RUTH 1:10 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:6–22: Naomi returned to Bethlehem with Ruth

This section talks about the next main event of the story, which is Naomi’s return to Bethlehem, accompanied by her daughter-in-law, Ruth.

Many scholars agree that verses 1:7–21 describe this event in detail, and that verse 1:22 is the closing verse of this section, which summarizes the event.

However, scholars do not agree about the function of verse 1:6. Some scholars believe that verse 1:6 is a summary introduction. It says that Naomi arose (she and her daughters-in-law) and returned from the region of Moab. Thus, this section begins and ends with a summary description of the main event.NICOT (pages 99–100 ): The common Hebrew idiom qûm plus a verb of motion (šûḇ) also signals the start of the story’s main action: Then she…returned. Structurally, the idiom is a summary-introduction to the following events (vv. 7–21) and forms an inclusio with the chapter’s summary-conclusion (cf. wattāšāḇ, v. 22). Further, it sounds the chapter’s main theme, namely, the return of Naomi.

Some other scholars do not believe that verse 1:6 is a summary introduction. Rather 1:6 describes the first part of the action. It says that she arose (she and her daughters-in-law) and prepared to return from the region of Moab.

The majority of versions follow the second suggestion. However, the first suggestion follows a pattern that is also in some other Hebrew narratives. An event is introduced by a summary statement, and the verses after it describe that event in detail.For example: Genesis 1:1 introduces the creation account of 1:2–31. Genesis 6:7 introduces the flood account of Genesis 6–9. Ruth 1:1–2 introduces the first section in Ruth 1:3–5. See the Note on 1:6b for more information.

Here are some other examples of section headings:

Naomi and Ruth Return to Bethlehem (NIV)

Naomi and Ruth Return (NLT)

Departure from Moab (GW)

1:10

and said, “Surely we will return with you to your people.”

and said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.”
They said to her, “No! We want to go with you to live with your clan.”

and said, “Surely we will return with you to your people.”: In this verse, Orpah and Ruth told Naomi that they intended to accompany her as she returned to Bethlehem.

Here are some ways to indicate the connection of this clause to the previous clause. Any of these options is acceptable:

Indicate that this clause talks about the next action in the story. For example:
and said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” (NJPS)
Indicate that Orpah and Ruth’s desire to stay with Naomi contrasts with Naomi’s intention to leave them. For example:
But they said to her, “No! We will return with you to your people.” (NET)
Leave implied the connection of this clause to the previous clause. For example:
They said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” (NRSV)

Surely we will return: This phrase indicates that the daughters-in-law intend to accompany Naomi on her return to her people. The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as Surely indicates that they objected to leaving Naomi.NICOT (page 106) calls it an emphatic kî adversative “On the contrary.”

Here are two ways to translate this conjunction:

Make the meaning of the conjunction explicit. For example:
“No,” they said, “We want to go with you (NLT)
Leave the meaning of the conjunction implied. For example:
“We are going back with you (GW)

The word return may cause confusion here. Only Naomi would actually be returning to Judah, since Orpah and Ruth had not been there before. In some languages, it may be more natural to translate this verse part differently. For example:

Leave the word return implied. For example:
We want to go with you (CEV)
Translate in a way that the word return refers only to Naomi. For example:
“We will accompany you on your return

to your people: In Hebrew, the word people is very general. It could refer to Naomi’s relatives or to all the people of Israel. If your language has a word or phrase that refers to relatives, including distant relatives, you may want to use it here. For example:

to your clan

to your tribeThese suggestions are by UBS (page 13).

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

נָשׁ֖וּב

return

When Orpah and Ruth said we, they were referring to themselves and not Naomi. So languages that have inclusive and exclusive forms of we would use the exclusive form here.

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

וַ⁠תֹּאמַ֖רְנָה

and,they_said

The word But here indicates a strong contrast between what Naomi said and what the daughters-in-law are about to say. In your translation, indicate this strong contrast in a way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [Nevertheless, they said]

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

כִּי

that/for/because/then/when

The daughters-in-law use the word Rather here to indicate a strong contrast between what Naomi wants them to do and what they propose to do. In your translation, indicate this strong contrast in a way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [Instead of that]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / yousingular

אִתָּ֥⁠ךְ

with,you

The word you is singular here because it refers to Naomi.

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The Hebrew text, lemmas, and morphology are all thanks to the OSHB and some of the glosses are from Macula Hebrew.

OET interlinear RUTH 1:10

Hebrew word order

Section 1:6–22: Naomi returned to Bethlehem with Ruth

1:10

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)