Ruth 3:4
Lift the covers renders what is in Hebrew literally “uncover the
place of his feet.” The meaning of what Ruth did was essentially to ask for
Boaz’s protection. Of course, the idea of a marriage proposal may very well
have been implicit in the act, but there is no clear evidence that this
expression is a euphemism for sexual intercourse, as has been suggested by some
scholars. On the other hand, the Hebrew terms translated “uncover,” “feet,” and
“lie down” are often associated with sexual acts, and therefore the expression
lends itself to this type of interpretation. Even some ancient translators
tried in several ways to weaken or alter the meaning.
Since it is altogether possible
that what Ruth did may be misunderstood in a receptor culture, it is
appropriate to have some marginal note at this point indicating that what Ruth
did was a symbolic way of asking for protection. In fact, in some translations
the meaning of the act is incorporated into the text itself, for example, “lift
up the cover at his feet to ask for his protection.” This may be done on the
basis that the act itself was a recognized symbol for asking for security.
(Jan de Waard and Eugene Albert Nida, A
Translator’s Handbook on the Book of Ruth [UBS Handbook Series; New York: United Bible Societies, 1991], 48-49)
