Ruth 1:15 kjv
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.
Ruth 1:15 nkjv
And she said, "Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law."
Ruth 1:15 niv
"Look," said Naomi, "your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her."
Ruth 1:15 esv
And she said, "See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law."
Ruth 1:15 nlt
"Look," Naomi said to her, "your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. You should do the same."
Ruth 1 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Jos 24:15 | choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood... as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. | Choice between God and idols |
| 1 Ki 18:21 | How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. | Decisive commitment to God required |
| Ps 115:4-8 | Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands... They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them. | Futility of idols |
| Jer 2:11 | Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. | Unfaithfulness to God, futility of idols |
| Dt 6:14 | Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you; | Warning against following other gods |
| Rm 1:21-23 | When they knew God, they glorified him not as God... changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. | Idolatry stemming from ingratitude |
| Isa 44:6-20 | An extended critique of idol worship and its foolishness. | Falsehood and blindness of idolatry |
| Gen 12:1 | Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: | Leaving home and people for God |
| Lk 14:26 | If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. | Radical devotion to Christ |
| Php 3:7-8 | But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ... I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: | Valuing Christ above all earthly gain |
| Matt 10:37 | He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. | Superiority of devotion to Christ |
| Heb 11:8-10 | By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed... he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. | Faith leading to separation and hope |
| Heb 10:38-39 | Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. | Warning against drawing back/apostasy |
| 2 Pet 2:20-22 | For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. | Spiritual danger of returning to old ways |
| Lk 9:62 | No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. | Call to unwavering commitment |
| Jn 6:66 | From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. | Disciples turning away from Christ |
| Jer 3:12-14 | Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you... I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: | Divine call to return (Shuv) for Israel |
| Zech 1:3 | Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. | God's invitation to return (Shuv) |
| Acts 11:23 | Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. | Encouragement to remain steadfast |
| Col 1:23 | If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel... | Call to perseverance in faith |
| Rev 2:10 | be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. | Perseverance unto death rewarded |
Ruth 1 verses
Ruth 1 15 Meaning
Naomi presents Ruth with a direct challenge and a practical example to follow. She points to Orpah's decision to return to her homeland and its pagan worship as a valid, albeit different, path. Naomi is essentially giving Ruth one last opportunity to reconsider her journey, implicitly testing the depth and sincerity of Ruth's commitment to her.
Ruth 1 15 Context
This verse is situated at a pivotal moment in the narrative. Naomi, having experienced profound loss and affliction, believes God's hand is against her (Ruth 1:13, 20-21). After her initial urging for her daughters-in-law to return to Moab (Ruth 1:8-9), Orpah tearfully yields to Naomi's persistence and departs (Ruth 1:14). With Ruth still clinging to her, Naomi uses Orpah's pragmatic decision as a final, direct inducement for Ruth to likewise turn back. The immediate context highlights Naomi's genuine concern for the young women's welfare in Moabite society, but also subtly sets the stage for Ruth's unyielding declaration of faith and loyalty that follows in Ruth 1:16-17. It is a moment of testing and choice.
Ruth 1 15 Word analysis
- And she said: This marks the initiation of a crucial dialogue, placing Naomi as the one making a direct statement to Ruth, intensifying the situation.
- Behold: (hinneh - הִנֵּה) A particle that serves to draw immediate attention to what follows. It highlights the urgency and importance of Naomi's observation and instruction. It signifies, "Look here!", or "Pay attention to this."
- thy sister-in-law: (yĕbhimtek - יְבִמְתֵּךְ) Refers specifically to Orpah, the wife of Naomi's other son. While the term relates to levirate marriage, here it simply denotes a familial connection by marriage, highlighting her relationship and proximity to Ruth. Orpah serves as a tangible example.
- is gone back: (shāvah - שָׁבָה) The Hebrew root is שׁוּב (shuv), meaning "to turn," "to return," "to repent." This verb is central to the book of Ruth, appearing multiple times (Ruth 1:6, 7, 10, 12, 15, 16, 21, 22; 2:6; 4:3), underscoring the themes of physical return (Naomi to Judah, Orpah to Moab) and spiritual turning (Ruth to the God of Israel). Here, it denotes a physical, final departure.
- unto her people: (`ammāh - עַמָּהּ) Refers to Orpah's ethnic, familial, and national group—the Moabites. This emphasizes the societal and communal ties she is returning to, representing safety and familiarity within her native land.
- and unto her gods: (`ĕlōheyhā - אֱלֹהֶיהָ) A crucial distinction. This refers to the pagan deities of Moab, contrasting directly with Yahweh, the God of Israel. It explicitly defines the religious aspect of Orpah's "return," framing it as a turning away from the path towards the true God that Naomi herself represents.
- return thou: (shuvī) An imperative form of the same root שׁוּב (shuv), directly commanding Ruth to perform the same action as Orpah. This makes the choice stark and immediate for Ruth.
- after thy sister-in-law: Reinforces the idea of imitation and following the path of another, giving Ruth a concrete example to follow and removing any perceived isolation in making such a decision.
Ruth 1 15 Bonus section
The choice presented to Ruth in this verse foreshadows a recurring theme in the biblical narrative: the choice between serving the true God and adhering to false idols or cultural norms. It exemplifies that genuine faith often requires severing ties with deeply ingrained societal and familial structures that are antithetical to God's ways. Naomi's use of "her gods" emphasizes the fundamental difference between the faith of Israel and the surrounding pagan practices, making it clear that Ruth's decision is ultimately a spiritual one. The repetition of the root "shuv" (to return/turn back) highlights the diverging paths taken by Orpah and Ruth. While Orpah 'returns' to her old life and gods, Ruth refuses to 'return,' opting instead to journey forward into a new life and a new spiritual allegiance. This set-up magnificently magnifies the depth of Ruth's commitment shown in the following verses.
Ruth 1 15 Commentary
Ruth 1:15 is a defining moment, presenting Ruth with a clear, final choice that echoes throughout the narrative and has profound spiritual implications. Naomi's statement is not merely a piece of information but a strategic challenge, possibly a loving attempt to spare Ruth hardship, or a test of her true commitment. By presenting Orpah's return to "her people" and "her gods," Naomi squarely places the decision on Ruth not just as a matter of geography or family loyalty, but of religious allegiance. This highlights the inherent tension between paganism and faith in Yahweh. Orpah's choice to prioritize immediate comfort and familial ties, inclusive of her idolatrous religion, contrasts sharply with Ruth's subsequent unwavering devotion to Naomi and, by extension, to Naomi's God. The verse is pivotal as it directly precedes Ruth's monumental declaration of faith and allegiance in Ruth 1:16-17, showcasing the turning point from one daughter-in-law's departure to the other's determined adherence to Israel's God.