Ruth 1:10 Study Bible: They said to her, "No, but we will return with you to your people."

◄ Ruth 1:10 ►

and said, "Surely we will return with you to your people."

and said to her
This phrase indicates a direct response from Ruth and Orpah to Naomi. The Hebrew root for "said" is "אָמַר" (amar), which is often used in the Old Testament to denote speech or declaration. This word sets the stage for a heartfelt dialogue, emphasizing the importance of communication in relationships. In the context of Ruth, it highlights the deep bond and respect between the women, as they are about to make a significant decision regarding their future.

We will return
The phrase "We will return" is pivotal, as it reflects a decision to go back with Naomi to her homeland. The Hebrew word for "return" is "שׁוּב" (shuv), which means to turn back or restore. This word is rich in theological significance, often used in the context of repentance or turning back to God. Here, it signifies a physical return but also hints at a deeper spiritual journey, as Ruth and Orpah contemplate leaving their past behind for a new life.

with you
This phrase underscores the loyalty and commitment of Ruth and Orpah to Naomi. The Hebrew preposition "עִם" (im) means "with" and denotes companionship and solidarity. In the ancient Near Eastern culture, such loyalty to a mother-in-law was extraordinary, highlighting the strength of their relationship. This commitment foreshadows Ruth's famous declaration of loyalty later in the chapter, setting the stage for her role in God's redemptive plan.

to your people
The phrase "to your people" signifies a willingness to leave behind their own Moabite identity and embrace the Israelite community. The Hebrew word for "people" is "עַם" (am), which refers to a nation or community bound by common identity and covenant. This decision is not just a change of residence but a profound shift in allegiance and identity. It reflects the theme of inclusion and the breaking down of ethnic barriers, as Ruth, a Moabite, becomes part of the lineage of David and ultimately, Jesus Christ. This highlights the universal scope of God's redemptive plan, which transcends cultural and national boundaries.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Naomi
A widow from Bethlehem in Judah who moved to Moab with her husband and sons during a famine. After the deaths of her husband and sons, she decides to return to Bethlehem.

2. Ruth
A Moabite woman, the widow of one of Naomi's sons. She is known for her loyalty and faithfulness to Naomi.

3. Orpah
Another Moabite woman, also a widow of Naomi's son. Initially, she expresses a desire to stay with Naomi but eventually returns to her people.

4. Moab
A region east of the Dead Sea, often in conflict with Israel. It is where Naomi's family sought refuge during the famine.

5. Bethlehem
Naomi's original home in Judah, known as the "House of Bread." It is significant as the birthplace of King David and later, Jesus Christ.

Teaching Points

Loyalty and Commitment
Ruth's decision to stay with Naomi exemplifies steadfast loyalty. In our lives, we are called to show similar commitment to our family, friends, and faith community.

Faith in Uncertainty
Ruth's choice to leave her homeland for an uncertain future in Bethlehem is a powerful example of faith. We are encouraged to trust God even when the path ahead is unclear.

God's Providence
The account of Ruth and Naomi illustrates God's providence and care. Despite their initial hardships, God had a plan for their redemption and blessing.

Cross-Cultural Relationships
Ruth's integration into Naomi's people highlights the importance of embracing and valuing cultural diversity within the body of Christ.

Legacy of Faith
Ruth's faithfulness not only impacted her immediate circumstances but also had a lasting legacy, as she became an ancestor of King David and Jesus. Our actions today can have far-reaching effects.

Bible Study Questions

1. What can we learn from Ruth's loyalty to Naomi, and how can we apply this in our relationships today?

2. How does Ruth's decision to leave Moab reflect a step of faith, and what steps of faith might God be calling you to take?

3. In what ways does the account of Ruth and Naomi demonstrate God's providence, and how have you seen God's hand in your life during difficult times?

4. How can Ruth's integration into Naomi's community inspire us to embrace and support those from different cultural backgrounds in our church or community?

5. Considering Ruth's place in the genealogy of Jesus, how does this encourage you to think about the potential long-term impact of your faithfulness and decisions?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Genesis 12
The call of Abram to leave his country and go to a land God would show him. This parallels Ruth's willingness to leave her homeland for an uncertain future.

Matthew 1
The genealogy of Jesus, which includes Ruth, highlighting her importance in the lineage of Christ.

1 Samuel 16
The anointing of David, Ruth's great-grandson, showing the significance of her decision to stay with Naomi.

Sermons

Promise and Purpose to be Allied	C. Ness.	Ruth 1:10
Promises and Purposes	John Macgowan.	Ruth 1:10
The Failure of Good Impulses	J. Cumming.	Ruth 1:10
Separation	J.R. Thomson	Ruth 1:10-14

People

Chilion, Elimelech, Ephrathites, Mahlon, Mara, Naomi, Orpah, Ruth

Places

Bethlehem, Moab

Topics

Certainly, Nay, Return, Surely

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Ruth 1:3-13

Ruth 1:3-17

Ruth 1:6-18

Ruth 1:8-13

Library

A Gentle Heroine, a Gentile Convert
'And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17. Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. 18. When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her. 19. So they two went until they came to Beth-lehem. And it …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Worst Things Work for Good to the Godly
DO not mistake me, I do not say that of their own nature the worst things are good, for they are a fruit of the curse; but though they are naturally evil, yet the wise overruling hand of God disposing and sanctifying them, they are morally good. As the elements, though of contrary qualities, yet God has so tempered them, that they all work in a harmonious manner for the good of the universe. Or as in a watch, the wheels seem to move contrary one to another, but all carry on the motions of the watch: …
Thomas Watson—A Divine Cordial

Bands of Love
P. G. Ruth i. 16, 17 A homeless Stranger amongst us came To this land of death and mourning; He walked in a path of sorrow and shame, Through insult, and hate, and scorning. A Man of sorrows, of toil and tears, An outcast Man and a lonely; But He looked on me, and through endless years Him must I love--Him only. Then from this sad and sorrowful land, From this land of tears He departed; But the light of His eyes and the touch of His hand Had left me broken-hearted. And I clave to Him as He turned …
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen, Suso, and Others

What is Thy Beloved, More than Another Beloved, O Thou Fairest among Women! what is Thy Beloved, More than Another Beloved, that Thou Dost So Charge Us?
The daughters of Jerusalem do not cease to call her the fairest among women, because her most painful wounds are hidden, and those which are exposed even add lustre to her beauty. They are astonished at beholding a love so strong, so constant and so faithful in the midst of so many disasters. They inquire, Who is this Well-beloved? For, say they, He must be of unequalled attraction, thus to engage His Spouse; for though these souls are spiritual, they are not yet sufficiently advanced to comprehend …
Madame Guyon—Song of Songs of Solomon

Whether the Old Law Set Forth Suitable Precepts About the Members of the Household?
Objection 1: It would seem that the Old Law set forth unsuitable precepts about the members of the household. For a slave "is in every respect his master's property," as the Philosopher states (Polit. i, 2). But that which is a man's property should be his always. Therefore it was unfitting for the Law to command (Ex. 21:2) that slaves should "go out free" in the seventh year. Objection 2: Further, a slave is his master's property, just as an animal, e.g. an ass or an ox. But it is commanded (Dt. …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Epistle xxxii. To Narses the Patrician.
To Narses the Patrician. Gregory to Narses, &c. Your most sweet Charity has said much to me in your letters in praise of my good deeds, to all which I briefly reply, Call me not Noemi, that is beautiful; but call me Mara, that is bitter; for I am full of bitterness (Ruth i. 20). But as to the cause of the presbyters [1555] , which is pending with my brother and fellow-bishop, the most reverend Patriarch John, we have, as I think, for our adversary the very man whom you assert to be desirous of observing …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

Epistle cxxi. To Leander, Bishop of Hispalis (Seville).
To Leander, Bishop of Hispalis (Seville). Gregory to Leander, Bishop of Spain. I have the epistle of thy Holiness, written with the pen of charity alone. For what the tongue transferred to the paper had got its tincture from the heart. Good and wise men were present when it was read, and at once their bowels were stirred with emotion. Everyone began to seize thee in his heart with the hand of love, for that in that epistle the sweetness of thy disposition was not to be heard, but seen. All severally …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

Man.
THE IMAGE OF GOD. MAN is God's image, and to curse wickedly the image of God, is to curse God himself. Suppose that a man should say with his mouth, I wish that the king's picture were burned; would not this man's so saying render him as an enemy to the person of the king? Even so it is with them that by cursing wish evil to their neighbors or themselves; they contemn the image of God himself. This world, as it dropped from the fingers of God, was far more glorious than it is now. VALUE OF THE SOUL. …
John Bunyan—The Riches of Bunyan

Epistle vi. To Narses, Patrician .
To Narses, Patrician [1305] . Gregory to Narses, &c. In describing loftily the sweetness of contemplation, you have renewed the groans of my fallen state, since I hear what I have lost inwardly while mounting outwardly, though undeserving, to the topmost height of rule. Know then that I am stricken with so great sorrow that I can scarcely speak; for the dark shades of grief block up the eyes of my soul. Whatever is beheld is sad, whatever is thought delightful appears to my heart lamentable. For …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

A Cloud of Witnesses.
"By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was a-dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when his end was nigh, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.... By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed about for seven days. By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient, …
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews

Departure from Ireland. Death and Burial at Clairvaux.
[Sidenote: 1148, May (?)] 67. (30). Being asked once, in what place, if a choice were given him, he would prefer to spend his last day--for on this subject the brothers used to ask one another what place each would select for himself--he hesitated, and made no reply. But when they insisted, he said, "If I take my departure hence[821] I shall do so nowhere more gladly than whence I may rise together with our Apostle"[822]--he referred to St. Patrick; "but if it behoves me to make a pilgrimage, and …
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh

Place of Jesus in the History of the World.
The great event of the History of the world is the revolution by which the noblest portions of humanity have passed from the ancient religions, comprised under the vague name of Paganism, to a religion founded on the Divine Unity, the Trinity, and the Incarnation of the Son of God. It has taken nearly a thousand years to accomplish this conversion. The new religion had itself taken at least three hundred years in its formation. But the origin of the revolution in question with which we have to do …
Ernest Renan—The Life of Jesus

Christ the Mediator of the Covenant
'Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant,' &c. Heb 12:24. Jesus Christ is the sum and quintessence of the gospel; the wonder of angels; the joy and triumph of saints. The name of Christ is sweet, it is as music in the ear, honey in the mouth, and a cordial at the heart. I shall waive the context, and only speak of that which concerns our present purpose. Having discoursed of the covenant of grace, I shall speak now of the Mediator of the covenant, and the restorer of lapsed sinners, Jesus the Mediator …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Appendix xii. The Baptism of Proselytes
ONLY those who have made study of it can have any idea how large, and sometimes bewildering, is the literature on the subject of Jewish Proselytes and their Baptism. Our present remarks will be confined to the Baptism of Proselytes. 1. Generally, as regards proselytes (Gerim) we have to distinguish between the Ger ha-Shaar (proselyte of the gate) and Ger Toshabh (sojourner,' settled among Israel), and again the Ger hatstsedeq (proselyte of righteousness) and Ger habberith (proselyte of the covenant). …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Meditations of the Blessed State of a Regenerate Man in Heaven.
Here my meditation dazzles, and my pen falls out of my hand; the one being not able to conceive, nor the other to describe, that most excellent bliss, and eternal weight of glory (2 Cor. iv. 17; Rom. viii. 18)--whereof all the afflictions of this present life are not worthy--which all the elect shall with the blessed Trinity enjoy, from that time that they shall be received with Christ, as joint-heirs (Rom. viii. 17) into that everlasting kingdom of joy. Notwithstanding, we may take a scantling thereof. …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Ruth
Goethe has characterized the book of Ruth as the loveliest little idyll that tradition has transmitted to us. Whatever be its didactic purpose--and some would prefer to think that it had little or none-it is, at any rate, a wonderful prose poem, sweet, artless, and persuasive, touched with the quaintness of an older world and fresh with the scent of the harvest fields. The love--stronger than country--of Ruth for Naomi, the gracious figure of Boaz as he moves about the fields with a word of blessing …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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