“He asked, ‘Who are you?’ and she answered, ‘I’m your handmaid Ruth. Spread your robe over your handmaid, because you are a redeeming kinsman.'”-Ruth 3:9
There are two interesting Hebrew words in the book of Ruth that show how Ruth’s status transformed from that of an outsider to a full fledged member of the Hebrew community.
When Ruth first met Boaz, she introduced herself as a NOKRI or נָכְרִי.
NOKRI specifically means an “alien” or a “foreigner”.
This word also has quite a negative connotation to it.
In Hebrew society, under some circumstances a NOKRI carried the sense of a loose and adulterous woman.
It’s kind of like how believers view unbelievers as pagans or heathens who they should not associate with.
A NOKRI was an outsider by Law and thus was not eligible for marriage to an Israelite.
So in the beginning, Ruth introduced herself to Boaz as a NOKRI.
However, in the nighttime encounter she had with Boaz, when she says “I’m your handmaid Ruth”…
For the word “handmaid”, Ruth is now referring to herself as an AMAH or אָמָה.
This is a HUGE status change being indicated here folks!
Ruth, in now referring to herself as an AMAH (handmaiden) dropped her identity as an outsider…
She was still of the servant class so to speak…
But by elevating herself to that of an AMAH, she was now eligible for marriage to a Hebrew man either as a concubine or a wife.
And this is important to our story.
The key thing I want you to notice is how her gentile identity slowly but surely shifted upwards once she made that fateful decision to surrender her life to the God of Israel.
She started out as a member of Moab…
At that stage, her status was kind of in limbo…
And that’s why she referred to herself as a NOKRI at that time.
But then soon afterwards, she ascended to become an AMAH.
Isn’t it amazing the depth of riches to be discovered in Scripture when we go to the original Hebrew?
So there’s a huge takeaway for gentile believers here.
Ruth’s journey is in a sense our journey (if you’re a gentile believer).
I would say that once you come to faith in the Jewish Messiah, in the beginning you’re still a citizen of Moab (metaphorically speaking that is).
However, over time, as you come to a realization of your grafted in status, your covenant relationship and connection to God’s chosen people should grow ever stronger.
Now I ain’t saying your ethnicity changes from that of a gentile to an ethnic Jew (a misunderstanding which seems to be rampant in the messianic community)…
What I’m saying is that after you come to faith, slowly but surely, God’s divine ideals which were solidified into Law at Mount Sinai should become an ever increasing reality in your life…
I’m talking about OBEDIENCE to God’s commandments homies…
And also respect and gratitude for the fact you’ve entered into an exclusive covenant the Creator of the Universe ONLY made with Israel.
Ya hear me?
Over and out.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“…remember that at that time
you were separate from Messiah,
excluded from citizenship in Israel
and foreigners to the
covenants of the promise,
without hope and without God
in the world.
But now in Messiah Yeshua,
you who once were far away
have been brought near
by the blood of Messiah.”
Ephesians 2:12-13
Just so love getting your good news. You think and talk as I do and I’m also learning Hebrew. It’s taken a year to even try and understand it but slowly I’m finding I can pronounce the words. So a double blessing thank you!!!!
Veronica
Hey that’s great Veronica. I study with Hebrewpod 101 daily. Be blessed!