RUTH 1:21 Interlinear View

1. Hebrew word
2. Hebrew lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. Gloss
8. CAPS codes
9. OET tags
10. OET word #
1. אֲנִי
2. 179588
3. I
4. -
5. 589
6. S-Pp1cs
7. I
8. S
9. Y-1308
10. 124124
1. מְלֵאָה
2. 179589
3. full
4. -
5. 4392
6. S-Aafsa
7. full
8. -
9. Y-1308
10. 124125
1. הָלַכְתִּי
2. 179590
3. I went
4. went
5. 1980
6. V-Vqp1cs
7. I_went
8. -
9. Y-1308
10. 124126
1. וְ,רֵיקָם
2. 179591,179592
3. and empty
4. but
5. 7387
6. S-C,D
7. and,empty
8. -
9. Y-1308
10. 124127
1. הֱשִׁיבַ,נִי
2. 179593,179594
3. bring back me
4. -
5. 7725
6. VO-Vhp3ms,Sp1cs
7. bring back,me
8. -
9. Y-1308
10. 124128
1. יְהוָה
2. 179595
3. YHWH
4. -
5. 3068
6. S-Np
7. Yahweh
8. -
9. Person=God; Y-1308
10. 124129
1. לָ,מָּה
2. 179596,179597
3. to/for what
4. -
5. 4100
6. S-R,Ti
7. to/for=what
8. -
9. Y-1308
10. 124130
1. תִקְרֶאנָה
2. 179598
3. do you(pl) call
4. -
5. 7121
6. V-Vqi2fp
7. do_you(pl)_call
8. -
9. Y-1308
10. 124131
1. לִ,י
2. 179599,179600
3. to me
4. -
6. S-R,Sp1cs
7. to=me
8. -
9. Y-1308
10. 124132
1. נָעֳמִי
2. 179601
3. Nāˊₒmī
4. ‘Naomi
5. 5281
6. O-Np
7. Naomi
8. -
9. Person=Naomi; Y-1308
10. 124133
1. וַֽ,יהוָה
2. 179602,179603
3. and YHWH
4. -
5. 3068
6. S-C,Np
7. and=\nd YHWH\nd*
8. -
9. Person=God; Y-1308
10. 124134
1. עָנָה
2. 179604
3. he has testified
4. testified
6. V-Vqp3ms
7. he_has_testified
8. -
9. Y-1308
10. 124135
1. בִ,י
2. 179605,179606
3. against me
4. against on
6. S-R,Sp1cs
7. against,me
8. -
9. Y-1308
10. 124136
1. וְ,שַׁדַּי
2. 179607,179608
3. and +the almighty
4. powerful
5. 7706
6. S-C,Np
7. and_[the],Almighty
8. -
9. Y-1308
10. 124137
1. הֵרַֽע
2. 179609
3. he has done harm
4. -
6. V-Vhp3ms
7. he_has_done_harm
8. -
9. Y-1308
10. 124138
2. 179610
3. -
4. -
6. -
8. -
9. -
10. 124139
2. 179611
3. -
4. -
6. -
8. -
9. -
10. 124140
1. לִ,י
2. 179612,179613
3. to me
4. -
6. S-R,Sp1cs
7. to=me
8. -
9. Y-1308
10. 124141
2. 179614
3. -
4. -
6. -x-sof-pasuq
8. -
9. -
10. 124142

1:21 OSHB note: We read one or more accents in L differently from BHQ.

1:21 OSHB note: We read one or more accents in L differently than BHS. Often this notation indicates a typographical error in BHS.

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)

1:21a

I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty.

I had much when I left here, but Yahweh has brought me back with nothing.
When I left here, I was rich with a family. But Yahweh has caused me to return poor, with no family.

I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty: The words full and empty are a figure of speech. Naomi was full when she left Bethlehem in the sense that she had a husband and two sons. When she returned to Bethlehem, she was empty because they were dead. In some languages, it will not be possible to use the words full and empty in this way.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

When I left, I had all I wanted, but now, the Lord has brought me home with nothing. (NCV)

I left here with everything that I needed. Now the Lord has brought me back here with nothing. (EASY)

1:21b

Why call me Naomi?

Is there any reason to call me Naomi? No.
Do not call me Naomi any more.

Why call me Naomi?: This is a rhetorical question. It functions as a rebuke. Naomi had already said in 1:20a that the name Naomi did not fit her current bitter situation.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

There is no reason to call me Naomi.

Do not call me Naomi any more.

1:21c

After all, the LORD has testified against me,

Yahweh has spoken/testified against me.
Yahweh has turned against me.

the LORD has testified against me: There is a textual issue with the Hebrew verb phrase that the BSB translates as testified against me:

The Masoretic Text says Yahweh has testified against me. It means “to testify against,” as in a court case. For example:
the Lord has testified against me (ESV)
the Lord has spoken against me (NCV) (BSB, CEV, ESV, GNT, KJV, NABRE, NASB, NET, NJB, REB)
The Septuagint says Yahweh has afflicted me. For example:
the Lord has dealt harshly with me (NRSV) (GW, NIV, NJPS, NLT, NRSV)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with many versions and commentaries.UBS, WBC, NICOT. It is also recommended by HOTTP.

Here are some other ways to translate this verse part:

The Lord Almighty has condemned me (GNT)

The Almighty Lord has turned against me (EASY)

the Lord has opposed me (CSB)

1:21d

and the Almighty has afflicted me.”

The All-powerful one has caused me to suffer.”
The Almighty God has brought disaster on me.”

the Almighty has afflicted me: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as afflicted can also be translated as “cause suffering,” “cause evil,” or “cause trouble.”

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

has caused me to suffer (NET)

and made my life so hard (CEV)

has given much trouble to me (ERV)

the Almighty: The term the Almighty is the same name for God that Naomi used in 1:20b. You should translate it the same way in both places.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

אֲנִי֙ מְלֵאָ֣ה הָלַ֔כְתִּי וְ⁠רֵיקָ֖ם הֱשִׁיבַ֣⁠נִי יְהוָ֑ה

I full went_away and,empty bring_back,me YHWH

Here, Naomi is speaking of herself as a container that can be full or empty. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [As for me, I went out with a complete family, but Yahweh has brought me back with no one]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

לָ֣⁠מָּה תִקְרֶ֤אנָה לִ⁠י֙ נָעֳמִ֔י

to/for=what call to=me Nāˊₒmī

Naomi is using the question form to emphasize that there is no reason to call her Naomi. If you would not use the question form for this purpose in your language, you could translate this as a statement or an exclamation. Alternate translation: [There is no reason to call me Naomi!]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

וַֽ⁠יהוָה֙ עָ֣נָה בִ֔⁠י וְ⁠שַׁדַּ֖י הֵ֥רַֽע לִֽ⁠י

and=YHWH testified against,me and_[the],Almighty brought_calamity to=me

These two statements say the same thing using different words to emphasize the idea that God has made Naomi’s life very hard. Both Yahweh and the Almighty refer to God. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could combine the statements to show that the second statement is not saying a new thing. Alternate translation: [But as for Yahweh, the Almighty God, he has opposed me and treated me badly.]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

עָ֣נָה בִ֔⁠י

testified against,me

Here Naomi is speaking of Yahweh as if he were a witness who caused her to be punished for a crime. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [he has brought punishment on me]

הֵ֥רַֽע לִֽ⁠י

brought_calamity to=me

Alternate translation: [has brought calamity on me] or [has brought tragedy to me]

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

1:21 OSHB note: We read one or more accents in L differently from BHQ.

1:21 OSHB note: We read one or more accents in L differently than BHS. Often this notation indicates a typographical error in BHS.

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.