Ruth 3:15
“He said, “Bring the mantle that is on you, and hold it.” She held it; and he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her; then he went into the city.”
What does Ruth 3:15 mean?
Boaz is taking concrete action to care for Ruth, showing that his words of protection aren't empty promises. He gives her a generous gift of barley (about an ephah, roughly 50 pounds), which would feed her and Naomi for weeks and demonstrate to the community that he intends to provide for them. This measure of grain is both practical help for their immediate hunger and a public statement of his commitment, since she'll have to carry it visibly through town. What might seem like a simple transaction reveals Boaz's character: he meets people's real needs and backs up his kindness with substance, not just sentiment.