What Does Ruth 3:3 Mean in the King James?
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.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Preparation can be complete before recognition begins; the verse gives being known its own timing.
THE MEANING
Readiness and recognition do not arrive at the same moment: you can be fully prepared and present while still unknown. Here, being known is relational recognition, and the verse gives that recognition a distinct time.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The belief that being ready means you must be seen immediately dissolves here: presence can precede recognition.
THE ROOT
תִּוָּדְעִי
tiwwadʿi
GROWS FROM
ידע
yada
to know, recognize, perceive
“known” in this verse is tiwwadʿi. The Hebrew form is built from yada, which carries knowing as recognition and encounter, not simply possession of information. From this same root comes modaʿ, “kinsman” or “relative,” so the story’s language lets knowing and kinship share a seed.
ALSO GROWS
yada: to know, recognize, or perceive
יָדַע
This root gives “known” its relational sense of recognition through encounter.
môdaʿ: kinsman, relative, or acquaintance
מוֹדָע
Ruth 2:1 uses this word for Boaz, linking the root of knowing with kinship in Ruth’s story.
THE PATTERN
Presence can be complete while recognition is still withheld.
And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.THE THREAD
And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.Ruth 2:1 calls Boaz Naomi’s “kinsman,” מוֹדָע (môdaʿ), a word from the same ידע (yada) family as “known” here. The link lets the passage hold recognition and kinship together: the man Ruth is told not yet to become known to is already named through relationship.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us