RUTH 1:1 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=minor/spelling Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) Back in the time when the tribal leaders ruled Yisrael (Israel), there was a drought which caused a shortage of food, so a man from the town of Beyt-Lehem (Bethlehem) in the Yehudah (Judah) region went to live in the country of Moab for a while, taking his wife and their two sons.

Key: khaki:verbs.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

BrLXX ΚΑΙ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ κρίνειν τοὺς κριτὰς, καὶ ἐγένετο λιμὸς ἐν τῇ γῇ· καὶ ἐπορεύθη ἀνὴρ ἀπὸ Βηθλεὲμ Ἰούδα τοῦ παροικῆσαι ἐν ἀγρῷ Μωὰβ, αὐτὸς καὶ ἡ γυνὴ αὐτοῦ, καὶ οἱ δύο υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ.
(KAI egeneto en tōi krinein tous kritas, kai egeneto limos en taʸ gaʸ; kai eporeuthaʸ anaʸr apo Baʸthleem Youda tou paroikaʸsai en agrōi Mōab, autos kai haʸ gunaʸ autou, kai hoi duo huioi autou. )

BrTr And it came to pass when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land: and a man went from Bethleem Juda to sojourn in the land of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.

NETS It was when the judges were judging, and there was a famine in the land, and a man went from Baithleem in Iouda to sojourn in the countryside of Moab, he and his wife and his sons.

ULT Now it happened in the days of the ruling of the judges that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man from Bethlehem of Judah went to live in the fields of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.

UST During the time that judges ruled Israel, there was a famine in that country. A man from the town of Bethlehem in the region of Judah in the country of Israel left there and went to live for a while in the country of Moab. His wife and his two sons went with him.

OEB In the time when the judges ruled, there was once a famine in the land. A man from Bethlehem in Judah took his wife and two sons to live in the territory of Moab.

WEBBE In the days when the judges judged, there was a famine in the land. A certain man of Bethlehem Judah went to live in the country of Moab with his wife and his two sons.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET During the time of the judges there was a famine in the land of Judah. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah went to live as a resident foreigner in the region of Moab, along with his wife and two sons.

LSV And it comes to pass, in [the] days [when] the ones judging judge, that there is a famine in the land, and there goes a man from Beth-Lehem-Judah to sojourn in the fields of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.

FBV There was a famine during the time when the judges ruled[fn] Israel, so a man left Bethlehem in Judah and went to live in exile in the country of Moab, along with his wife and two sons.

1:1 Literally “when judges judged,” but this was in an executive role, rather than simply judicial.

T4T During the time before kings ruled Israel, ◄there was a famine/the people there had nothing to eat►. There was a man who lived there whose name was Elimelech. His wife’s name was Naomi, and his sons’ names were Mahlon and Chilion. They were all from Bethlehem town, from the Ephrath clan in Judah region.

LEB And it happened in the days when _⌊the judges ruled_⌋,[fn] there was a famine in the land, and a man from Bethlehem of Judah went _⌊to reside_⌋[fn] in the countryside of Moab—he and his wife and his two sons.

1:1 Literally “the judging of the judges”

1:1 Literally “to dwell as an alien”

BBE Now there came a time, in the days of the judges, when there was no food in the land. And a certain man went from Beth-lehem-judah, he and his wife and his two sons, to make a living-place in the country of Moab.

Moff No Moff RUTH book available

JPS AND IT came to pass in the days when the judges judged, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Beth-lehem in Judah went to sojourn in the field of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.

ASV And it came to pass in the days when the judges judged, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Beth-lehem-judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.

DRA In the days of one of the judges, when the judges ruled, there came a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem Juda, went to sojourn in the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons.

YLT And it cometh to pass, in the days of the judging of the judges, that there is a famine in the land, and there goeth a man from Beth-Lehem-Judah to sojourn in the fields of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.

Drby And it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man went from Bethlehem-Judah, to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.

RV And it came to pass in the days when the judges judged, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Beth-lehem-judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.

SLT And it will be in the days of the judging of the judges, and there will be a famine in the land. And a man from the house of bread of Judah will go to sojourn in the field of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.

Wbstr 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 Beth-lehem-judah went to dwell in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.

KJB-1769 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 Beth-lehem-judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.[fn]

1.1 ruled: Heb. judged

KJB-1611 ¶ Nowe it came to passe in the dayes when y^e Iudges [fn]ruled, that there was a famine in the land: and a certaine man of Bethlehem Iudah, went to soiourne in the countrey of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sonnes.
(¶ 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 Bethlehem Yudah, went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.)

1:1 Hebr. iudged.

Bshps It came to passe that whe the iudges ruled, there fel a dearth in the land, & a certein man of Bethlehe Iuda went for to soiourne in the countrey of Moab, he and his wyfe, and his two sonnes.
(It came to pass that when the judges ruled, there fell a dearth in the land, and a certain man of Beth-lehem Yudah went for to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife, and his two sons.)

Gnva In the time that the Iudges ruled, there was a dearth in the lande, and a man of Beth-lehem Iudah went for to soiourne in the countrey of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sonnes.
(In the time that the Judges ruled, there was a dearth in the land, and a man of Beth-lehem Yudah went for to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. )

Cvdl In ye tyme whan the Iudges ruled, there was a derth in the londe. And there wente a ma from Bethlee Iuda to take his iourney into the londe of the Moabites wt his wife and two sonnes,
(In ye/you_all time when the Judges ruled, there was a death in the land. And there went a man from Beth-lehem Yudah to take his journey into the land of the Moabites with his wife and two sons,)

Wycl In the daies of o iuge, whanne iugis weren souereynes, hungur was maad in the lond; and a man of Bethleem of Juda yede to be a pylgrym in the cuntrei of Moab, with his wijf and twey fre sones.
(In the days of o judge, when judges were sovereigns, hunger was made in the land; and a man of Beth-lehem of Yudah went to be a pilgrim in the country of Moab, with his wife and twain/two_or_both free sons.)

Luth Zu der Zeit, da die Richter regierten, ward eine Teuerung im Lande. Und ein Mann von Bethlehem-Juda zog wallen in der Moabiter Land mit seinem Weibe und zween Söhnen.
(To/For the/of_the time/period, there the Richter ruled/reignedn, what/which a/one Teuerung in_the land. And a man from Bethlehem-Yuda pulled surge/flow in the/of_the Moabites country with his woman and two sons.)

ClVg In diebus unius judicis, quando judices præerant, facta est fames in terra. Abiitque homo de Bethlehem Juda, ut peregrinaretur in regione Moabitide cum uxore sua ac duobus liberis.[fn]
(In days of_one judgements, when judges they_were_in_charge, facts it_is hungers in/into/on earth/land. Abiitque human from/about Bethlehem Yuda, as peregrinaretur in/into/on region Moabitide when/with wife his_own and for_two freedom. )

1.1 Facta est. Propter paucitatem spiritualium doctorum quibus judicandi datur auctoritas, facta est fames verbi Dei, quando lex etiam per Judaicas traditiones corrupta est. Abiitque homo, RAB. Christus, scilicet, in Bethleem Juda natus peregrinationem hujus mundi visitavit, cum uxore sua, id est, Ecclesia, et cum duobus liberis, duobus scilicet ordinibus prophetarum et apostolorum qui sanguine Christi a peccati servitute sunt liberati. Abiit homo. RAB. Quem quidam Decalogum legis intelligunt, et uxorem ejus synagogam, et duos filios, regalem honorem et sacerdotalem: qui non solum in gente Judæorum, sed et proselytorum copulam sibi acquirebant, sicut in tempore David, et Salomonis et aliorum factum est.

1.1 Done it_is. Because a_fewtatem spiritual of_teachers to_whom judgendi given authority, facts it_is hungers words of_God, when the_law also through Yudaicas traditions corrupted it_is. Abiitque human, RAB. Christ/Messiah, namely, in/into/on Bethleem Yuda born peregrination of_this world visitavit, when/with wife his_own, that it_is, Assembly/Church, and when/with for_two freedom, for_two namely ordinibus of_the_prophets and of_the_apostles who/which blood of_Christ from of_sin servitude are liberated. He_went_away human. RAB. Which some Decalogum law they_understand, and wife his synagogue, and two children, regalem honour and priestlym: who/which not/no only in/into/on nation Jews, but and proselytorum couple to_himself acquirebant, like in/into/on at_the_time David, and Salomonis and of_others done it_is.

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:1–5: Elimelech and his family went to Moab, where he and his two sons died

A note on the spelling of Elimelech. Most versions, like the BSB spell the name as Elimelech. The NIV (2011) spells the name with a final k (Elimelek). The Notes will follow the spelling used by any quoted versions.

This section contains the first main event of the story. An Israelite named Elimelech moved to the neighboring country of Moab with his wife, Naomi, and their two sons because there was famine in Israel. Elimelech died in Moab. His two sons later married women from Moab, Ruth and Orpah. Both of the sons then also died.

This section has two paragraphs:

Paragraph 1:1–2 gives an introduction. Verse 1 gives the setting of the story and introduces the main characters in this event.

Paragraph 1:3–5 describes the event in detail. Verse 1:5b summarizes the section that refers to Naomi but does not use her name.

Here are some other examples of section headings:

Naomi Loses Her Husband and Sons (NIV)

Naomi Widowed (ESV)

Elimelech and His Family Move to Moab (GNT)

The Move to Moab and Tragedy (GW)

It is important to translate this book in a way that indicates the story is true. Follow a natural way that storytellers in your language use to tell true events.

Paragraph 1:1–2

Verse 1:1 introduces the characters/participants in a general way that does not give their names. Verse 1:2 gives the name of each character. However, if this is not a natural way to introduce characters in your language, another option is to combine 1:1–2 and introduce the characters by name. For example:

^1–2Long ago, in the days before Israel had a king, there was a famine in the land. So a man named Elimelech, who belonged to the clan of Ephrath and who lived in Bethlehem in Judah, went with his wife Naomi and their two sons Mahlon and Chilion to live for a while in the country of Moab. While they were living there… (GNT)

See 1:1–2 (combined/reordered) in the Display for another example.

1:1a

In the days when the judges ruled,

¶ In the days of the judges,
¶ Long ago, when leaders/chiefs governed Israel,

In the days when the judges ruled: The phrase that the BSB translates as days when the judges ruled is literally “in the days of the judging of the judges.” It refers to a time period of about three hundred years when judges ruled the country of Israel. After that time period, kings ruled the country.

Here are some ways to translate this phrase:

Make explicit the role/function of the judges.
In the days when the Judges were governing (NJB)
Leave implicit the role/function of the judges. For example:
During the time of the judges (NET)
Make explicit the location where the judges ruled. For example:
Long ago when the judges ruled Israel (NCV)

the judges: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as the judges refers to the leaders or chiefs who ruled in Israel at that time.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

In the days when the chieftains ruled (NJPS)

During the time that leaders ruled/governed

the: The definite article the implies that the audience of this story already knew who the judges were. If this is new information to your readers, it may be better to translate “judges” without the definite article. For example:

During the time when judges ruled

ruled: The Hebrew verb that the BSB translates as ruled is literally “judged.” They judged by deciding what was right and what was wrong when problems were brought to them, and then they gave their decisions to the people involved. However, their activities were more varied than the activities of a judge in most cultures today. They also led the people to fight against any oppressors.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

governed (NASB)

led the people

1:1b

there was a famine in the land.

there was a shortage/lack of food in the land of Israel.
there was a time when people there did not have enough food to eat.

there was a famine: This clause means that there was not enough food for people to eat. In Hebrew, the word famine is also the word “hunger.” The verse does not give a cause of the famine. However, lack of rain was a common cause and is probably implied here.Lack of rain as the cause of the famine is suggested by ZIBBC (pages 244–245), ZECOT (page 64), and UBS (page 6). If your language requires you to give a reason for the famine, you can make explicit that this famine was the result of a lack of rain.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

there was a shortage of food (NCV)

many people were hungry

Be careful to translate famine in a way that does not imply that the famine lasted the entire time that the judges ruled. The famine lasted for a period of years, but the judges ruled for hundreds of years.

in the land: This phrase refers to the land of Israel. The famine was probably widespread throughout the country.

Here are some ways to translate this phrase:

Make the referent of the phrase explicit. For example:
there was a famine in the land of Israel
Leave the referent of the phrase implied. For example:
there was a famine in the land (ESV)
Substitute a different word or phrase. For example:
a famine occurred in the country (NJB)
many people were hungry thereThis example is an option if you have made explicit the phrase “in Israel” in 1:1a.

1:1c–d

And a certain man from Bethlehem in Judah, with his wife and two sons, went to reside in the land of Moab: 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 is the result of the famine that is described in the previous clause. For example:
So a man from Bethlehem in Judah went to live as a resident foreigner in the region of Moab, along with his wife and two sons. (NET)
Indicate that this clause is the next action in the story. For example:
and a man of Bethlehem in Judah, with his wife and two sons, went to reside in the country of Moab. (NJPS)
Leave the connection to the previous clause implied. For example:
A man from Bethlehem in Judah went with his wife and two sons to live for a while in the country of Moab. (GW)

1:1c

And a certain man from Bethlehem in Judah,

A man from Bethlehem in Judah
So a man whose home was Bethlehem, in the land of the tribe of Judah,

a certain man from Bethlehem in Judah: In Hebrew, this phrase is more literally “he went a man from Bethlehem Judah.” There are two main interpretations of this phrase:WBC (pages 62–63) says that “It is syntactically impossible to tell whether “from Bethlehem in Judah” modifies the verb “went” (i.e., “went from Bethlehem in Judah”) or the noun “man” (i.e., “a man from Bethlehem in Judah”).

The home of the man was Bethlehem in Judah. For example:
a man from Bethlehem in Judah (NET) (BSB, CEV, ESV, GNT, GW, KJV, NABRE, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV, NJB, NJPS, NLT, NRSV, REB)
The man departed from Bethlehem in Judah. For example:
So a man named Elimelech left the town of Bethlehem in Judah (NCV) (NCV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most versions.

a certain man: This phrase introduces the first character in the story. In this verse, the author does not say the name of the man.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

a man (NIV)

In some languages, it may be more natural to introduce the character by name instead of using the phrase a certain man. See the 1:1–2 paragraph description for an example.

Bethlehem in Judah: This phrase refers to the town of Bethlehem in the region of Judah.

Judah: Judah was the name of the region where the descendants of Judah, son of Jacob, lived. It was in the southern part of the land of Israel. See the map of Judah in the section description.

1:1d

with his wife and two sons, went to reside in the land of Moab.

went with his wife and his two sons to live temporarily in the country of Moab.
moved to the region of Moab to live there for a while. His wife and their two sons went with him.

with his wife and two sons: In Hebrew, this phrase is more literally “he his wife and his two sons.” This phrase introduces additional characters in the story. They are the family members of “a certain man from Bethlehem.”

In the Hebrew phrase, the man is the subject. The family members are described in relation to him, as “his wife” and “his two sons.”

Here are some ways to translate this phrase:

Translate more literally. For example:
he and his wife and his two sons (ESV)
Translate in a way that refers to both parents. For example:
with his wife…and their two sons (GNT)
Leave the pronoun “his” implied in the second part of the phrase. For example:
with his wife and two sons (REB)

Translate this introduction of the family members in a way that is natural in your language.

went to reside: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as to reside means “dwell as a stranger.”NIDOTTE (page 836): dwell as a stranger, become a refugee, BDB (page 157): 1. sojourn, dwell for a (definite or indef.) time, dwell as a new-comer without original rights. In this verse, the Hebrew word referred to a temporary stay.According to WBC (page 63), “The verb in and of itself does not necessarily connote a temporary stay…for many “resident aliens” lived in a community more or less permanently. A move because of famine, however, would normally suggest that it was not intended to be permanent.”

in the land of Moab: Moab is a region that is located to the east of Judah.To get to Moab, Elimelech and his family probably traveled about eighty kilometers (fifty miles). They would have traveled east from Bethlehem around the north end of the Dead Sea, and then south into Moab. Moab is south and east from Israel, on the east side of the Dead Sea. See the map in the section description.

In this phrase, the Hebrew word that the BSB translates as land means “field,” “country” or “land.”TWOT #2236b. The majority of versions translate this word as “country.” However, in this verse, the word could have any of these meanings.ZECOT (page 68) says that this Hebrew word “usually refers to land as a field that has been brought under human occupation and cultivation.” See also NICOT (pages 86–87).

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

on the plateauNICOT (page 86) suggests that the Hebrew word may refer to a “fertile plateau about twenty-five miles wide along (and several thousand feet above) the Dead sea’s eastern shore.” of Moab (NAB)

in the country of Moab (NIV)

In the region of Moab (NET)

Parallel RUTH 1:1

Section 1:1–5: Elimelech and his family went to Moab, where he and his two sons died

Paragraph 1:1–2

1:1a

1:1b

1:1c–d

1:1c

1:1d

The Setting of Ruth