Ruth

Ruth 1:11–18

¹¹But Naomi replied, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb to become your husbands? ¹²Return home, my daughters. Go on, for I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was hope for me to have a husband tonight and to bear sons, ¹³would you wait for them to grow up? Would you refrain from having husbands? No, my daughters, it is much more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.”

¹⁴Again they wept aloud, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.

¹⁵“Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; follow her back home.”

¹⁶But Ruth replied:

“Do not urge me to leave you

or to turn from following you.

For wherever you go, I will go,

and wherever you live, I will live;

your people will be my people,

and your God will be my God.

¹⁷Where you die, I will die,

and there I will be buried.

May the LORD punish me,

and ever so severely,

if anything but death

separates you and me.”

¹⁸When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped trying to persuade her.

Read all of Ruth 1

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Ruth 1:11

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But Naomi	נָעֳמִי֙	nā·‘o·mî	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H5281 Noömi
replied	וַתֹּ֤אמֶר	wat·tō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H559 utter, say
Return home	שֹׁ֣בְנָה	šō·ḇə·nāh	Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine plural	H7725 turn back, return
my daughters	בְנֹתַ֔י	ḇə·nō·ṯay	Noun - feminine plural construct; first person common singular	H1323 daughter
Why	לָ֥מָּה	lām·māh	Interrogative	H4100 what? how? aught
would you go	תֵלַ֖כְנָה	ṯê·laḵ·nāh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine plural	H1980 go, come, walk
with me	עִמִּ֑י	‘im·mî	Preposition; first person common singular	H5973 with
there still	הַֽעֽוֹד־	ha·‘ō·wḏ-	Adverb	H5750 a going round, continuance
sons	בָנִים֙	ḇā·nîm	Noun - masculine plural	H1121 son
in my womb	בְּֽמֵעַ֔י	bə·mê·‘ay	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine plural construct; first person common singular	H4578 internal organs, inward parts (intestines, bowels), belly
to become	וְהָי֥וּ	wə·hā·yū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
your	לָכֶ֖ם	lā·ḵem	Preposition; second person masculine plural
husbands	לַאֲנָשִֽׁים׃	la·’ă·nā·šîm	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine plural	H582 man, mankind

Ruth 1:12

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Return home	שֹׁ֤בְנָה	šō·ḇə·nāh	Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine plural	H7725 turn back, return
my daughters	בְנֹתַי֙	ḇə·nō·ṯay	Noun - feminine plural construct; first person common singular	H1323 daughter
Go on	לֵ֔כְןָ	lê·ḵə·nā	Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine plural	H1980 go, come, walk
for	כִּ֥י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
I am too old	זָקַ֖נְתִּי	zā·qan·tî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H2204 be or become old
to have	מִהְי֣וֹת	mih·yō·wṯ	Preposition-m; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
another husband	לְאִ֑ישׁ	lə·’îš	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
Even if	כִּ֤י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
I thought	אָמַ֙רְתִּי֙	’ā·mar·tî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H559 utter, say
there was	יֶשׁ־	yeš-	Adverb	H3426 being, substance, existence
hope	תִקְוָ֔ה	ṯiq·wāh	Noun - feminine singular	H8615 cord
for me	לִ֣י	lî	Preposition; first person common singular
to have	הָיִ֤יתִי	hā·yî·ṯî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
a husband	לְאִ֔ישׁ	lə·’îš	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
tonight	הַלַּ֙יְלָה֙	hal·lay·lāh	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3915 twist, night, adversity
and	גַּ֣ם	gam	Conjunction	H1571 also, moreover, yea
to bear	יָלַ֥דְתִּי	yā·laḏ·tî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H3205 bear, bring forth, beget
sons	בָנִֽים׃	ḇā·nîm	Noun - masculine plural	H1121 son

Ruth 1:13

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
would you wait	תְּשַׂבֵּ֗רְנָה	tə·śab·bê·rə·nāh	Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person feminine plural	H7663 inspect, examine
for them	הֲלָהֵ֣ן׀	hă·lā·hên	Conjunction	H3860 on this account, therefore
to	עַ֚ד	‘aḏ	Preposition	H5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
grow up	יִגְדָּ֔לוּ	yiḡ·dā·lū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H1431 grow up, become great
Would you refrain	תֵּֽעָגֵ֔נָה	tê·‘ā·ḡê·nāh	Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - second person feminine plural	H5702 shut oneself in or off
from	לְבִלְתִּ֖י	lə·ḇil·tî	Preposition-l	H1115 not, except
having	הֱי֣וֹת	hĕ·yō·wṯ	Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
husbands	לְאִ֑ישׁ	lə·’îš	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
No	אַ֣ל	’al	Adverb	H408 prohibition, do not . . ., let not . . .
my daughters	בְּנֹתַ֗י	bə·nō·ṯay	Noun - feminine plural construct; first person common singular	H1323 daughter
it is much more bitter	מַר־	mar-	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H4843 be bitter
for me	לִ֤י	lî	Preposition; first person common singular
than for you	מִכֶּ֔ם	mik·kem	Preposition; second person masculine plural
because	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
the hand	יַד־	yaḏ-	Noun - feminine singular construct	H3027 hand
of the LORD	יְהוָֽה׃	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
has gone out	יָצְאָ֥ה	yā·ṣə·’āh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular	H3318 go or come out
against me	בִ֖י	ḇî	Preposition; first person common singular

Ruth 1:14

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Again	ע֑וֹד	‘ō·wḏ	Adverb	H5750 a going round, continuance
they wept	וַתִּבְכֶּ֖ינָה	wat·tiḇ·ke·nāh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine plural	H1058 weep, bewail
aloud	וַתִּשֶּׂ֣נָה	wat·tiś·śe·nāh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine plural	H5375 lift, take, carry
and Orpah	עָרְפָּה֙	‘ā·rə·pāh	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H6204 Orpah
kissed	וַתִּשַּׁ֤ק	wat·tiš·šaq	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H5401 kiss
her mother-in-law	לַחֲמוֹתָ֔הּ	la·ḥă·mō·w·ṯāh	Preposition-l; Noun - feminine singular construct; third person feminine singular	H2545 husband's mother
but Ruth	וְר֖וּת	wə·rūṯ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H7327 Ruth
clung	דָּ֥בְקָה	dā·ḇə·qāh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular	H1692 cling, cleave, keep close
to her	בָּֽהּ׃	bāh	Preposition; third person feminine singular

Ruth 1:15

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Look	הִנֵּה֙	hin·nêh	Interjection	H2009 lo! behold!
said Naomi	וַתֹּ֗אמֶר	wat·tō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H559 utter, say
your sister-in-law	יְבִמְתֵּ֔ךְ	yə·ḇim·têḵ	Noun - feminine singular construct; second person feminine singular	H2994 sister-in-law
has gone back	שָׁ֣בָה	šā·ḇāh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular	H7725 turn back, return
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
her people	עַמָּ֖הּ	‘am·māh	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person feminine singular	H5971 people
and	וְאֶל־	wə·’el-	Conjunctive waw; Preposition	H413 motion to
her gods	אֱלֹהֶ֑יהָ	’ĕ·lō·he·hā	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person feminine singular	H430 God
follow	שׁ֖וּבִי	šū·ḇî	Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular	H7725 turn back, return
back home	אַחֲרֵ֥י	’a·ḥă·rê	Preposition	H310 behind

Ruth 1:16

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But Ruth	רוּת֙	rūṯ	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H7327 Ruth
replied	וַתֹּ֤אמֶר	wat·tō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H559 utter, say
Do not	אַל־	’al-	Adverb	H408 prohibition, do not . . ., let not . . .
urge	תִּפְגְּעִי־	tip̄·gə·‘î-	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singular	H6293 meet, encounter, reach
me	בִ֔י	ḇî	Preposition; first person common singular
to leave you	לְעָזְבֵ֖ךְ	lə·‘ā·zə·ḇêḵ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; second person feminine singular	H5800 leave, forsake, loose
to turn	לָשׁ֣וּב	lā·šūḇ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H7725 turn back, return
from following you	מֵאַחֲרָ֑יִךְ	mê·’a·ḥă·rā·yiḵ	Preposition-m; second person feminine singular	H310 behind
For	כִּ֠י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
wherever	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
you go	תֵּלְכִ֜י	tê·lə·ḵî	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
I will go	אֵלֵ֗ךְ	’ê·lêḵ	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular	H1980 go, come, walk
and wherever	וּבַאֲשֶׁ֤ר	ū·ḇa·’ă·šer	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b; Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
you live	תָּלִ֙ינִי֙	tā·lî·nî	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singular	H3885 lodge, pass the night
I will live	אָלִ֔ין	’ā·lîn	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular	H3885 lodge, pass the night
your people	עַמֵּ֣ךְ	‘am·mêḵ	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person feminine singular	H5971 people
will be my people	עַמִּ֔י	‘am·mî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H5971 people
and your God	וֵאלֹהַ֖יִךְ	wê·lō·ha·yiḵ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural construct; second person feminine singular	H430 God
will be my God	אֱלֹהָֽי׃	’ĕ·lō·hāy	Noun - masculine plural construct; first person common singular	H430 God

Ruth 1:17

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Where	בַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר	ba·’ă·šer	Preposition-b; Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
you die	תָּמ֙וּתִי֙	tā·mū·ṯî	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singular	H4191 die
I will die	אָמ֔וּת	’ā·mūṯ	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular	H4191 die
and there	וְשָׁ֖ם	wə·šām	Conjunctive waw; Adverb	H8033 there, thither
I will be buried	אֶקָּבֵ֑ר	’eq·qā·ḇêr	Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - first person common singular	H6912 bury
May the LORD	יְהוָ֥ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
punish	יַעֲשֶׂ֨ה	ya·‘ă·śeh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6213 do, make
me	לִי֙	lî	Preposition; first person common singular
and ever so	וְכֹ֣ה	wə·ḵōh	Conjunctive waw; Adverb	H3541 thus, here
severely	יֹסִ֔יף	yō·sîp̄	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3254 add
if	כִּ֣י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
anything but death	הַמָּ֔וֶת	ham·mā·weṯ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4194 death
separates	יַפְרִ֖יד	yap̄·rîḏ	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6504 divide
you	בֵּינִ֥י	bê·nî	Preposition; first person common singular	H996 interval, space between
and me	וּבֵינֵֽךְ׃	ū·ḇê·nêḵ	Conjunctive waw; Preposition; second person feminine singular	H996 interval, space between

Ruth 1:18

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
When Naomi saw	וַתֵּ֕רֶא	wat·tê·re	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H7200 see
that	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
Ruth	הִ֖יא	hî	Pronoun - third person feminine singular	H1931 he, she
was determined	מִתְאַמֶּ֥צֶת	miṯ·’am·me·ṣeṯ	Verb - Hitpael - Participle - feminine singular	H553 be alert
to go	לָלֶ֣כֶת	lā·le·ḵeṯ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H1980 go, come, walk
with her	אִתָּ֑הּ	’it·tāh	Preposition; third person feminine singular	H854 with
she stopped	וַתֶּחְדַּ֖ל	wat·teḥ·dal	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H2308 cease
trying to persuade her	לְדַבֵּ֥ר	lə·ḏab·bêr	Preposition-l; Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct	H1696 speak