Ruth 3:15 Meaning: The Meaning of Six Measures of Barley
He said, “Bring the mantle that is on you, and hold it.” She held it; and he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her; then he went into the city.
Also he said, Bring the vail 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.
And he said, Bring the mantle that is upon thee, and hold it; and she held it; and he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and he went into the city.
And he saith, `Give the covering which is on thee, and keep hold on it;' and she keepeth hold on it, and he measureth six measures of barley, and layeth it on her; and he goeth into the city.
And he said, Bring the cloak that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And she held it, and he measured six [measures] of barley, and laid [it] on her; and he went into the city.
Meaning in one sentence
Why did Boaz give Ruth six measures of barley? Discover the significance of this generous gift and his commitment to redeem her.
Context
By this point in the story, Ruth has taken a bold step. Following Naomi’s plan, she went to the threshing floor at night and asked Boaz to act as her near kinsman, the one who could redeem her and Naomi from poverty. Boaz agreed, but there was a complication: a closer relative had the first right to redeem. Before dawn, Boaz sent Ruth home, but not empty-handed. He gave her a heavy gift of barley, enough to show his seriousness. The scene is the hinge of the whole book. From here, Boaz will go to the city gate to settle the matter publicly. The barley is more than provision, it is a pledge.
Key Words
The word for Ruth’s garment is mitpachat (Strong’s H4304), a large shawl or cloak worn over the ordinary clothes. It is the same word used in Isaiah for a fine garment, but here it becomes an improvised sack, held open to receive grain. This is not a hidden thing; she uses what she has on her to carry home a visible sign of Boaz’s care.
Boaz measures out shish se’orim, six measures of barley. The number six often carries a sense of completeness or preparation in Scripture, though the exact amount is not given. The commentators debate whether each measure was an omer (about six pints) or a seah (about two gallons), but either way it was a gift too heavy for Ruth to carry without help. Boaz lifted it onto her himself.
The final verb, vayabo, “he went”, is masculine, so it is Boaz who goes into the city. He does not send her; he goes to act. The gift is the promise; his entry into town is the pursuit.
How Christians Read This Verse
The commentators agree that the six measures of barley were a generous gift, but they differ on the size. Some, like Keil and Delitzsch, think the measure was an omer, a manageable load. Others, following the Targum, say it was six seahs, nearly two bushels, which would have been supernaturally heavy. Barnes and the Cambridge Bible note that women could carry great weights on their heads, so a large load is possible.
The Targum also gives a symbolic interpretation: this gift points ahead to six righteous descendants, David, Daniel, his three friends, and the King Messiah. Reformed and evangelical readers tend to emphasize the literal act of provision and the pledge of redemption. Catholic tradition has often read Ruth as a type of the Church, and Boaz as a type of Christ, so the barley prefigures the Eucharist or Christ’s care. Across traditions, the gift is seen as evidence of sincere commitment, not a hasty secret.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers imagine that Boaz gave Ruth this barley as a way to pay her for the night or to buy her silence. In fact, Ruth came to the threshing floor with a legal request, not a romantic secret. Boaz gave the grain openly, and he told her to carry it to Naomi, it was a gift for her mother-in-law. His own words in verse 17 make the purpose clear: “Don’t go empty to your mother-in-law.” He wanted Naomi to know he was serious about redeeming them.
Living This Out
Boaz did not just promise to help; he gave something tangible that same night. The barley was a concrete sign that he intended to act. This week, you might ask yourself: is there a promise you have made, to a family member, a friend, or someone in need, that could use a tangible expression? It does not have to be large; a small, deliberate act of generosity can say more than words. Like Ruth, you may be waiting for a resolution. Like Boaz, you can give a pledge of hope while the matter is still unfolding.
Main takeaway: Boaz gave Ruth six measures of barley as a generous, visible pledge of his commitment to redeem her and Naomi.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Boaz gave Ruth some barley to take home to Naomi. He put it in her shawl so she could carry it. Boaz was being very kind and generous.
For ages 9, 12
Boaz’s gift of six measures of barley was more than just a nice present. It was a sign that he was serious about doing the right thing for Ruth and Naomi. He wanted them to know they could trust him. Even though the legal matter still needed to be settled the next day, the barley gave them immediate hope and showed that Boaz was a man of action, not just words.
Questions People Ask
What kind of garment did Ruth use to hold the barley?
The Hebrew word is mitpachat, which most translations render as “mantle,” “veil,” “shawl,” or “cloak.” It was a large outer garment, possibly like a sheet or wrap, that women wore over their other clothes. She held it open while Boaz poured in the grain.
Why did Boaz give her six measures of barley?
The “six measures” are not defined in the Hebrew, the text simply says “six of barley.” Commentators suggest the measure could be an omer (about two litres) or a seah (about seven litres). Either way, it was a generous gift. Boaz later explained that he did not want Ruth to return empty-handed to Naomi, showing that the barley was a pledge of his commitment to provide for them as their redeemer.
Who went into the city, Ruth or Boaz?
The Hebrew verb is masculine singular: “he went into the city.” Most English translations follow the King James Version (“she went”), but the original text points to Boaz entering the city. Several older translations and the Vulgate read it as “he went,” which makes sense because Boaz would have gone to attend to the legal matter at the city gate that same morning.
Does this gift symbolize anything beyond generosity?
Yes. In the Targum (an ancient Jewish paraphrase), the six measures are seen as a prophecy of six righteous descendants from Ruth: David, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and the King Messiah. Many Christian readers see the barley as a type of Christ’s provision, pointing ahead to the Eucharist or to Jesus as the ultimate Redeemer who gives generously to His people.
Was Boaz being secretly romantic when he gave Ruth the barley at night?
No. The meeting at the threshing floor was a legal and cultural form of petition, not a secret date. Boaz made sure Ruth left before dawn to avoid scandal, and he gave her the barley as an open gift for Naomi. Everything he did was proper and aimed at acting as the lawful kinsman-redeemer.
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