאִ֔ישׁ (lā·’îš)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

know
תִּוָּדְעִ֣י (tiw·wā·ḏə·‘î)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - second person feminine singular
Strong's 3045: To know

you are there until
עַ֥ד (‘aḏ)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

he has finished
כַּלֹּת֖וֹ (kal·lō·ṯōw)
Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3615: To be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent

eating
לֶאֱכֹ֥ל (le·’ĕ·ḵōl)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 398: To eat

and drinking.
וְלִשְׁתּֽוֹת׃ (wə·liš·tō·wṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 8354: To imbibe

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OT History: Ruth 3:3 Wash yourself therefore and anoint you (Ru Rut.)