Ruth 1:11 kjv

And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?

Ruth 1:11 nkjv

But Naomi said, "Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?

Ruth 1:11 niv

But Naomi said, "Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands?

Ruth 1:11 esv

But Naomi said, "Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands?

Ruth 1:11 nlt

But Naomi replied, "Why should you go on with me? Can I still give birth to other sons who could grow up to be your husbands?

Ruth 1 verses

Ruth 1 11 Meaning

Naomi implores her daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth, to return to their Moabite families. Her rationale is rooted in practicality: she has no remaining sons, nor does she foresee bearing any more children who could serve as potential husbands for them through the custom of levirate marriage. Her words convey a sense of hopelessness regarding her future capacity to provide for or secure a lineage for her daughters-in-law, thus encouraging them to seek security elsewhere.

Ruth 1 11 Context

Ruth 1:11 is set in the immediate aftermath of a decade of severe hardship for Naomi. A famine in Bethlehem prompted her husband, Elimelech, and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, to relocate to Moab. There, the sons married Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. Tragically, within ten years, all three men (Elimelech, Mahlon, and Chilion) die, leaving Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth as destitute widows. Hearing that the famine in Judah has ended, Naomi decides to return to her homeland. Ruth 1:11 occurs during this journey back, as Naomi attempts to persuade her daughters-in-law to abandon her and return to their Moabite families. Her argument stems from the prevailing societal customs of the time, particularly levirate marriage, which provided security for childless widows by requiring a deceased husband's brother to marry her and raise an heir for the departed. Naomi, without remaining sons or the prospect of bearing more, believes she can offer no such future to Orpah and Ruth, making her a burden rather than a provider.

Ruth 1 11 Word analysis

• But Naomi said: Signals a direct address and a pivotal turning point in the conversation, where Naomi asserts her perspective. Her name, Naomi (נָעֳמִי, Na'omi), means "my pleasantness," which tragically contrasts with her bitter situation, a contrast she will highlight later (Ruth 1:20).
• Turn back: shuvna (שֻׁבְנָה), an imperative verb, emphasizing the urgency and decisiveness of Naomi's command. It suggests a complete reversal of their current path, both physically and in their life's direction.
• my daughters: benotai (בְּנוֹתַי). A term of endearment and affection, even though they are her daughters-in-law. It highlights Naomi’s genuine care for them, despite her practical counsel, acknowledging their familial bond.
• why will you go with me?: A rhetorical question, signaling the futility or lack of benefit Naomi perceives in their continuing companionship. It anticipates their unspoken hopes for a future that she believes cannot be fulfilled with her.
• Have I yet sons in my womb: Ha'od-li banim be-vitni (הַעוֹד-לִי בָנִים בְּבִטְנִי). This direct, highly personal question uses beten (בֶּטֶן) for "womb," explicitly pointing to her physical inability or extreme improbability of bearing more children. It also subtly refers to her advanced age, making the prospect impossible.
• that they may be your husbands?: This phrase directly refers to the institution of levirate marriage (Deut 25:5-10), a crucial societal custom intended to perpetuate a deceased man's lineage and provide for his widow. Naomi highlights that she cannot fulfill this culturally expected obligation for her daughters-in-law, rendering their association with her unproductive in their society's terms. Her current lack of "seed" or future "seed" means no kinsmen can provide this security.

Words-Group Analysis

• Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me?: This group of phrases conveys Naomi's compassionate but firm attempt to persuade Orpah and Ruth. Her questioning highlights the perceived lack of purpose for them in continuing their journey with her, rooted in her understanding of their societal needs for male provision and lineage. It emphasizes a choice presented before the young women.
• Have I yet sons in my womb that they may be your husbands?: This clause forms the core of Naomi's logical, culturally-driven argument. It explicitly appeals to the levirate marriage custom, showcasing her perceived inability to offer them any future security within the parameters of their legal and social structure. It reveals her profound despair, seeing only impossibility and no divine intervention in her future, effectively "shutting the door" on hope through conventional means.

Ruth 1 11 Bonus section

Naomi’s reference to "sons in my womb" underscores the physical and social realities that would typically prevent such a scenario:

1. Age: Naomi is almost certainly past child-bearing age, making her suggestion of new children being born purely rhetorical to illustrate the futility of their situation.
2. Number: Even if she could miraculously bear sons, they would need to grow to maturity, a lengthy process, and she would need to bear two more sons, specifically, to marry both widows. This makes her argument practically insurmountable from a human perspective.
3. Divine Sovereignty vs. Human Logic: Naomi's reasoning is purely human and sociological. It overlooks the possibility of God's supernatural provision or unconventional solutions, which will ultimately manifest through Ruth’s loyalty and Boaz’s role as the kinsman-redeemer (go'el), showing God working beyond normal human and legal constraints. Her practical despair is contrasted by the unseen hand of God guiding the unfolding events for His larger redemptive purposes, ultimately leading to the lineage of David and Jesus Christ.

Ruth 1 11 Commentary

Ruth 1:11 encapsulates Naomi’s despair and pragmatic outlook following profound loss. Her words, though seemingly harsh, stem from genuine concern for her daughters-in-law's future. By highlighting her advanced age and the absence of any living male relative to fulfill the levirate custom, Naomi presents a logical, cultural argument for why Orpah and Ruth should return to their families. She correctly identifies that, from a human and legal standpoint, she has nothing to offer them in terms of security, lineage, or re-marriage within their adopted family. This verse sets the stage for Ruth’s remarkable declaration of loyalty (Ruth 1:16-17), starkly contrasting Naomi’s worldly despair with Ruth’s faith-fueled steadfastness. It underlines the vulnerability of widows in ancient society and the significant role of the male lineage in securing women's future.