Original Word: צָבַט
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: tsabat
Pronunciation: tsah-VAHT
Phonetic Spelling: (tsaw-bat')
KJV: reach
NASB: served
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to grasp, i.e. hand out

reach

A primitive root; to grasp, i.e. Hand out -- reach.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to reach, hold out
NASB Translation
served (1).

[צָבַט] verb reach, hold out, to (ל person) (properly grasp, hold, so Late Hebrew (rare), בֵּית הַצְּבִיטָה handle (of jug); Arabic hold firmly, seize; Ethiopic grasp firmly); —

Qal Imperfect3masculine singular וַיִּצְבָּטלָֿהּ Ruth 2:14 (accusative of thing).

I. צבע (√ of following; Late Hebrew צָבַע dye; Assyrian ƒibûtum, ƒubâtu, dyed stuff (see Zehnpf^{BAS i.519}); Arabic Aramaic צְבַע , all dip, dye).

Meaning and Central Idea

The verb denotes the intentional action of placing a piece of bread or food into a liquid condiment or sauce. Though seemingly mundane, the act communicates welcome, fellowship, and the sharing of provision.

Biblical Context: Ruth 2:14

“At mealtime Boaz said to her, ‘Come over here, have some bread and dip it in the vinegar.’ So she sat down among the harvesters, and Boaz offered her roasted grain, and she ate and was satisfied and had some left over.” (Ruth 2:14)

Here the verb records Boaz’s gracious invitation to Ruth, a foreign widow gleaning in his field. The setting is the barley harvest near Bethlehem. By offering Ruth the opportunity to dip her piece of bread into the seasoned liquid, Boaz publicly affirms her inclusion among his workers and extends covenantal kindness far beyond the requirements of the gleaning laws (Leviticus 19:9-10; Deuteronomy 24:19).

Social and Cultural Background

1. Hospitality: Sharing a common dish in the ancient Near East signified acceptance and protection. To allow a guest to dip bread into a master’s bowl was to identify with that person.
2. Table Fellowship: Eating from the same dish created a bond akin to covenant. Such fellowship meals carried legal and relational weight (compare Genesis 31:54; 2 Samuel 9:7).
3. Provision for the Vulnerable: The scene takes place amid mandated generosity toward the poor and the sojourner. Boaz exceeds the law’s minimum, foreshadowing the abundant provision of the Redeemer.

Theological Implications

• Grace Beyond Obligation: Tsabat in Ruth 2:14 highlights unmerited favor. Ruth, outside the covenant by birth, experiences tangible grace that anticipates the inclusion of the nations (Isaiah 49:6).
• Kinsman-Redeemer Motif: The invitation to dip bread prefigures the redeeming work Boaz will complete in Ruth 4. Table fellowship becomes a pledge of future redemption.
• Satisfaction in the Lord: The narrative records that Ruth “was satisfied and had some left over,” underscoring the biblical theme that divine provision overflows (Psalm 23:5; John 6:12-13).

Typological and Christological Insights

Boaz’s generous act anticipates Jesus Christ, the greater Redeemer, who breaks social barriers and welcomes outsiders to His table (Luke 15:2; Ephesians 2:12-13). The simple act of dipping bread in Ruth 2:14 resonates with John 13:26, where the Lord identifies His betrayer by giving him “the piece of bread after He had dipped it.” In both scenes, dipping signifies intimate fellowship, yet the outcomes differ—redemption for Ruth, exposure for Judas—revealing the weight of accepting or rejecting covenant grace.

Ministry Application

1. Practical Compassion: Followers of Christ are called to tangible generosity, offering more than minimum charity to those in need (James 2:15-16).
2. Inclusive Fellowship: The local church should mirror Boaz’s table, welcoming strangers and testifying that in Christ “there is neither Jew nor Greek” (Galatians 3:28).
3. Table as Mission Field: Shared meals provide opportunities for discipleship, evangelism, and reconciliation, echoing Boaz’s influence over his household and laborers.

Related Concepts in Scripture

• Dipping the Hyssop in Blood (Exodus 12:22) – application of salvation.
• Dipping the Seven Times in the Jordan (2 Kings 5:14) – obedience leading to cleansing.
• Dipping the Scroll in Honey (Ezekiel 3:3) – sweetness of God’s word.

Each occasion involves contact between a solid and a liquid, symbolizing transition from need to provision, impurity to cleansing, or estrangement to fellowship.

Summary

While occurring only once, the verb captures a moment rich with covenant kindness. In Boaz’s field, a Moabite widow finds fellowship, favor, and a foretaste of redemption. The act of dipping bread underlines the heart of biblical hospitality and prefigures the abundant grace fully revealed in Jesus Christ, who still invites the outsider to come, be satisfied, and share at His table.

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