Naomi informs Ruth that Boaz is winnowing barley on the threshing floor and gives her instructions on what to do. The threshing floor plays an important role in various biblical stories and has diverse and rich meanings.
Ruth 3
2 Now, isn’t Boaz our relative, with whose servants you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight on his threshing floor.
Separation
We have already seen that grain was threshed on the threshing floor, a process in which the wheat kernels are separated from the ears. Also, on the threshing floor, during the winnowing process, the chaff is separated from the wheat. Both processes speak of judgment and purification, the separation of what is useless from what has value and remains.
Araunah’s Threshing Floor
The most important threshing floor in the Bible is that of Araunah (also called Ornan). There God brought an end to the judgment that followed David’s census. David purchased the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, built an altar there, and sacrificed to God (2 Sam. 24:18,24-25), thus halting the plague on Israel. David’s sacrifice foreshadows the sacrifice, the death and resurrection of Christ, the Son of David.
Prophetic
In the Book of Ruth, Boaz, winnowing barley on the threshing floor, represents Christ, who will come to His people and bring an end to their judgment. The people will repent, be restored, and be gathered back to the land.