Ruth 1:9 kjv

The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.

Ruth 1:9 nkjv

The LORD grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband." So she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.

Ruth 1:9 niv

May the LORD grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband." Then she kissed them goodbye and they wept aloud

Ruth 1:9 esv

The LORD grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!" Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.

Ruth 1:9 nlt

May the LORD bless you with the security of another marriage." Then she kissed them good-bye, and they all broke down and wept.

Ruth 1 verses

Ruth 1 9 Meaning

This verse expresses Naomi's profound wish and prayer for her two Moabite daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth. It is a heartfelt blessing from a loving mother-in-law, wishing for them to find ultimate security, peace, and stability in their future lives. Specifically, it prays for each woman to find the solace, protection, and provision that came from being securely established within her own household, signified by marriage to a husband in their homeland. For a widow in the ancient Near East, such a "rest" through marriage was paramount for survival, social standing, and perpetuating a family line.

Ruth 1 9 Context

Ruth chapter 1 recounts Naomi's bitter return to Bethlehem from Moab after the deaths of her husband Elimelech and her two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. All three men died in Moab, leaving Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth as widows. Naomi decides to return to Judah, her homeland, and her two Moabite daughters-in-law initially set out with her. As they journey, Naomi, overwhelmed by her grief and the grim reality of their circumstances (particularly her inability to provide husbands for them as she had no other sons), attempts to persuade them to return to their maternal homes in Moab. She recognizes their immense vulnerability as foreign widows without familial protection or provision. This verse (Ruth 1:9) is her sincere, compassionate blessing for them, reflecting a desperate wish for their secure and established future within the societal norms of the time. The historical context dictates that a woman's primary security, provision, and social identity derived from her attachment to a male head of household, typically a husband or father.

Ruth 1 9 Word analysis

• The Lord (Hebrew: YHWH, יהוה - Yahweh): Refers to the personal, covenant God of Israel. Naomi's invocation of YHWH signifies her enduring faith, despite her personal bitterness (Ruth 1:20). It elevates her wish beyond a mere hope to a solemn prayer for divine intervention and blessing, acknowledging God's sovereignty over life and destiny.
• grant (Hebrew: yittēn, יִתֵּן from the root נָתַן - nātan): Meaning "to give," "to place," "to allow," or "to provide." Here, it expresses a request for divine bestowal. It highlights that the "rest" sought is not achieved by human effort alone, but is a gift from God, emphasizing dependency on His gracious provision.
• you (plural): Refers specifically to both Orpah and Ruth. Naomi's blessing is directed equally towards both women.
• that you may find (Hebrew: timṣenah, תִמְצֶאןָ from מָצָא - māṣā): "To find," "to reach," "to attain." Implies an active search or discovery leading to acquisition. It underscores that this "rest" is something highly desired and necessary to obtain.
• rest (Hebrew: menuchah, מְנוּחָה): This is a key term, meaning "rest," "quietness," "repose," "place of rest," or "security." In the Old Testament, "rest" (menuchah) often denotes more than mere cessation from labor. It frequently signifies a state of secure, stable, peaceful existence, as experienced in the promised land (Deut 12:9-10; Josh 1:13) or found in God's presence (Exod 33:14). For a widow, this specific "rest" implies freedom from the burdens of uncertainty, lack of provision, and social vulnerability, encompassing shelter, security, and a fulfilled domestic life. Naomi uses this term again in Ruth 3:1 concerning Ruth.
• each of you: Emphasizes the individual need and blessing intended for both Orpah and Ruth specifically and personally.
• in the house of her husband (Hebrew: bêṯ îshāh, בֵּ֣ית אִישָׁ֑הּ):
  • house (Hebrew: bêṯ, בֵּ֣ית): Signifies not just the physical dwelling, but the entire household, family unit, lineage, and sphere of security and belonging. In ancient Israelite society, the "house" was the fundamental unit of identity, inheritance, and protection.
  • her husband (Hebrew: îshāh, אִישָׁ֑הּ): Literally "her man." A husband was the primary source of a woman's social standing, economic security, legal protection, and the means for having children, which ensured the continuation of her line and secured her place within the community. For a woman, establishing oneself "in the house of her husband" meant securing a permanent home, a stable position, and the ability to bear children and build a future.
• Words-Group analysis:
  • "The Lord grant you": Highlights the divine source of true blessings and security. It is a deeply spiritual blessing from Naomi, even amidst her sorrow.
  • "that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!": This phrase encapsulates the core desire—a secure, stable, and established life through marriage and a functioning household. It identifies marriage as the ultimate means for a woman to attain security and fulfill her societal role in that era, offering a profound sense of belonging and peace (menuchah).

Ruth 1 9 Bonus section

This prayer by Naomi sets up a critical theological and narrative tension. While Naomi's earthly understanding limits her vision of "rest" to a husband from Moab, God's plan extends beyond her cultural framework. The book of Ruth demonstrates how YHWH's menuchah (rest/security) ultimately comes through a kinsman-redeemer (Boaz) in Israel, for the non-Israelite Ruth, highlighting divine grace that transcends human expectations and national boundaries. This also emphasizes that true rest and provision often come through God's redemptive work within His people, a theme later fulfilled spiritually in Christ.

Ruth 1 9 Commentary

Naomi’s blessing in Ruth 1:9, "The Lord grant you that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband," encapsulates deep compassion and selfless concern. Despite her own crushing losses and despair (evident in later verses like Ruth 1:20-21), Naomi genuinely desires a life of security and stability for her young daughters-in-law. This "rest" (menuchah) is not merely a break from toil, but profound domestic peace, protection, and establishment within a secure household, traditionally provided by a husband. It reflects the cultural reality where a woman’s well-being, social standing, and perpetuation of her lineage were intimately tied to marriage. The prayer subtly acknowledges YHWH's sovereign power to grant such a blessing, setting a spiritual tone even in the face of human tragedy. Ironical in retrospect, this prayer foreshadows Ruth's eventual 'rest' found through Boaz, albeit in an unexpected manner, highlighting God's faithfulness in surprising ways.