Καὶ ἐπορεύθη καὶ συνέλεξεν ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ κατόπισθεν τῶν θεριζόντων καὶ περιέπεσεν περιπτώματι τῇ μερίδι τοῦ ἀγροῦ Βοος τοῦ ἐκ συγγενείας Αβιμελεχ (Ruth 2:3 LXX)
Introduction: A Grammatical “Coincidence”
Ruth 2:3 in the Septuagint masterfully describes what appears to be a chance event — Ruth ending up in Boaz’s field — with language that grammatically suggests randomness but theologically signals providence. The key lies in the lexical choice of περιέπεσεν περιπτώματι and the carefully structured dative expressions that frame divine orchestration through ordinary grammar.
Καὶ ἐπορεύθη καὶ συνέλεξεν ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ — Routine Action, Routinized Syntax
Two Aorist Indicatives:
- ἐπορεύθη: aorist passive (deponent) indicative, 3rd person singular of πορεύομαι — “she went”
- συνέλεξεν: aorist active indicative, 3rd person singular of συλλέγω — “she gathered”
The combination is mundane: Ruth went and gathered — simple actions of gleaning.
Location:
- ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ: “in the field”
- κατόπισθεν τῶν θεριζόντων: “behind the reapers”
- κατόπισθεν = “behind” (adverb with genitive)
This spatial positioning reflects social hierarchy — she’s on the margins.
καὶ περιέπεσεν περιπτώματι: The Language of “Chance”
Key Phrase:
- περιέπεσεν περιπτώματι = “she happened by chance”
Grammatical Structure:
- περιέπεσεν: aorist active indicative, 3rd person singular of περιπίπτω — “to fall upon,” “to chance upon”
- περιπτώματι: dative singular, abstract noun meaning “a chance happening” or “accident”
Lexical Irony:
- This is a Hebraism rendered into Greek — the Hebrew expression מִקְרֶה קָרֶה (miqreh qāreh) literally means “a happening happened.”
- The double use of the root in Greek — verb + cognate noun — creates a redundant-sounding idiom that emphasizes apparent randomness.
Theological Irony:
The repetition ironically draws attention to the very thing it downplays: this was no accident. The phrase reads like “it just so happened,” but the context will reveal that this is divinely appointed.
τῇ μερίδι τοῦ ἀγροῦ Βοος: The Field’s Lot and Divine Allotment
Phrase Breakdown:
- τῇ μερίδι: “in the portion” — dative singular of μερίς (“lot, part, section”)
- τοῦ ἀγροῦ: “of the field” — genitive singular
- Βοος: “of Boaz” — in construct genitive relationship
Semantic Layer:
- The term μερίς often carries legal or covenantal connotation — a “lot” as in land inheritance.
- Though Ruth comes as a foreigner, her “lot” becomes the portion of Boaz, who belongs to the covenant community — anticipating redemption.
τοῦ ἐκ συγγενείας Αβιμελεχ: Lineage Clue
- τοῦ ἐκ συγγενείας Αβιμελεχ: “who was of the kin of Abimelech”
- ἐκ συγγενείας: “from kinship/lineage” — a partitive genitive following ἐκ
This clause subtly introduces Boaz not just as a landowner, but as a potential kinsman-redeemer — the Greek word συγγένεια prepares for the Levirate logic of the coming chapters.
The Grammar of Providence Disguised as Coincidence
The verse unfolds with surface-level ordinariness:
- Ruth goes (ἐπορεύθη)
- She gathers (συνέλεξεν)
- She happens (περιέπεσεν)
But each verb, each phrase, is loaded with layered meaning. The redundancy of περιέπεσεν περιπτώματι is not clumsy — it’s rhetorical irony. The grammar itself mimics chance while quietly encoding divine appointment.
Providence in Participial Disguise
This is no coincidence. The syntactic markers of supposed randomness:
- Cognate dative: περιέπεσεν περιπτώματι
- Dative of sphere: τῇ μερίδι
- Lineage descriptor: τοῦ ἐκ συγγενείας
…form a grammatical tapestry where the thread of YHWH’s providence is unmistakable — if read with faith.
Even the “random” steps of the faithful, the text says, are governed by grammar and grace.
