RUTH 1:6 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. וַ,תָּקָם
2. 179200,179201
3. And she/it arose
4. and
6. SV-C,Vqw3fs
7. and=she/it_arose
8. S
9. Y-1308
10. 123861
1. הִיא
2. 179202
3. she
4. -
5. 1931
6. S-Pp3fs
7. she
8. -
9. Y-1308
10. 123862
1. וְ,כַלֹּתֶי,הָ
2. 179203,179204,179205
3. and daughters-in-law of her
4. her daughters-in-law
5. 3618
6. S-C,Ncfpc,Sp3fs
7. and,daughters-in-law_of,her
8. -
9. Y-1308
10. 123863
1. וַ,תָּשָׁב
2. 179206,179207
3. and she returned
4. return
5. 7725
6. SV-C,Vqw3fs
7. and,she_returned
8. -
9. Y-1308
10. 123864
1. מִ,שְּׂדֵי
2. 179208,179209
3. from the region(s) of
4. -
6. S-R,Ncmpc
7. from,the_region(s)_of
8. -
9. Y-1308
10. 123865
1. מוֹאָב
2. 179210
3. Mōʼāⱱ
4. Moab
5. 4124
6. S-Np
7. of_Moab
8. -
9. Person=Moab; Location=Moab; Y-1308
10. 123866
1. כִּי
2. 179211
3. if/because
4. -
6. S-C
7. if/because
8. -
9. Y-1308
10. 123867
1. שָׁמְעָה
2. 179212
3. she had heard
4. heard
5. 8085
6. V-Vqp3fs
7. she_had_heard
8. -
9. Y-1308
10. 123868
1. בִּ,שְׂדֵה
2. 179213,179214
3. in the region of
4. with
6. S-R,Ncmsc
7. in,the_region_of
8. -
9. Y-1308
10. 123869
1. מוֹאָב
2. 179215
3. Mōʼāⱱ
4. -
5. 4124
6. S-Np
7. of_Moab
8. -
9. Person=Moab; Location=Moab; Y-1308
10. 123870
1. כִּי
2. 179216
3. if/because that
4. -
6. O-C
7. if/because_that
8. -
9. Y-1308
10. 123871
2. 179217
3. -
4. -
6. -x-maqqef
8. -
9. -
10. 123872
1. פָקַד
2. 179218
3. he had visited
4. -
6. V-Vqp3ms
7. he_had_visited
8. -
9. Y-1308
10. 123873
1. יְהוָה
2. 179219
3. YHWH
4. Yahweh
5. 3068
6. S-Np
7. Yahweh
8. -
9. Person=God; Y-1308
10. 123874
1. אֶת
2. 179220
3. DOM
4. -
5. 853
6. O-To
7. DOM
8. -
9. Y-1308
10. 123875
2. 179221
3. -
4. -
6. -x-maqqef
8. -
9. -
10. 123876
1. עַמּ,וֹ
2. 179222,179223
3. people of his
4. people
6. O-Ncmsc,Sp3ms
7. people_of,his
8. -
9. Y-1308
10. 123877
1. לָ,תֵת
2. 179224,179225
3. by giving
4. -
5. 5414
6. OV-R,Vqc
7. by,giving
8. -
9. Y-1308
10. 123878
1. לָ,הֶם
2. 179226,179227
3. to/for them
4. -
6. O-R,Sp3mp
7. to/for=them
8. -
9. Y-1308
10. 123879
1. לָחֶם
2. 179228
3. food
4. -
5. 3899
6. O-Ncbsa
7. food
8. -
9. Y-1308
10. 123880
2. 179229
3. -
4. -
6. -x-sof-pasuq
8. -
9. -
10. 123881

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)

1:6

1:6a

When Naomi heard in Moab that the LORD had attended to His people by providing them with food,

¶ Some time later in Moab, Naomi heard news that Yahweh was assisting his people by giving them food.
¶ While Naomi was still living in Moab, she heard news from Israel. Yahweh had helped his people by causing their food crops to grow well.

When Naomi heard in Moab that the LORD had attended to His people by providing them with food: This verse part gives the reason why Naomi returned to Bethlehem. She heard that the LORD had provided food for his people. The famine had ended, so she no longer needed to remain in Moab.

When Naomi heard: The verse does not indicate when Naomi heard the news from Israel. However, it was some time after her sons died.

Here are some other ways to indicate when Naomi heard the news:

Then Naomi heard (NLT)

While Naomi was in Moab, she heard (NCV)

Some time later Naomi heard (GNT)

The verse leaves implicit that the news came from Israel. If this information is not clear to your readers, it may be helpful to make it explicit. For example:

When Naomi in Moab heard news from Israel

that the LORD had attended to His people: The Hebrew verb that the BSB translates as attended to is literally “visited.” The word means “pay attention to” or “observe with care.”KEL (page 600), and ES (page 45).

Here are some other ways to translate this verse part:

that the LORD had shown his care for his people (REB)

that the LORD had shown concern for his people (NET)

that the LORD had blessed his people (NLT)

by providing them with food: This line explains the way that the LORD came to the aid of his people. The verse does not say how he provided food. However, this statement implies that the LORD had sent rain to Israel, so that grain and other crops were able to grow again. It may be helpful to your readers to make some of this information explicit. Your translation should not give the impression that the LORD gave them food directly and miraculously.

Here are some ways to make more explicit how the LORD provided food for his people:

reversing the famine by providing abundant crops (NET)

by giving them good crops again (NLT)

1:6a–b

(combined/reordered)

¶ Naomi prepared to return from Moab with her daughters-in-law, because she had heard in Moab that Yahweh had helped his people by giving them food.

1:6b

she and her daughters-in-law prepared to leave the land of Moab.

Because of that news, Naomi decided to return from the land of Moab, with the wives of her two sons.
So Naomi, accompanied by her daughters-in-law, got ready to leave Moab and go back home to Israel.

she and her daughters-in-law prepared to leave the land of Moab: This verse part is more literally “and she arose she and her daughters-in-law and she returned from the region of Moab.” The Hebrew phrase “she arose…and she returned” is a Hebrew idiom that introduces the event of Naomi’s return that follows in 1:7–21. In Hebrew the verbs “arose” and “returned” are singular, with Naomi as the subject.WBC (page 66) notes that Naomi is the singular subject of the verbs in 1:6 and the start of 1:7. She arose, she returned, she heard, and she set forth. This syntax is unusual. Plural verbs are expected here, with Naomi and the daughters-in-law as a compound subject. WBC suggests that the effect of the singular forms is that the true subject of all the clauses is Naomi alone. This effect can be reflected with a translation such as “she set out with her daughters-in-law” rather than “she and her daughters-in-law set out.” This unusual syntax is also noted by AYB (page 85), KD (page 344), and NICOT (pages 99–100).

There are two possible functions of this idiom:

The function of the idiom is to introduce the first part of Naomi’s return to Bethlehem from Moab.This function of the idiom is supported by UBS (page 9). It refers to her decision or preparation to return. For example:
So she decided to return home from the region of Moab, accompanied by her daughters-in-law (NET)
So Naomi land her daughters-in-law got ready to leave Moab to return to her homeland. (NLT)
The function of the idiom is to introduce a summary of Naomi’s return to Bethlehem from Moab. It refers to the entire event. For example:
Then she arose with her daughters-in-law and she returned from the region of Moab.

The Display will follow the first option, since it is followed by a majority of versions. However, both options have merit. You will need to decide which option to follow for your translation. For more information, see the comments for section 1:6–22.

General Comment on 1:6a–b

The BSB and some other versions have reordered the verse parts. In some languages, it may be more natural to follow the Hebrew order, which first gives Naomi’s action, and then the reason for her action. For example:

Naomi prepared to return from Moab with her daughters-in-law, because she had heard in Moab that the LORD had helped his people by giving them food.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-newevent

וַ⁠תָּ֤קָם הִיא֙ וְ⁠כַלֹּתֶ֔י⁠הָ וַ⁠תָּ֖שָׁב

and=she/it_arose she/it and,daughters-in-law_of,her and,she_returned

This part of the sentence forms an introductory summary of what will happen in the following section. It does not relate events in the timeline of the story. If your language does not use introductory summaries like this, you can translate these actions as events. Alternate translation: [Then she, along with her daughters-in-law, prepared to return]

Note 2 topic: writing-participants

וַ⁠תָּ֤קָם הִיא֙ וְ⁠כַלֹּתֶ֔י⁠הָ וַ⁠תָּ֖שָׁב

and=she/it_arose she/it and,daughters-in-law_of,her and,she_returned

The verbs arose and returned are singular, and refer to Naomi. This shows that Naomi is the main character who takes the initiative in these actions. However, her daughters-in-law are included. If your language requires plural verbs when more than one person is included in an action, you can use them here. Alternate translation: [Then she and her daughters-in-law arose and returned]

וְ⁠כַלֹּתֶ֔י⁠הָ

and,daughters-in-law_of,her

Alternate translation: [and the women who had married her sons]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

כִּ֤י שָֽׁמְעָה֙ בִּ⁠שְׂדֵ֣ה מוֹאָ֔ב כִּֽי־פָקַ֤ד יְהוָה֙ אֶת־עַמּ֔⁠וֹ לָ⁠תֵ֥ת לָ⁠הֶ֖ם לָֽחֶם

that/for/because/then/when heard in,the_region_of Mōʼāⱱ that/for/because/then/when visited YHWH DOM people_of,his by,giving to/for=them food

Naomi first heard about Yahweh visiting his people and then decided to return to Bethlehem, so it might be more natural to put this information first, as in the UST.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

שָֽׁמְעָה֙ בִּ⁠שְׂדֵ֣ה מוֹאָ֔ב

heard in,the_region_of Mōʼāⱱ

It is implied that the news came from Israel. Alternate translation: [while she was in the region of Moab, she had heard from someone who came from Israel]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

פָקַ֤ד & אֶת־עַמּ֔⁠וֹ

visited & DOM people_of,his

Here, visited is an idiom that means “taken care of.” If this phrase does not have that meaning in your language, you could use an idiom from your language that does have this meaning or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [had relieved the hunger of his people] or [had come through for his people]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

לָ⁠תֵ֥ת לָ⁠הֶ֖ם לָֽחֶם

by,giving to/for=them food

Here, bread refers to food in general. Alternate translation: [giving them abundant harvests, so that they had plenty of food.]

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 1:6