RUTH 1:15 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=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) Naomi said, “Look, your sister-in-law is going back to her parents and to her religion. Go back with her.”

Key: khaki:verbs, blue:Elohim.
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 Καὶ εἶπε Νωεμῖν πρὸς Ῥοὺθ, ἰδοὺ ἀνέστρεψε σύννυμφός σου πρὸς λαὸν αὐτῆς καὶ πρὸς τοὺς θεοὺς αὐτῆς· ἐπιστράφηθι δὴ καὶ σὺ ὀπίσω τῆς συννύμφου σου.
(Kai eipe Nōemin pros Ɽouth, idou anestrepse sunnumfos sou pros laon autaʸs kai pros tous theous autaʸs; epistrafaʸthi daʸ kai su opisō taʸs sunnumfou sou. )

BrTr And Noemin said to Ruth, Behold, thy sister-in-law has returned to her people and to her gods; turn now thou also after thy sister-in-law.

ULT Then she said, “Behold, your sister-in-law has turned back to her people and to her god. Go back after your sister-in-law.”

UST Naomi said to her, “Look! Your sister-in-law is going back to her relatives and to the god that she worshiped previously! Go back with her!”

OEB ‘Look,’ said Naomi, ‘your sister-in-law is going back to her own people and to her own gods. Go along with her!’

WEBBE She said, “Behold,[fn] your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her god. Follow your sister-in-law.”

1:15 “Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.

WMBB (Same as above including footnotes)

NET So Naomi said, “Look, your sister-in-law is returning to her people and to her god. Follow your sister-in-law back home!”

LSV And she says, “Behold, your sister-in-law has turned back to her people, and to her god, turn back after your sister-in-law.”

FBV “Look, your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back home with her,” said Naomi.

T4T Naomi said to her, “Look! Your sister-in-law is going back to her relatives and to her gods! Go back with her!”

LEB And she said, “Look, your sister-in-law has returned to her people and to her gods. Return after your sister-in-law too.”

BBE And Naomi said, See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods: go back after your sister-in-law.

Moff No Moff RUTH book available

JPS And she said: 'Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back unto her people, and unto her god; return thou after thy sister-in-law.'

ASV And she said, Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back unto her people, and unto her god: return thou after thy sister-in-law.

DRA And Noemi said to her: Behold thy kinswoman is returned to her people, and to her gods, go thou with her.

YLT And she saith, 'Lo, thy sister-in-law hath turned back unto her people, and unto her god, turn thou back after thy sister-in-law.'

Drby And she said, Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back to her people and to her [fn]gods: return after thy sister-in-law.

1.15 Elohim

RV And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her god: return thou after thy sister in law.
(And she said, Behold, thy/your sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her god: return thou/you after thy/your sister in law. )

SLT And she will say, Behold, thy sister-in-law turned back to her people, and to her gods: turn thou back after thy sister-in-law.

Wbstr And she said, Behold, thy sister-in-law hath gone back to her people, and to her gods: return thou after thy sister-in-law.

KJB-1769 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.
(And she said, Behold, thy/your sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou/you after thy/your sister in law. )

KJB-1611 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone backe vnto her people, and vnto her gods: returne thou after thy sister in law.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

Bshps And Naomi said: See, thy sister in law is gone backe againe vnto her people, & vnto her gods: returne thou after her.
(And Naomi said: See, thy/your sister in law is gone back again unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou/you after her.)

Gnva And Naomi said, Beholde, thy sister in law is gone backe vnto her people and vnto her gods: returne thou after thy sister in lawe.
(And Naomi said, Behold, thy/your sister in law is gone back unto her people and unto her gods: return thou/you after thy/your sister in law. )

Cvdl Neuertheles she sayde: Beholde, thy syster in lawe is turned backe vnto hir people and to hir god, turne thou againe also after thy sister in lawe.
(Nevertheless she said: Behold, thy/your sister in law is turned back unto her people and to her god, turn thou/you again also after thy/your sister in law.)

Wycl To whom Noemy seide, Lo! thi kyneswomman turnede ayen to hir puple, and to hir goddis; go thou with hir.
(To whom Noemy said, Lo! thy/your kyneswomman turned again to her people, and to her gods; go thou/you with her.)

Luth Sie aber sprach: Siehe, deine Schwägerin ist umgewandt zu ihrem Volk und zu ihrem GOtt; kehre du auch um, deiner Schwägerin nach.
(They/She but spoke: See/Look, your Schwägerin is umgewandt to/for their people and to/for their God; turn/return you(sg) also um, your(s) Schwägerin after.)

ClVg cui dixit Noëmi: En reversa est cognata tua ad populum suum, et ad deos suos, vade cum ea.
(to_whom he/she_said Noëmi: En returned it_is cognata your to the_people his_own, and to the_gods his_own, go when/with them. )

SOTN 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)

1:15a

“Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods;

Naomi said, “Look, your sister-in-law, Orpah, is returning to her own people and to her gods.
Naomi said to Ruth, “Listen, Orpah is returning to her clan and the gods that her clan worships.

“Look,” said Naomi: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as Look attracts attention to what the speaker will say next. Use a term in your language that calls for attention.

Here is another way to translate this word:

Listen!

said Naomi: The Hebrew clause that the BSB translates as said Naomi is more literally “And she said.” It begins the sentence. The BSB has placed these words in the middle of the sentence. You should put these words wherever they will be natural in your language.

Here is an example of the Hebrew order:

Naomi said to Ruth, “Look… (NCV)

your sister-in-law: The term sister-in-law means “the wife of your husband’s brother.” It refers to Orpah.

has gone back to her people and her gods: The Hebrew verb that the BSB translates as has gone back indicates a completed action. However, Orpah had not completed her journey back home. In some languages, it will be more natural to use a verb form that indicates that Orpah was in the process of returning home. This is why some versions translate this as “is going back.” For example:

your sister-in-law is going back (NIV)

her people: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as her people could mean “her family,” “her clan,” or “her nation.” Use a word that refers to a wide kinship group. This word was used in 1:10. You should translate it the same way in both places.

her gods: There are two ways to interpret the Hebrew word that the BSB translates as gods:

It is plural. It means “gods.” For example:
back to her people and to her gods (NRSV) (BSB, CEV, ESV, GW, KJV, NASB, NCV, NIV, NJPS, NLT, NRSV)
It is singular. It means “god.” For example:
back to her people and to her god (NJB) (GNT, NABRE, NET, NJB, REB)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most versions and commentaries.UBS, NICOT (page 116), WBC (page 82).

The words her gods refer to the gods that Orpah’s family worshiped in Moab.

Here are some other ways to translate this verse part:

Naomi said, “Look, your sister-in-law is going back to her own people and her own gods.” (NCV)

Naomi said to Ruth, “Look! Orpah is returning to her clan and to the gods they worship.”

1:15b

follow her back home.”

Return with her.”
Follow her and go back to your relatives.”

follow her back home: Here are some other ways to translate this verse part:

Go back with her (NIV)

You should do the same. (NLT)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

הִנֵּה֙

see/lo/see!

Naomi is using the term Behold to focus Ruth’s attention on what she is about to say. Your language may have a comparable expression that you could use in your translation. Alternate translation: [Listen] or You know”

Note 2 topic: writing-participants

יְבִמְתֵּ֔⁠ךְ

sister-in-law_of,your

Naomi is using the phrase your sister-in-law to refer to Orpah, the widow of Ruth’s deceased husband’s brother. Use the natural term in your language to refer to that relationship. Alternate translation: [the widow of your husband’s brother] or [Orpah]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

עַמָּ֖⁠הּ

people_of,her

Here, Naomi is using the possessive form to describe the people to whom Orpah belongs. If your language would not use the possessive form for this, you could express this in another way. Alternate translation: [the clan that she came from]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

אֱלֹהֶ֑י⁠הָ

gods_of,her

Here, Naomi is using the possessive form to describe the god of the Moabites that Orpah and Ruth used to worship before they married Naomi’s sons and began to worship Yahweh. If your language would not use the possessive form to express the relationship between Orpah and this god, you could express this in another way. Alternate translation: [the god that they worship]

Note 5 topic: translate-plural

אֱלֹהֶ֑י⁠הָ

gods_of,her

The word translated here as god is plural, but Hebrew quite commonly uses the plural when referring to a deity. Here it probably refers to the god of the Moabites named Chemosh, as it does in 1 Kings 11:33. If the Bible commonly used in your area uses a plural here, you may choose to do so too. Alternate translation: [her gods]

Parallel RUTH 1:15

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

1:15a

1:15b

The Setting of Ruth