So she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one could recognize another. And he said, ‘Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.’ And he said, ‘Bring the garment you are wearing and hold it out.’ So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley and put it on her. Then she went into the city.
(Ruth 3:14-15 ESV)
Have you ever known something was true, but realized that not everyone needed to know it?
We live in a culture that encourages sharing everything. Social media has made it easy to broadcast our thoughts, plans, successes, and struggles to the world. But Scripture reminds us that wisdom often knows the difference between what should be revealed and what should remain private.
Boaz said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” The Hebrew word translated “known” is yadaʿ (יָדַע), pronounced yah-DAH. It’s one of the most common words in the Old Testament. At its simplest, yadaʿ means “to know,” but in Hebrew, knowing is more than collecting facts. It often refers to understanding something deeply through experience, relationship, or personal involvement.
In this passage, Boaz uses yadaʿ in a practical sense. He wants to make sure that Ruth’s nighttime visit doesn’t become public knowledge. Nothing improper had happened, but appearances mattered. Ruth’s reputation and Boaz’s reputation were precious. They didn’t want misunderstandings or gossip to damage what God was doing.
There was wisdom behind Boaz’s decision. He understood that just because something is true doesn’t mean everyone needs to know it. He acted with integrity while also protecting Ruth from unnecessary speculation.
There’s a lesson here for us. Some people think honesty requires sharing every detail of their lives. Scripture presents a different picture. God values truth, but he also values wisdom, discretion, and appropriate boundaries. There are matters that should be spoken openly and matters that should be handled quietly.
Jesus himself demonstrated this balance. At times he told people to proclaim what God had done. At other times he instructed them to tell no one. He knew that timing and context mattered.
The challenge for us is knowing when to speak and when to remain silent. Not every success needs to be announced. Not every conflict needs to be publicized. Not every private conversation needs to be repeated. Wisdom doesn’t just ask, “Is this true?” but also, “Is this helpful to share?”
When Ruth left the threshing floor before dawn, few people knew what happened that night. But sometimes silence isn’t secrecy; it’s wisdom. May God help us become people whose words are guided not merely by truth, but by love, wisdom, and good judgment.
Prayer: Father, give me the wisdom to know when to speak and when to remain silent. Help me to protect the reputations of others and to handle private matters with integrity. May my words always serve Your purposes and bless those who hear them. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Alan Smith
Reprinted with permission from Alan Smith’s Thought For the Day