Courtship

How Nave’s arranged it

• Ancient customs of
• Suitor visited the maidJudges 14:7
• Women proposed marriageRuth 3:9–13
• See Marriage

The passages, in Bible order (2)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 2 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Judges 14:7

   Then Samson continued on his way down and spoke to the woman, because she was pleasing to his eyes.

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Ruth 3:9–13

   “Who are you?” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your garment over me, for you are a kinsman-redeemer.”

   ›Commentary on Ruth 3:9–132 voices

   “To spread a skirt over one is, in the East, a symbolical action denoting protection. To this day in many parts of the East, to say of anyone that he put his skirt over a woman, is synonymous with saying that he married her; and at all the marriages of the modern Jews and Hindus, one part of the ceremony is for the bridegroom to put a silken or cotton cloak around his bride.

   “Spread therefore thy skirt over thine hand maid - Hebrew, Spread thy wing. The wing is the emblem of protection, and is a metaphor taken from the young of fowls, which run under the wings of their mothers, that they may be saved from birds of prey. The meaning here is, Take me to thee for wife; and so the Targum has translated it, Let thy name be called on thy handmaid to take me for wife, because thou art the redeemer; i.e., thou art the גאל goel, the kinsman, to whom the right of redemption belongs.

   Everything gathered on Ruth 3:9–13→

   Verse page →Original language →