a.gan denotes holding back from marriage in the question posed to Ruth's daughters-in-law.

The attested use describes refraining from marriage while waiting for the speaker's sons to grow up, as the question in Ruth 1:13 makes clear.

1. Holding back from marriage · dominant

   In Ruth 1:13, the Niphal imperfect feminine plural form occurs in a question about waiting until sons grow up; the APB renders the clause, “Would you refrain from marrying?”

   Ruth 1:13

In the Anselm Project Bible: In Ruth 1:13 the APB presents the clause as “Would you refrain from marrying?” This rendering is treated as confirmation of the clause's overall sense.