American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
Ruth 1
1
Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.
Reference
2
And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.
Reference
People
3
And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.
Reference
Parallel theme
Psalm 34:19
4
And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.
Reference
People
Parallel theme
Matthew 1:5
5
And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.
6
Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread.
Reference
Parallel theme
Psalm 132:15
Psalm 111:5
Isaiah 55:10
Luke 19:44
References Lord
Exodus 4:31
Exodus 3:16
Psalm 146:7
Luke 1:68
Zephaniah 2:7
Word
Jeremiah 29:10
7
Why she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Kings 8:3
8
And Naomi said to her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead, and with me.
Reference
9
The LORD grant you that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.
Reference
11
And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will you go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
Reference
12
Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;
Reference
Parallel theme
Genesis 17:17
13
Would you tarry for them till they were grown? would you stay for them from having husbands? no, my daughters; for it grieves me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.
Reference
14
And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth joined to her.
Reference
15
And she said, Behold, your sister in law is gone back to her people, and to her gods: return you after your sister in law.
Reference
16
And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave you, or to return from following after you: for where you go, I will go; and where you lodge, I will lodge: your people shall be my people, and your God my God:
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Samuel 15:21
Psalm 45:10
Matthew 8:19
John 13:37
Isaiah 14:1
Acts 21:13
References God
1 Thessalonians 1:9
Hosea 13:4
Daniel 2:47
Joshua 24:18
17
Where you die, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part you and me.
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Kings 6:31
2 Samuel 19:13
1 Kings 20:10
1 Samuel 25:22
2 Samuel 3:35
1 Kings 19:2
References Lord
1 Samuel 3:17
1 Kings 2:23
Acts 11:23
2 Samuel 3:9
18
When she saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking to her.
Reference
19
So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?
Reference
20
And she said to them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.
Reference
Summary of Ruth 1
The book of Ruth opens with events occurring in the period of the judges. The context begins with a famine that occurred in the land of Bethlehemjudah. Elimelech and his wife Naomi left Bethlehem for the country of Moab with their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. This part of the story portrays the journey that starts with the search for food security.
Elimelech died in Moab, and Naomi was left with her two sons who had married Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. They lived in Moab for about ten years before losing their husbands.
Naomi was left in a foreign land without any provider. Her sons had died, and she had to migrate with her daughters-in-law to Moab. She heard that the Lord had blessed His people by bringing forth a plentiful yield.
Naomi wanted to go back to the land of Judah and begged her daughters-in-law to return to their land with her. She argued that she had no more sons for them to marry or to find a husband for themselves in their land.
Their daughters-in-law refused to go back with Naomi, but she continued to plead with them. Ruth responded to Naomi’s plea with a message that would change their lives.
She said that wherever Naomi went, she would go, and wherever she stayed, Ruth would also stay. She said that Naomi’s God would be Ruth’s God and that she would not separate from Naomi unless death united them.
No one in history would have made such a statement as Ruth did to Naomi. She left the security of her land to be with a widow who had no other provision apart from her. Ruth did not know what awaited her, but she had to show love to Naomi by staying with her.
At this point, Naomi gave up trying to convince Ruth to go back with her people. The two set out for Bethlehem as Ruth insisted on going with Naomi.
They traveled to Bethlehem, and everyone was surprised to see Naomi returning from Moab. Her neighbors and friends came out to meet her and were amazed that she had returned. Naomi told them that she did not want to be called Naomi because the Almighty had made her life bitter.
She explained to them that she left Bethlehem with her husband and sons but returned empty-handed because God had made her experience bitter. This is the saddest message that Naomi delivered to her people.
The book of Ruth ended the first chapter with Naomi and Ruth arriving in Bethlehem at the dawn of the barley harvest. This is a significant moment because it shows that God was preparing a time of plenty for Naomi and Ruth despite their sadness.
The harvest season was a clear indication that there would be food for the two women as Naomi reconnected with her people in Bethlehem.
The whole book of Ruth is a saga of love and devotion. Naomi experienced the pain of losing her husband and sons. All her efforts were in vain as she had no one to provide for her in her old age.
Her daughters-in-law also experienced the loss of their husbands. These two women should have met each other under the best circumstances imaginable. Little did they know that Naomi’s move to Moab with her sons would cost her sons and Naomi herself dearly.
The story of Ruth and Naomi reveals another aspect of the Israelites’ lives. Ruth is a picture of devotion as she leaves her land, people, and home to follow Naomi. The love that Ruth had for Naomi was so powerful that she could not bear to part with her during such a trying period of their lives.
Ruth could have gone back with her people and started rebuilding her life with another husband. This was the most convenient thing to do because she had the right to remarry. Her devotion and love for Naomi were not a result of convenience but personal choice.
The message that Naomi delivered to her daughters-in-law indicates another aspect of life in Israel. She was bitter and angry with God because of losing her family members. Everything that she held dear had been taken from her by death.
She had gone to Moab with the best hopes that things would improve for them, but the opposite happened. She lost her sons and had to return to Bethlehem as a mourner with Ruth and Orpah.
The setting of this chapter of the book of Ruth is in Bethlehem. This was the city that Naomi and her family had left for Moab.
This city will be the background for the rest of the story as Ruth remains devoted to Naomi. Little did they know that Naomi’s return to Bethlehem marked the beginning of the redemption of God’s chosen people.
The opening chapter of the book of Ruth narrates a range of themes that define the story. The story begins in a pessimistic note with famine and ends in a positive observation of hope as they walked towards Bethlehem during the barley harvest.
Although Naomi and Ruth were walking towards Bethlehem with food shortage in mind, this chapter of the book of Ruth provides a glimpse of the hope that God brings to his people.
God had allowed Naomi to face many of her worst fears. Losing her husband and sons in Moab was an experience that Naomi never expected to have in her life.
However, God had a plan for Naomi’s life that He was bringing to fulfillment through Ruth’s devotion. This is the message that Naomi lacked the wisdom to understand at the moment.
The chapter begins with Naomi mourning the loss of her family members and ends with Ruth expressing her love and devotion to Naomi. Everything that had happened to Ruth and Naomi was taking place under the divine guidance of God.
Elimelech died in Moab, and Naomi was left with her two sons who had married Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. They lived in Moab for about ten years before losing their husbands.
Naomi was left in a foreign land without any provider. Her sons had died, and she had to migrate with her daughters-in-law to Moab. She heard that the Lord had blessed His people by bringing forth a plentiful yield.
Naomi wanted to go back to the land of Judah and begged her daughters-in-law to return to their land with her. She argued that she had no more sons for them to marry or to find a husband for themselves in their land.
Their daughters-in-law refused to go back with Naomi, but she continued to plead with them. Ruth responded to Naomi’s plea with a message that would change their lives.
She said that wherever Naomi went, she would go, and wherever she stayed, Ruth would also stay. She said that Naomi’s God would be Ruth’s God and that she would not separate from Naomi unless death united them.
No one in history would have made such a statement as Ruth did to Naomi. She left the security of her land to be with a widow who had no other provision apart from her. Ruth did not know what awaited her, but she had to show love to Naomi by staying with her.
At this point, Naomi gave up trying to convince Ruth to go back with her people. The two set out for Bethlehem as Ruth insisted on going with Naomi.
They traveled to Bethlehem, and everyone was surprised to see Naomi returning from Moab. Her neighbors and friends came out to meet her and were amazed that she had returned. Naomi told them that she did not want to be called Naomi because the Almighty had made her life bitter.
She explained to them that she left Bethlehem with her husband and sons but returned empty-handed because God had made her experience bitter. This is the saddest message that Naomi delivered to her people.
The book of Ruth ended the first chapter with Naomi and Ruth arriving in Bethlehem at the dawn of the barley harvest. This is a significant moment because it shows that God was preparing a time of plenty for Naomi and Ruth despite their sadness.
The harvest season was a clear indication that there would be food for the two women as Naomi reconnected with her people in Bethlehem.
The whole book of Ruth is a saga of love and devotion. Naomi experienced the pain of losing her husband and sons. All her efforts were in vain as she had no one to provide for her in her old age.
Her daughters-in-law also experienced the loss of their husbands. These two women should have met each other under the best circumstances imaginable. Little did they know that Naomi’s move to Moab with her sons would cost her sons and Naomi herself dearly.
The story of Ruth and Naomi reveals another aspect of the Israelites’ lives. Ruth is a picture of devotion as she leaves her land, people, and home to follow Naomi. The love that Ruth had for Naomi was so powerful that she could not bear to part with her during such a trying period of their lives.
Ruth could have gone back with her people and started rebuilding her life with another husband. This was the most convenient thing to do because she had the right to remarry. Her devotion and love for Naomi were not a result of convenience but personal choice.
The message that Naomi delivered to her daughters-in-law indicates another aspect of life in Israel. She was bitter and angry with God because of losing her family members. Everything that she held dear had been taken from her by death.
She had gone to Moab with the best hopes that things would improve for them, but the opposite happened. She lost her sons and had to return to Bethlehem as a mourner with Ruth and Orpah.
The setting of this chapter of the book of Ruth is in Bethlehem. This was the city that Naomi and her family had left for Moab.
This city will be the background for the rest of the story as Ruth remains devoted to Naomi. Little did they know that Naomi’s return to Bethlehem marked the beginning of the redemption of God’s chosen people.
The opening chapter of the book of Ruth narrates a range of themes that define the story. The story begins in a pessimistic note with famine and ends in a positive observation of hope as they walked towards Bethlehem during the barley harvest.
Although Naomi and Ruth were walking towards Bethlehem with food shortage in mind, this chapter of the book of Ruth provides a glimpse of the hope that God brings to his people.
God had allowed Naomi to face many of her worst fears. Losing her husband and sons in Moab was an experience that Naomi never expected to have in her life.
However, God had a plan for Naomi’s life that He was bringing to fulfillment through Ruth’s devotion. This is the message that Naomi lacked the wisdom to understand at the moment.
The chapter begins with Naomi mourning the loss of her family members and ends with Ruth expressing her love and devotion to Naomi. Everything that had happened to Ruth and Naomi was taking place under the divine guidance of God.