Ruth 1 3

Ruth 1:3 kjv

And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.

Ruth 1:3 nkjv

Then Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons.

Ruth 1:3 niv

Now Elimelek, Naomi's husband, died, and she was left with her two sons.

Ruth 1:3 esv

But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons.

Ruth 1:3 nlt

Then Elimelech died, and Naomi was left with her two sons.

Ruth 1 verses

Ruth 1 3 Meaning

Ruth 1:3 succinctly narrates the onset of profound personal tragedy for Naomi. Her husband, Elimelech, passes away, leaving her widowed and dependent on her two sons in a foreign land. This event marks the initial, pivotal moment of loss and vulnerability that profoundly shapes Naomi's future and sets the stage for the book's narrative of redemption.

Ruth 1 3 Context

Ruth chapter 1 opens during a period of severe famine in Bethlehem of Judah, prompting Elimelech, Naomi, and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, to seek refuge in the foreign land of Moab. This decision to leave the promised land, where God's providence was expected, for Moab—a traditional enemy of Israel often associated with idolatry (e.g., Numbers 25)—marks a critical deviation from Israelite faith and practice. Ruth 1:3 is the first significant consequence of this move, reporting Elimelech's death. This verse transitions the family from an initial act of desperation to a profound state of bereavement and vulnerability, establishing the desolate circumstances that Naomi faces, setting the stage for her return to Judah in emptiness and the subsequent narrative of divine provision and redemption. The period is also the chaotic time of the Judges, where there was "no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Jdg 17:6, 21:25), suggesting moral and spiritual decline that may have contributed to such dire situations as famine. In this patriarchal society, the death of the family head left the widow extremely precarious, dependent on surviving sons for protection, provision, and continuity of the family line and inheritance.

Ruth 1 3 Word analysis

• And: This simple conjunction immediately connects the death of Elimelech to the preceding narrative of their move to Moab, implying a direct continuation and development of the initial family journey and its challenges. It signifies a progression of events, moving from their departure to a significant, negative turn.
• Elimelech: (Hebrew: אֱלִימֶלֶךְ, ʼEliymeleḵ) His name means "My God is King" or "God is my King." This is deeply ironic. Despite his name affirming God's kingship, he leaves the land where God reigns (Judah) for a pagan land (Moab) due to a famine, and there he dies. His death in a foreign land challenges the human perception of "God is King," prompting questions of divine sovereignty and presence even in affliction. This contrast underscores a thematic tension of faith tested by circumstances.
• Naomi's husband: This descriptive phrase immediately establishes Elimelech's identity through his relationship to Naomi. His role as "husband" denotes his headship, provision, and protection within the family unit. His death then carries significant weight as it leaves Naomi's primary male protector and provider removed from the scene, exposing her to immediate vulnerability in a patriarchal society.
• died: (Hebrew: מָוֶת, mavet - the root verb is מוּת, mut) This is a blunt, unambiguous declaration of ultimate cessation. In a culture reliant on male lineage and headship, the death of the patriarch was catastrophic. It signifies the end of Elimelech's direct influence, marking a critical turning point and a dramatic plunge into misfortune for the family, especially for Naomi. It is a universal human experience but here, it acts as the initial catalyst for all subsequent events in the narrative.
• and she was left: (Hebrew: וַתִּשָּׁאֵר, vattishsha’er, from the root שׁאר, sha'ar, meaning "to remain," "to be left over," or "to be bereaved") This phrase emphasizes Naomi's state of desolation and abandonment. It highlights her newfound status as a widow, bereft of her husband's companionship, provision, and legal protection. The word evokes a sense of loneliness and being the "remnant" of a once-complete family unit, in a foreign land with no natural support network from her kin. It emphasizes her vulnerability and the abrupt change in her social and economic status.
• and her two sons: This specifies who remained with Naomi. While the sons represented a continued line and a form of companionship, their presence, particularly after their father's death, now meant a heavier burden of responsibility for Naomi as their mother, rather than them immediately stepping into a fully protective and provisioning role, especially in a foreign land before their own marriages. They are a continuation of her direct family, yet their youth implies ongoing care for them before they could provide substantial care for her.

Ruth 1 3 Bonus section

• The geographical move from "Bethlehem, Judah" ("house of bread, praise") to "Moab" ("from father") in the preceding verses underscores a spiritual and physical famine. Elimelech's death in Moab can be seen by some interpretations as a potential divine judgment, or at least a stark consequence, for leaving the land of promise and turning to foreign ground during adversity.
• The death of the patriarch fundamentally reshapes the entire narrative arc, establishing a core problem (the lack of a male head and protector) that will drive the plot towards the introduction of the kinsman-redeemer concept in Ruth 2 and 3.
• This verse introduces the central character, Naomi, as a suffering widow, priming the reader to sympathize with her and setting up the emotional depth for her later cry of "Call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me" (Ruth 1:20).

Ruth 1 3 Commentary

Ruth 1:3 delivers the story's initial emotional blow: the death of Elimelech, which strips Naomi of her patriarchal protector and thrusts her into widowhood. This event is not merely a detail; it is the catalyst for all subsequent developments. The irony of Elimelech's name, "My God is King," resonates profoundly as he dies outside the Promised Land, questioning humanly conceived notions of divine providence amidst suffering. This verse sets the foundational reality of loss that permeates Naomi's narrative, portraying her immediate vulnerability and isolation as a widowed foreigner. It silently challenges the initial decision to leave Bethlehem, a famine-stricken act that ultimately leads to even greater personal tragedy. Yet, this profound suffering also serves as the necessary precondition for God to reveal His redemptive power through the surprising acts of a Moabitess and the kinsman-redeemer. It exemplifies how life's unexpected losses can redefine one's path, ultimately becoming avenues through which God's unseen hand guides towards unexpected blessing and fulfillment.