וַתֹּאמֶר֩ ר֨וּת הַמֹּואֲבִיָּ֜ה אֶֽל־נָעֳמִ֗י אֵֽלְכָה־נָּ֤א הַשָּׂדֶה֙ וַאֲלַקֳטָ֣ה בַשִּׁבֳּלִ֔ים אַחַ֕ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֶמְצָא־חֵ֖ן בְּעֵינָ֑יו וַתֹּ֥אמֶר לָ֖הּ לְכִ֥י בִתִּֽי׃
(Ruth 2:2)
This beautiful verse from the Book of Ruth shows a conversation between Ruth and Naomi. Let’s explore what each Hebrew word means, how they fit together, and what we can learn about Hebrew grammar from this sentence.
English Translation (Word by Word)
And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go, please, to the field and glean among the ears of grain behind someone in whose eyes I find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.”
Understanding Word Order
In Biblical Hebrew, the normal sentence order in narrative is Verb–Subject–Object (VSO). This means that often, the verb comes first, then who is doing the action, then what the action is about. You’ll see that structure right away in this verse with:
- וַתֹּאמֶר (“And she said”) → Verb
- רוּת הַמֹּואֲבִיָּה (“Ruth the Moabitess”) → Subject
- אֶל־נָעֳמִי (“to Naomi”) → Object of direction
This structure is very common in storytelling Hebrew. It helps keep the narrative flowing and focused on actions.
Breaking Down the Hebrew, Word by Word
Part 1: The First Sentence
| Hebrew Word | What It Means | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| וַתֹּאמֶר | And she said | This is a past tense verb. The “וַ” prefix means “and.” The base verb is אָמַר (“to say”). The form shows 3rd person feminine singular—because Ruth is the one speaking. |
| רוּת הַמֹּואֲבִיָּה | Ruth the Moabitess | רוּת is the name. הַמֹּואֲבִיָּה is an adjective meaning “the Moabitess” (from Moab), a feminine gentilic form. |
| אֶל־נָעֳמִי | to Naomi | אֶל is a preposition meaning “to.” נָעֳמִי is Naomi’s name with a qamats ḥatuf under the first letter—a special short vowel. |
| אֵלְכָה־נָּא | Let me go, please | This is a cohortative verb, which expresses a request or desire. אֵלְכָה comes from הלך (“to go”) and has the “-ה” ending that shows intention. נָּא is a polite word, like “please.” |
| הַשָּׂדֶה | the field | Definite noun (“the field”). שָׂדֶה means “field.” The הַ at the beginning means “the.” |
| וַאֲלַקֳטָה | and I will glean | Another cohortative verb from לָקַט (“to glean”). The וַ again means “and,” and the -ה ending shows it’s a request or intention. First person singular (I). |
| בַשִּׁבֳּלִים | among the ears of grain | שִׁבֳּלִים is plural (“ears of grain”). The בַ prefix means “in” or “among.” The full phrase means she wants to glean in the grain left behind. |
| אַחַר | after | This is a preposition meaning “after” or “behind.” |
| אֲשֶׁר אֶמְצָא־חֵן | in whose eyes I find favor | אֲשֶׁר is a relative pronoun (“who”). אֶמְצָא is a verb meaning “I will find” (from מָצָא). חֵן means “favor” or “grace.” A poetic expression common in Hebrew. |
| בְּעֵינָיו | in his eyes | בְּ = “in.” עֵינָיו = “his eyes” (plural with 3rd person masculine singular suffix). |
Part 2: Naomi’s Response
| Hebrew Word | What It Means | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| וַתֹּאמֶר | And she said | Same form as earlier—3rd person feminine singular of “to say.” |
| לָהּ | to her | Preposition לְ (“to”) + suffix -הּ (“her”). Naomi speaking to Ruth. |
| לְכִי | Go (feminine singular) | This is a command form (imperative) for a woman. The root is הלך again. |
| בִתִּי | my daughter | בַּת means “daughter.” -ִי is the 1st person suffix (“my”). A tender and loving way to speak. |
Verb Patterns (Bonus Visual)
Let’s compare a few forms from the same root to help you recognize patterns:
| Root | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| הלך | אֵלְכָה | Let me go |
| הלך | לְכִי | Go! (to a woman) |
| הלך | וַיֵּלֶךְ | And he went (not in this verse, but compare) |
Hebrew in Motion
Look what you’ve learned! You’ve walked through verbs, nouns, suffixes, and even polite requests in Hebrew—all from one verse. Now you know how Ruth respectfully asked to go glean, how Naomi lovingly responded, and how Hebrew sentences tell stories by leading with action.
It might feel like a lot now, but this is real progress. Biblical Hebrew is a language of depth, beauty, and patterns—and you’re already beginning to see how it flows.
