Ruth 1 6

Ruth 1:6 kjv

Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread.

Ruth 1:6 nkjv

Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the LORD had visited His people by giving them bread.

Ruth 1:6 niv

When Naomi heard in Moab that the LORD had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there.

Ruth 1:6 esv

Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the LORD had visited his people and given them food.

Ruth 1:6 nlt

Then Naomi heard in Moab that the LORD had blessed his people in Judah by giving them good crops again. So Naomi and her daughters-in-law got ready to leave Moab to return to her homeland.

Ruth 1 verses

Ruth 1 6 meaning

Ruth 1:6 marks a pivotal moment in the narrative. Having endured ten years of famine, displacement, and profound loss in the land of Moab, Naomi makes a crucial decision. She learns that the Lord (YHWH) has, by His divine intervention, brought an end to the famine in Judah, blessing His people with abundant food. This news rekindles her hope and prompts her and her daughters-in-law to initiate a return journey to her homeland. The verse highlights God's faithful provision as the catalyst for Naomi's renewed resolve to seek out her people and their God.

Ruth 1 6 Context

Ruth 1:6 immediately follows the devastating news of Naomi's complete loss: her husband, Elimelech, and both of her sons, Mahlon and Chilion, have died in Moab, leaving her and her two daughters-in-law as widows in a foreign land. The initial move from Bethlehem to Moab was driven by a famine in Judah, implying that hardship forced them away from God's covenant land. After a decade of displacement and compounding grief, verse 6 marks a dramatic shift in direction and tone.

Historically, the events unfold during the volatile "days when the judges ruled" (Ruth 1:1), a period characterized by political instability, spiritual apostasy, and often, the breakdown of civil order and God's covenant blessings (Judg 21:25). Famines were often interpreted as a divine chastisement for Israel's sin or simply a test of faith, as seen elsewhere in biblical narratives. Moab, the land Naomi and her family had fled to, was an ancestral enemy of Israel, descended from Lot (Gen 19:37), and specifically barred from entering the congregation of the Lord to the tenth generation due to their hostility (Deut 23:3-6). The decision to leave Moab and return to Judah, even if prompted by physical need, carried significant spiritual and covenant implications, signifying a return towards YHWH and His people.

Ruth 1 6 Word analysis

• Then she arose (וַתָּקָם – vatakam): From the Hebrew root qum (קוּם), meaning "to arise," "to stand up," or "to prepare for a journey." This is a significant verb, indicating not just physical movement but also a decisive action, a new initiative after a period of dormancy or despair. It implies resolve and purpose.
• with her daughters-in-law (הִיא וְכַלֹּתֶיהָ – hi' vekalloteha): Explicitly notes their presence with her at this initial stage of the journey. While Orpah later departs, Ruth's presence underscores the beginning of their shared path.
• to return (לָשׁוּב – lashuv): From the Hebrew root shuv (שׁוּב), meaning "to turn back," "to go back," "to restore." This is a core concept in the Hebrew Bible, often implying repentance or a turning back to God (e.g., Jer 24:7, Hos 14:1). Here, it's a physical return to the promised land and implicitly, a spiritual turning towards the Lord's provision.
• from the country of Moab (מִשְּׂדֵה מוֹאָב – miss'de Mo'av): Literally "from the field of Moab." "Moab" represents not just a geographic location but also a foreign, often antagonistic, and pagan environment. Leaving Moab signifies a departure from spiritual alienage towards the land of God's covenant.
• for she had heard (כִּי שָׁמְעָה – ki shama'ah): From the Hebrew root shama (שָׁמַע), "to hear," "to listen," "to understand." The entire basis for Naomi's action is what she has heard. This emphasizes the importance of news, testimony, or report, which can motivate a significant shift in direction, often pointing to God's revelation.
• in the country of Moab (בִּשְׂדֵה מוֹאָב – bis'de Mo'av): Reiterates that even in this pagan land, God's providential actions and good news reached Naomi, demonstrating His reach and sovereignty.
• that the LORD (כִּי־פָקַד יְהוָה – ki pakad YHWH):
  • the LORD (יְהוָה – YHWH): The personal, covenantal name of God revealed to Israel. This specific name underscores His direct, active involvement as the God of Israel, not a generic deity or a god of Moab like Chemosh. His name alone differentiates Him and His actions from the gods of the nations.
  • had visited (פָּקַד – pakad): This Hebrew verb has a broad semantic range including "to count," "to appoint," "to attend to," "to muster," "to punish," and importantly, "to visit with intent," "to remember." In this positive context, it means God has remembered His people for good, showing active, caring intervention (cf. Gen 21:1 for Sarah, Exod 3:16 for Israel). It denotes His personal attention to their plight and proactive grace.
• His people (אֶת־עַמּוֹ – et 'ammo): Emphasizes that YHWH's action is directed towards the nation with whom He has a special covenant relationship.
• by giving them bread (לָתֵת לָהֶם לָחֶם – latet lahem lehem):
  • bread (לֶחֶם – lehem): A fundamental staple, symbolizing life, sustenance, and prosperity. It represents the tangible, practical reversal of the famine and serves as undeniable proof of YHWH's benevolent "visitation."
  • This specific detail confirms that God's "visitation" was tangible and met a very real, existential need.

Words-group analysis:

• "Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab": This phrase marks the critical turning point of the book. It's a journey not merely of geographical relocation but of seeking new life, moving from loss and foreignness back toward belonging and potential blessing within the sphere of God's covenant.
• "for she had heard...that the LORD had visited": This highlights that divine action and divine news are the drivers of human change and hope. Naomi's decision isn't based on her own strength or wisdom, but on an external, verifiable report of God's benevolent hand. Her hope is derived from God's character and activity.
• "visited His people by giving them bread": This precise articulation reveals the nature of God's care. He addresses His people's most fundamental need (food), demonstrating His intimate involvement and faithfulness to His covenant promises even in times of suffering and despite human sin. It's a picture of restorative grace.

Ruth 1 6 Bonus section

• The famine initially mentioned in Ruth 1:1 that drove Naomi's family to Moab was a sign of divine displeasure or corrective discipline, common in the Judges period due to Israel's disobedience (cf. Deut 28:15-68 for curses, especially 28:23-24 for drought/famine). Thus, YHWH "visiting" with "bread" signals a lifting of this discipline and a return to blessing.
• The very act of Naomi "returning" from Moab to Judah foreshadows a larger theological truth of turning back to God, His covenant, and His land after periods of spiritual wandering or exile, even if geographically located in a foreign land.
• The detail that Naomi "heard" this news in Moab emphasizes God's providence reaching even into pagan territory. The news of YHWH's faithfulness spreads beyond the borders of Israel, potentially impacting Gentiles.
• This verse lays the groundwork for the rest of the book by introducing divine providence as the overarching theme. Naomi's human decision is a response to divine action, demonstrating how God works through seemingly ordinary circumstances to accomplish His extraordinary plans.

Ruth 1 6 Commentary

Ruth 1:6 serves as the narrative hinge, pivoting the story from tragedy and desolation in a foreign land to the reawakening of hope centered on YHWH's faithful provision. Naomi, having endured the deepest personal losses and the hardship of famine in Moab, receives news of God's benevolent action in Judah. This news is not merely a piece of information but an animating truth about the covenant-keeping God, YHWH. The specific phrase "the LORD had visited His people by giving them bread" profoundly impacts Naomi. The verb "visited" (pakad) signals a divine remembrance and active intervention, a positive turning of God's attention towards Israel after a period of hardship or perceived absence. The "bread" represents not only basic sustenance but also God's tangible and immediate solution to their distress, underscoring His sovereignty over life's circumstances, from abundance to famine. This divine provision becomes the external prompt and internal hope that moves Naomi to initiate the return journey to Bethlehem, anticipating further restoration and fulfillment of God's promises, a move that will ultimately lead to Ruth's integration into the lineage of David and Jesus Christ. The verse encapsulates a faith response: acting upon credible news of God's active goodness.