Ruth 2:13 is Ruth, a Moabite widow gleaning in a stranger’s field, asking Boaz for continued favor. She is grateful that he has comforted her and spoken kindly to her, even though she sees herself as a foreigner who does not deserve the treatment of one of his own workers. Ruth speaks these words directly to Boaz, the landowner, after he has noticed her, welcomed her, and offered her protection in his fields.
Then she said, “Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, because you have comforted me, and because you have spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not as one of your servants.”
Ruth 2:13 (WEB)
What Ruth 2:13 Means
Ruth opens with a humble request: “Let me find favor in your sight, my lord.” To find favor means to be looked upon kindly, to be treated with goodwill rather than indifference. She addresses Boaz as “my lord” as a sign of respect, and she calls herself his servant, which places her in a lower social position than the workers he employs.
Her reason follows: “because you have comforted me, and because you have spoken kindly to your servant.” Comfort here is more than a passing sympathy. Boaz has encouraged her, eased her fear of being an outsider, and acknowledged her faithfulness to Naomi. Ruth is thankful for real kindness she did not expect from someone of his standing.
The verse ends with her acknowledgment that she is “not as one of your servants.” She is not claiming to be a worker in his household. She is saying that his generosity goes beyond what she could have asked for. The verse does not promise that every stranger will be welcomed this way, nor does it describe a rule that favor is owed to anyone. It shows one woman’s gratitude for an act of unexpected grace.
The Context of Ruth 2:13
The Book of Ruth is a short narrative in the Old Testament, traditionally attributed to Samuel, though its author is not named in the text itself. It is set in the time of the judges and tells how Ruth, a Moabite woman who married into an Israelite family, returned with her mother-in-law Naomi to Bethlehem after their husbands died. The story was likely first read by Israelite audiences who valued both the law of gleaning and the bonds of family loyalty.
Just before this verse, Boaz speaks to Ruth about how he has heard of her devotion to Naomi and prays that the Lord would reward her for coming to take refuge under God’s wings. Right after it, Boaz invites her to eat with his workers and orders his young men to let her glean freely among the sheaves. Read in this setting, Ruth’s words are her response to a man who has already shown mercy and spoken blessing over her. Her gratitude makes more sense as a reply to that welcome.
Key Phrases in Ruth 2:13
Ruth 2:12
May the LORD repay your work, and a full reward be given to you from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”
(WEB)
Ruth 2:12 is the blessing Boaz speaks just before Ruth’s reply. It shows that her gratitude is answering a prayer already spoken over her life, a reminder that God rewards faithfulness and that refuge in him is never wasted.
Ruth 1:16
Ruth said, “Don’t urge me to leave you, and to return from following you, for where you go, I will go; and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God my God.
(WEB)
Ruth 1:16 records Ruth’s earlier pledge to stay with Naomi. Reading it alongside Ruth 2:13 reveals the consistent character behind her humble request, showing a woman whose loyalty to others is the reason kindness comes her way.
A Short Prayer From Ruth 2:13
Lord, thank you for the people who notice those who feel like outsiders and speak kindly to them. Help me to receive comfort with a humble and thankful heart, without pride and without false modesty. Where I am the one with influence, give me the eyes to see who needs welcome and the courage to offer it. Keep me faithful to those who have shown me mercy, and remind me that you see every act of kindness. Amen.
