Did Ruth uncover Boaz' feet, or something else?

Question

Naomi advises Ruth as follows, in Ruth 3:

One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, I must find a home[a] for you, where you will be well provided for. 2 Now Boaz, with whose women you have worked, is a relative of ours. Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. 3 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. 4 When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do.”

Boaz clearly likes this, saying in verse 10:

“The LORD bless you, my daughter,” he replied. “This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor.

Now, it is my understanding that in many cases, the "feet" are actually a euphemism for another part of the male anatomy. Given the situation and the tone, should I infer that Ruth was actually doing a bit more than unlacing Boaz' sandals?

N.B. How does the act of "foot washing" lead to the act of "sexual intercourse"? hinges on the same issue. (Hat Tip to David)

Answer 1

Short answer: No. You shouldn't.

And that's basically because, to use the quote that is mis-attributed to Freud: "Sometimes a cigar is simply a cigar."

It is possible that a literal reading will work fine here. She uncovers his actual feet (and lies down there, in a humble position), which eventually wakes him. Despite being startled (v8) (perhaps by this) he finds out what she wants and is very flattered that she has thought more prudently than a young person typically might.

So we can read this literally without any real problems.

We then come back to the use of "feet" as euphemism and also the use of the expression "lie down" (v4) often has the connotation of sexual intercourse. Is there some sexual act going on here? Or is the uncovering the uncovering of something more than just feet?

I'd be very careful about making such assumptions given the moral character attributed to both Boaz and Ruth, especially given Boaz's care to make sure everything is done properly in chapter 4.

In a note in the Expositor's Bible Commentary, Kalland adds:

"In recognition of the sexual innuendos of Ruth’s uncovering Boaz’s feet, the LXX, Vulgate, and Syriac were all careful in their translations to make it clear that only the place of Boaz’s feet was involved."

This interpretation is also consistent with Verse 3:14. Were a sexual encounter to have taken place, it is unlikely that Boaz would be concerned with preserving her honor. Instead, Boaz and Ruth depart before anyone else is awake so that no one would think that they slept together. Boaz wants to ensure that everyone believes that what went on between them that night was above board - because it was.

If we want to study this passage we should probably carefully consider the moral understandings of the period and which actions would be considered appropriate and permissible in that society. I really don't know enough to say.

But inferring that more is going on just on the basis of the word use is clearly not justified.

Answer 2

Ruth instigates her right to remarriage to Boaz as the next of kin by uncovering his feet. This imagery of foot uncovering (in the context of the kinsman-redeemer) comes from the Law of Moses -

Deuteronomy 25:9 (NASB)
⁹ Then shall his brother's wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother's house.

The removal of the shoe was the consequence of not fulfilling the role of kinsman-redeemer. In other words, Ruth met him with no one looking, and asked him through this non-verbal behavior to marry her "or else."

Ruth 3:10 (NASB)
¹⁰ He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth your maid. So spread your covering over your maid, for you are a close relative.”

Spread your covering = marry me (in respect to Ezekiel 16:8, which is to share the covers and become one flesh). In accordance with the Law of Moses (in tandem with the guidance of Naomi who was familiar with the Law of Moses), Ruth had popped the marriage proposal with Boaz.

The response of Boaz indicates that he was already familiar with his obligation as the kinsman redeemer to Ruth. He indicates her nobleness because she did not confront him in public, where the removal of his shoe by her would have been disgraceful (in accordance with the Law of Moses). In other words, Ruth did not assume that she would have found favor in the eyes of Boaz, especially since she was a Moabite, and perhaps there was perception by Boaz that she was a woman of loose morals. For example,

Ruth 3:10-12 (NASB)
¹⁰ Then he said, “May you be blessed of the Lord, my daughter. You have shown your last kindness to be better than the first by not going after young men, whether poor or rich. ¹¹ Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence. ¹² Now it is true I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I.

He did not think she was loose. In fact, Ruth was magnanimous because she was confronting Boaz in private; that is, she did not confront him in public, which he understood and appreciated. She was a Moabite, of which no male was permitted access to becoming part of Israel (Deut 23:3). That is, he understood that Ruth had wished to invoke the kinsman-redeemer obligation with him, but with discretion since she was a Moabite widow (and perhaps would have found no favor in the eyes of Boaz).

In summary, the foot-uncovering was the gesture by Ruth to invoke her kinsman-redeemer right to marriage to next of kin. As a Moabite widow, she confronted Boaz in such a way, that if he had no favor for her, the confrontation would have been unknown and undiscovered: Ruth had no intent of shaming him in public in accordance with the stipulations and allowances permitted by the Mosaic Law. However, Boaz's response indicates that he understood the gesture (of uncovering the foot). Also his immediate response was that another relative stood in the way, and so he understood the gesture as relating to that relative. That is, at the end of the story, Boaz got his closer relative to uncover his foot (removed his shoe) in order to forfeit his right to Ruth.

Answer 3

You can if you want, because the Hebrew word for "foot" and "leg" coincide. So she could have been exposing as much of the leg as you desire, including up to the waist. But the connotation of sex is subtle.

A similar construction occurs in Judges 5 regarding Ya'el, Chever's wife, Wikisource translation here

Between her legs he crouched, fell, lay.(S) Between her legs, crouched, (R) fell(S). In that he crouched, there he fell, plundered.(S)

The translation in KJ and other places is "At her feet", again using the ambiguity of leg/foot. But the context is "Between her legs", and the connotation that it is inbetween the legs makes it more natural to interpret it as "legs". In this sense, offering "milk" vs. "water" also becomes a natural euphamism for sex (although it doesn't have to be read this way).

Answer 4

I appreciate both the spiritual and the intellectual discourse on this question, but of paramount importance, is the fact, that we resolve this within a hermeneutic purview.And if that is true of the argument, then relating Ruth 3:8 to Ruth 4:13, should erase any doubt whatsoever, regarding semantics, imagery and figures of speech. Because in reference to Ruth 4:13, the hermeneutical context gives a clear understanding to an act of sexual engagement, it therefore follows logic to conclude, that the main characters in perspective, herein, Ruth and Boaz were mindful of cultural practices, and their individual moral inclinations. I can also deduce fairly that Boaz had a true appreciation, and love for the marriage proposal that Ruth extended through that cultural imagery of literally laying at his feet, thus, his comments:"Blessed are you of the Lord, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning...poor or rich" (Ruth 3:10). A man of such a moral reputation, couldn't have reasonably associate God to a just ended amorous encounter-difficult to believe!

Answer 5

The biblical account is clear and straightforward. Ruth waited till Boaz had fallen asleep then uncovered his feet and remained there, laying at his feet. Later in the night, Boaz awoke and asked Ruth who she was and why she was there. Ruth then asks Boaz to cover her with the corner of his garment. What is the significance of such an action? There is a reference to this in Ezekiel 16:8:

“Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness. I gave you my solemn oath, and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Lord, and you became mine.”

In the above allegory the action of covering the maiden with a garment symbolises entering into a marriage contract, or covenant. Here, Ruth wants Boaz to invoke the law to redeem her, an impoverished relative, from her circumstances (Leviticus 25:47-49).

There was nothing improper going on, although it would be highly irregular for a widow to be found sleeping at the feet of a man to whom she was not married.

After Boaz wakes up and realises that Ruth, a widow, is kin to him (through Jewish marriage), and seeks his protection, he blesses her and promises to take care of her situation. Her reputation as a chaste and honourable woman has gone before her. So Boaz does not hesitate to cover Ruth with his garment and to allow her to remain at his feet. First thing in the morning Boaz will speak to a closer relative, but if he does not want to redeem her, then Boaz will. That means marrying her.

By turning up at night to uncover the feet of Boaz, and laying down by his feet, Ruth's actions amounted to a marriage proposal under the well-known provision of the Hebrew law of the kinsman redeemer (Leviticus 25:25).

Why did Ruth uncover Boaz’ feet? So he would wake up during the night as the temperature dropped because his exposed feet would become cold.

There is no euphemism here; neither is "feet" a figure of speech. Just a simple way to get a sleeping man to wake up.