Ruth 1:22 kjv
So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.
Ruth 1:22 nkjv
So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. Now they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.
Ruth 1:22 niv
So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning.
Ruth 1:22 esv
So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.
Ruth 1:22 nlt
So Naomi returned from Moab, accompanied by her daughter-in-law Ruth, the young Moabite woman. They arrived in Bethlehem in late spring, at the beginning of the barley harvest.
Ruth 1 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 126:1 | When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. | Divine restoration after hardship. |
| Jer 29:10 | "For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill my good word to you, in bringing you back to this place." | God promises return and fulfillment after exile. |
| Joel 2:12-13 | "Yet even now," declares the Lord, "return to me with all your heart... Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful..." | Call to spiritual return (shuv) to a merciful God. |
| Zec 1:3 | Therefore say to them, Thus declares the Lord of hosts: Return to me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will return to you... | God's presence contingent on human return. |
| Isa 55:7 | let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. | Spiritual return for divine mercy and pardon. |
| Deut 23:3-4 | "No Ammonite or Moabite may enter the assembly of the Lord... because they did not meet you with food and water on the way when you came out of Egypt..." | Direct contrast to Ruth, showing God's wider grace. |
| Isa 56:3 | Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say, "The Lord will surely separate me from his people..." | Prophetic promise of inclusion for foreigners. |
| Acts 10:34-35 | So Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him." | God's impartial acceptance of all nations. |
| Eph 2:11-13 | Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh... now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near... | Gentiles brought near through Christ's blood. |
| 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, transcending ethnicity. |
| Gen 8:22 | While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease. | God's enduring covenant regarding seasons and provision. |
| Lev 23:9-11 | "When you come into the land that I give you and reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest..." | Feast of Firstfruits tied to barley harvest, recognizing God's provision. |
| Ps 65:9-13 | You visit the earth and water it; you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water... you crown the year with your bounty... | God's abundant provision and blessing on the land. |
| Deut 11:14 | then he will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the later rain, that you may gather in your grain... | God provides rain for timely harvests. |
| Prov 16:9 | The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. | Divine sovereignty over human actions and timing. |
| Gen 35:19 | So Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). | Bethlehem as a significant historical place. |
| 1 Sam 17:12 | Now David was the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, named Jesse, who had eight sons. | Bethlehem as the ancestral home of David. |
| Mic 5:2 | But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel... | Bethlehem prophesied as Messiah's birthplace. |
| Lk 2:4-6 | Joseph also went up from Galilee... to Bethlehem... to be registered with Mary... And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. | Jesus' birth in Bethlehem fulfilling prophecy. |
| Jn 6:35 | Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst." | Jesus as spiritual "bread," echoing Bethlehem's name. |
| Lam 3:22-23 | The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. | God's mercies providing new beginnings. |
| Isa 43:18-19 | Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth... | Promise of new and unexpected actions from God. |
Ruth 1 verses
Ruth 1 22 Meaning
Ruth 1:22 signifies a crucial turning point in the narrative, marking Naomi's return from the barren land of Moab to Bethlehem, the "house of bread," accompanied by her devoted Moabite daughter-in-law, Ruth. This arrival coincides precisely with the beginning of the barley harvest, symbolizing renewed hope, divine provision, and a transition from desolation and famine to the potential for restoration and abundance, subtly indicating God's providential care amidst adversity. It is a movement from foreignness and loss back to the covenant land and the possibility of a future within God's people.
Ruth 1 22 Context
Ruth chapter 1 begins with a family from Bethlehem Judah, led by Elimelech, seeking refuge in Moab due to a famine in their homeland. Over ten years, Naomi loses her husband and two sons, leaving her widowed and childless in a foreign land with two Moabite daughters-in-law. Faced with bitter emptiness, she decides to return to Bethlehem, having heard that the Lord had visited His people and given them food. Despite her daughters-in-law's initial willingness, only Ruth, through her extraordinary declaration of loyalty, remains steadfast. Verse 22 then marks their literal return to Bethlehem, which is the immediate culmination of Naomi’s difficult journey and choice. Historically, this occurs during the period of the Judges, a time often characterized by moral decay and apostasy in Israel, yet the book of Ruth quietly portrays God's ongoing, faithful work through ordinary individuals, setting the stage for the lineage of David and eventually the Messiah. The mention of the barley harvest contrasts sharply with the famine they fled, hinting at divine timing and restoration.
Ruth 1 22 Word analysis
So Naomi returned,
- So: Signals consequence and progression, bridging Naomi's decision (vv. 6-18) with her action.
- Naomi: Na'omi (נָעֳמִי) meaning "my pleasantness" or "my delight." Ironically, she later declares herself "Mara" (bitter) in Ruth 1:20-21, emphasizing the depth of her sorrow before God's restorative work begins.
- returned: Hebrew shuv (שׁוּב), appearing twice in this verse. This verb signifies not merely physical turning back, but often implies a return or repentance to God. Here, it marks a significant shift from a foreign land and pagan associations back to the land of covenant and hope.
and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law with her,
- Ruth: Rut (רוּת), of uncertain meaning, possibly "friend" or "refreshment." Her steadfast loyalty defines her.
- the Moabitess: ha-Mo'aviyah (הַמּוֹאֲבִיָּה). This designation is crucial. Moabites were, by Mosaic Law (Deut 23:3-6), excluded from the assembly of the Lord due to their historical hostility and unrighteous actions towards Israel. Ruth's presence signifies a divine overturning or transcending of conventional boundaries, demonstrating God's grace extending to foreigners who turn to Him. It also highlights the challenges she faces.
- her daughter-in-law: kallah (כַּלָּה), emphasizes the relational bond despite cultural and legal differences. Ruth’s steadfast love (Heb. chesed) transcends this familial designation.
who returned from the country of Moab.
- who returned: Second use of shuv in the verse. This repetition emphasizes the joint journey, cementing the decision to leave Moab behind, highlighting their commitment to the journey and perhaps the spiritual implications of turning away from Moabite gods.
- from the country of Moab: Moab represents famine, loss, and idolatry in the context of the story, serving as a foil to Judah and God's faithfulness. Leaving Moab signifies a spiritual as well as physical journey.
And they came to Bethlehem
- came: bo (בוא), indicating arrival after the journey.
- Bethlehem: Beit Lehem (בֵּית לֶחֶם), meaning "house of bread." This name is deeply symbolic given the preceding famine and Naomi's perceived emptiness. It is also the future birthplace of David and, significantly, the Messiah, Jesus, who is called the "bread of life" (Jn 6:35), enriching the spiritual resonance of their destination.
at the beginning of barley harvest.
- at the beginning of: tekhillat (תְּחִלַּת), literally "commencement," suggesting a fresh start and new possibilities.
- barley harvest: ketsir se'orim (קְצִיר שְׂעֹרִים). Barley was the first grain crop to ripen, usually around March-April, coinciding with Passover and the Feast of Firstfruits (Lev 23:9-14). Its availability signals the end of famine and the promise of abundance, underscoring God's providential timing and imminent provision.
Ruth 1 22 Bonus section
- The timing of the barley harvest is profoundly symbolic, connecting to the biblical feast of Firstfruits, which acknowledges God as the giver of all sustenance. This agricultural context prefigures spiritual abundance and renewal.
- Ruth's steadfastness (as shown earlier in Ruth 1:16-17) despite her foreign status is implicitly affirmed by her successful entry into Bethlehem with Naomi. This foreshadows a deeper biblical principle of God accepting those from all nations who turn to Him.
- The use of shuv (returned/turned) frames the narrative: Naomi's turn back to Judah, Ruth's turn towards Yahweh and His people, leading to a major reversal of their fortunes from emptiness to ultimately a role in the messianic line. This sets a narrative pattern for God turning lament into joy.
Ruth 1 22 Commentary
Ruth 1:22 is more than a simple geographical marker; it's the pivot point from despair to hope, from famine to potential provision, and from exclusion to inclusion. The double emphasis on "returned" underscores a determined reorientation towards Judah and the Lord's land, a spiritual "turning" by both Naomi and implicitly Ruth. The juxtaposition of "Naomi" (pleasant) and her sorrow is subtly undercut by her return to "Bethlehem" (house of bread) at the very moment the "barley harvest" begins. This perfect timing is not coincidental; it hints at God's hidden hand of providence orchestrating events even when the characters feel forgotten. Ruth's identification as "the Moabitess" is deliberate, challenging the Deuteronomic strictures and foreshadowing God's broader plan to include Gentiles, a central theme reaching its apex in the New Testament. Her presence highlights divine grace, showcasing how one who was culturally and legally "far off" is brought "near" into the covenant family, becoming part of the lineage that would produce the Messiah. The verse thus sets the stage for God's redemption story, emphasizing that new beginnings often arise precisely when human hope seems exhausted.