Ruth 1:17 kjv

Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

Ruth 1:17 nkjv

Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me."

Ruth 1:17 niv

Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me."

Ruth 1:17 esv

Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you."

Ruth 1:17 nlt

Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!"

Ruth 1 verses

Ruth 1 17 Meaning

Ruth 1:17 declares Ruth’s absolute and unwavering devotion to her mother-in-law, Naomi. This verse acts as a solemn vow and self-imprecation, solidifying Ruth's commitment to remain with Naomi until death, and even to be buried in the same place. It signifies Ruth’s profound loyalty, not just to Naomi personally, but to Naomi’s people and her God, explicitly acknowledging Yahweh in her oath, thereby indicating her full conversion and identification with the Israelite faith and community.

Ruth 1 17 Context

Ruth 1:17 immediately follows Ruth’s powerful declaration in Ruth 1:16, where she states her intent not to leave Naomi and to adopt Naomi's people and God as her own. This verse serves as the final and most solemn pronouncement of that commitment, made with a conditional self-imprecation, indicating the ultimate seriousness and unbreakability of her vow. Historically and culturally, a conditional self-imprecatory oath invoking the divine name was the strongest form of covenantal agreement, signifying that only God Himself breaking His promise could exceed such an oath. This deeply personal commitment stands in stark contrast to Orpah's pragmatic return to Moab and her gods, highlighting the extraordinary nature of Ruth's hesed (steadfast love/loyalty) and faith. At a time when Israel often struggled with fidelity to Yahweh, this Moabite woman’s absolute commitment underscored the depth of genuine devotion, implicitly critiquing a lukewarm adherence to faith.

Ruth 1 17 Word analysis

• "Where you die" (בּאשׁר תָּמוּתי, ba’asher tamuti):
  • "where" (בּאשׁר, ba’asher): An adverb meaning "in the place where" or "to the place where," emphasizing physical presence and belonging. It roots the commitment in a specific locale, which for ancient cultures was tied to lineage, inheritance, and identity.
  • "you die" (תָּמוּתי, tamuti): Second person singular, imperfect tense, indicating future action. It speaks of a decisive and final act. This phrase is about ultimate identification and an enduring bond beyond temporal living, expressing the depth of Ruth’s resolution to share Naomi’s complete destiny. Death represents the final boundary of human life.
• "I will die" (אָמוּת, amut):
  • First person singular, imperfect tense, indicating future action. It signifies Ruth’s active and resolute participation in sharing Naomi's ultimate fate. It is a direct and personal commitment, echoing the "you die" and showing parallel destiny.
• "and there I will be buried" (וְשָׁם אֶקָּבֵר, v’sham ekkaver):
  • "and there" (וְשָׁם, v’sham): Reinforces the specific shared location. It is crucial, as burial place signifies identity, legacy, and hope of future resurrection (as understood in Israelite theology). Burial was an intensely important practice, symbolizing one's eternal belonging to a land or people (e.g., Abraham's purchase of Machpelah, Gen 23).
  • "I will be buried" (אֶקָּבֵר, ekkaver): First person singular, Niphal (passive) imperfect. This passive form indicates she desires to be buried, not that she herself will perform the act. It further seals her intention for a permanent union with Naomi, signifying that her final resting place will be alongside her.
• "The Lord do so to me and more also" (כּה יַעֲשֶׂה יְהוָה לי וְכֹה יֹסִיף, ko ya’aseh YHWH li v’kho yosef):
  • "The Lord" (יְהוָה, YHWH): The covenant name of God in Israel, revealing a profound shift for Ruth. A Moabitess swearing by Yahweh is a remarkable act of conversion and total allegiance. It shows she is placing herself under the divine authority of Israel's God, invoking Him as the guarantor of her oath. This contrasts sharply with Moab's idol-god, Chemosh.
  • "do so to me and more also" (ko ya’aseh li v’kho yosef): A common form of conditional self-imprecation in biblical oaths, especially for grave matters (cf. 1 Sam 3:17; 25:22). It means, "May the Lord deal with me, even severely, and continue to do so," implying the ultimate negative consequence if she were to break her vow. It underlines the gravity and binding nature of her commitment, inviting divine retribution upon herself should she falter.
• "if anything but death parts me from you" (כּי אם הַמָּוֶת יַפְרִיד בֵּינִי וּבֵינֵךְ, ki im ha'mavet yafrid beini u’veinech):
  • "if anything but death" (ki im ha’mavet): The literal phrasing "unless death" implies that only death can dissolve this bond. This demonstrates absolute and unqualified loyalty; no hardship, struggle, or external force could separate her from Naomi in her mind and heart.
  • "parts me from you" (yafrid beini u’veinech): Third person masculine singular, imperfect of the verb "to divide" or "to separate." This specifies the outcome Ruth is forbidding, a severance between her and Naomi.

Words-group Analysis:

• "Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried": This phrase encapsulates Ruth's comprehensive commitment. It moves beyond simply accompanying Naomi in life to a solidarity that extends into the grave, encompassing location, identity, and final rest. It reveals an ultimate sense of belonging, adoption, and shared destiny. For an ancient person, one’s burial place determined familial and tribal connections, reflecting their spiritual inheritance.
• "The Lord do so to me and more also, if anything but death parts me from you": This forms a powerful covenant oath. By invoking Yahweh, Ruth makes her promise sacred, putting her very life under divine scrutiny. This isn't merely a statement of affection but a sacred covenant entered before God, illustrating the deepest possible human commitment. This act of faith by a Moabite woman underscores the universal reach of God's covenant.

Ruth 1 17 Bonus section

The deep theological significance of Ruth, a foreign woman from a people historically forbidden entry into the assembly of the Lord (Deut 23:3), swearing an oath by Yahweh and subsequently becoming a progenitor of David and Christ, profoundly emphasizes the universality of God’s redemptive plan and grace. Her inclusion highlights that God's favor is not limited by ethnic or national boundaries but by faith and covenantal commitment. Ruth's absolute embrace of Naomi's God, people, and destiny showcases the power of transformative conversion. This narrative powerfully underscores that true covenant loyalty, embodied by Ruth's hesed, is valued highly by God and opens pathways for His redemptive purposes in surprising and inclusive ways. Her voluntary commitment, sealed by a solemn oath, provides a model of faith that trusts entirely in the care and providence of the God she has now chosen as her own.

Ruth 1 17 Commentary

Ruth 1:17 marks the zenith of Ruth’s declaration of steadfast loyalty (Hebrew: hesed) to Naomi. It is a vow of absolute and ultimate devotion, surpassing a mere verbal promise by invoking a solemn divine imprecation. Ruth binds herself to Naomi not only for life but also in death and burial, signifying complete identification and surrender. This covenantal oath, made by a Moabitess using the covenant name "Yahweh," demonstrates a profound and unreserved conversion of allegiance, rejecting her former gods and embracing the God of Israel. Her commitment, which promises that nothing short of death itself could sever her bond with Naomi, becomes a foundational act of faith. This self-sacrificial love sets the stage for God's redemptive work through her, ultimately leading her into the lineage of David and Jesus Christ. Ruth’s hesed is therefore an earthly reflection of divine hesed, illustrating the transformative power of steadfast love and faithful obedience.