Ruth 1:16 kjv
And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
Ruth 1:16 nkjv
But Ruth said: "Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God.
Ruth 1:16 niv
But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.
Ruth 1:16 esv
But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.
Ruth 1:16 nlt
But Ruth replied, "Don't ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.
Ruth 1 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ruth 2:11-12 | Boaz answered and said to her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband… the Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!” | Recognition of Ruth’s loyal actions & faith |
| Ps 16:2-4 | I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.” … I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood or take their names on my lips. | Choosing God above all other deities |
| Isa 56:3-7 | Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say, “The Lord will surely separate me from his people”... | Gentiles joining God's people |
| Deut 10:19 | You shall love the foreigner, therefore, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. | Command to care for and embrace the stranger |
| 1 Kgs 8:41-43 | “Likewise, when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a far country… and prays toward this house… | Foreigners seeking the Lord |
| Exod 12:49 | You shall have the same law for the native and for the foreigner who sojourns among you. | Inclusivity for those who join |
| Num 15:15-16 | For the assembly, there shall be one statute for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you… | Equal standing for native and sojourner |
| Mal 2:14-16 | You ask, “Why?” Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless… | Importance of covenant faithfulness (Hesed) |
| Gen 2:24 | Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. | Leaving and cleaving, forming a new bond |
| Gen 12:1-3 | Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. | Leaving family for a call of God |
| Matt 10:37 | Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me… | Absolute commitment to Christ |
| Luke 14:26 | “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters… he cannot be my disciple.” | Radical reorientation of allegiance |
| Phil 3:7-8 | But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss… | Sacrificing personal gain for Christ |
| Rom 10:11-13 | For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing His riches on all who call on Him. | Salvation is for all, without distinction |
| Gal 3:28 | There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. | Unity and equality in Christ |
| 1 Cor 7:15 | If the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. | Spousal relationships and spiritual choices |
| Eph 5:31 | “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” | Deep relational unity |
| Prov 17:17 | A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. | Loyalty in difficult times |
| Prov 18:24 | A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. | Steadfast loyalty and friendship |
| Hos 6:6 | For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. | God's desire for loyalty and true knowledge |
| Col 3:12 | Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. | Empathy and understanding for others' suffering |
| Josh 24:15 | But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” | Personal and familial commitment to God |
| Acts 16:31 | “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” | Choosing a new spiritual identity through faith |
Ruth 1 verses
Ruth 1 16 Meaning
Ruth 1:16 captures Ruth’s profound and unwavering declaration of loyalty and devotion to her mother-in-law, Naomi. More than a commitment of human affection, it signifies a radical decision to abandon her Moabite identity, kin, and gods to fully embrace Naomi’s people and, most importantly, Naomi’s God, the Lord God of Israel. It is a moment of covenant-like faithfulness and a clear spiritual conversion.
Ruth 1 16 Context
Ruth 1:16 is the pivotal response of Ruth to Naomi's persistent urging for her daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah, to return to their Moabite families and gods after the death of their husbands (Naomi's sons) and Naomi's husband. Orpah reluctantly chooses to return home, but Ruth remains steadfastly clinging to Naomi. This verse serves as the definitive declaration of Ruth's extraordinary loyalty, not merely out of familial affection, but with an underlying commitment to God and the community of Israel. Historically, this occurs during the period of the Judges, a time often marked by spiritual decline in Israel (Judg 21:25), highlighting Ruth’s singular act of faith amidst general apostasy. For a Moabite woman to choose Israel and Israel's God was remarkable, given the historical animosity and Mosaic law prohibiting Moabites from entering the assembly of the Lord (Deut 23:3-6), yet Ruth demonstrates that God's grace transcends national and ethnic boundaries.
Ruth 1 16 Word analysis
But Ruth said: This immediate contrast highlights Ruth’s distinct, decisive character and resolve in the face of Naomi’s sorrow and Orpah's departure. It marks the moment of her firm choice.
‘Do not urge me: The Hebrew, אַל־תִּפְגְּעִי־בִי (al-tifge‘i-vi), uses a verb meaning to "fall upon," "meet," or "entreat." Here, it signifies Ruth pleading forcefully with Naomi to stop pressing her, revealing the intensity of Naomi’s dissuasion and Ruth’s own unshakeable determination.
to leave you: Hebrew: לְעָזְבֵךְ (le‘azbekh), from the verb עָזַב (‘azav), meaning "to forsake" or "abandon." Ruth rejects the very idea of severing her connection.
or to return: Hebrew: וְלָשׁוּב (velashuv), from שׁוּב (shuv), "to turn back" or "go back." This signifies rejecting the path of retreating to her past life and heritage in Moab.
from following you: Hebrew: מֵאַחֲרָיִךְ (me’acharayikh), literally "from behind you." It implies unwavering adherence, commitment to walk in her footsteps, and a lifelong companion.
For wherever you go I will go: Hebrew: כִּי אֲשֶׁר תֵּלְכִי אֵלֵךְ (ki ’asher telkhi ’elekh). The connective "For" (ki) introduces the reason and foundational premise of her resolve. This declaration signifies full submission to Naomi's destiny, embodying shared physical journey and shared fate.
and wherever you lodge I will lodge: Hebrew: וּבַאֲשֶׁר תָּלִינִי אָלִין (uḇa’asher talini ’alin). The word "lodge" (לָוָן, lun) implies spending the night, resting, dwelling. It speaks to an intention to share Naomi’s humble dwelling and circumstances, regardless of their hardship.
Your people shall be my people: Hebrew: עַמֵּךְ עַמִּי (‘ammekh ‘ammi). This is a radical and profound statement of adoption of a new national and social identity. Ruth, a Moabite, willingly embraces the people of Israel, recognizing a shift in her tribal allegiance.
and your God, my God: Hebrew: וֵאלֹהַיִךְ אֱלֹהָי (velohayikh ’elohay). This is the theological climax of her statement and the core of her conversion. She declares not just loyalty to Naomi's culture, but an explicit and personal confession of faith in Naomi's God (YHWH). This signifies a conscious turning away from the gods of Moab to serve the living God of Israel.
"Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you.": This initial part is Ruth's resolute stand, clearly asserting her firm decision against any persuasion. It showcases her powerful will and deep commitment, highlighting her intention to cleave to Naomi, rejecting the option to abandon or retreat from their shared path.
"For wherever you go I will go, and wherever you lodge I will lodge.": This declaration of shared journey and destiny extends beyond a mere promise; it is a covenant-like commitment to share Naomi's literal path and life circumstances, regardless of hardship or place. It indicates an intent to be with Naomi in all life's aspects, physical presence and dwelling.
"Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.": This dual declaration signifies Ruth's complete renunciation of her former life and her full embrace of Naomi's identity—both ethnically and, more crucially, spiritually. Choosing "your people" indicates a new social and national allegiance, a form of naturalization. Choosing "your God" is the ultimate expression of faith and conversion, placing her trust and devotion solely in the God of Israel. It elevates her human fidelity to a profound spiritual allegiance, solidifying her commitment as more than human kindness.
Ruth 1 16 Bonus section
- Covenant-Like Declaration: Ruth's declaration mirrors covenant language, reflecting the same depth of commitment found in solemn biblical covenants between individuals or God and His people (e.g., Gen 2:24; Josh 24:15).
- Prophetic Significance: Ruth’s decision has profound redemptive-historical implications, placing her, a Moabitess, in the direct lineage of King David (Ruth 4:22) and, by extension, Jesus Christ (Matt 1:5), illustrating God’s universal plan for humanity and His work through unlikely vessels.
- A Prototype of Conversion: Ruth's choice to abandon her native gods for the God of Israel serves as a beautiful prototype of conversion for all who, regardless of their background, turn to the Lord and fully commit to Him and His people. It emphasizes that salvation is by faith, not lineage or ethnicity.
- Ruth's Hesed: This verse is often cited as the epitome of hesed (חסד) – "steadfast love" or "loyal kindness." Ruth's loyalty goes far beyond mere affection; it is active, self-sacrificing, and rooted in her choice of God, distinguishing her character as one who demonstrates truly devoted love.
Ruth 1 16 Commentary
Ruth 1:16 stands as a monumental declaration of loyal love (hesed) and profound faith. It transcends typical family loyalty, as Ruth chooses to leave her land, people, and ancestral gods for an uncertain future in a foreign land with Naomi, motivated by an awakening faith in Israel's God. Her words express a total transference of allegiance—from Moab to Israel, and from Moabite deities to the Lord. This act is counter-cultural, challenging the prevailing ethnic isolationism often seen in Israel's history, and demonstrates God's inclusive grace reaching out to gentiles who genuinely seek Him. Ruth's commitment to Naomi and Naomi's God foreshadows the inclusion of gentiles into God's plan of salvation, culminating in the Messiah's lineage originating from her. This verse serves as a powerful testament to unyielding faithfulness, embodying the principle of abandoning all for the sake of true devotion, ultimately leading to God's rich blessing.