Ruth 1:15
New International Version
“Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.”

New Living Translation
“Look,” Naomi said to her, “your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. You should do the same.”

English Standard Version
And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.”

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

King James Bible
And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.

New King James Version
And she said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.”

New American Standard Bible
Then she said, “Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; return after your sister-in-law.”

NASB 1995
Then she said, “Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; return after your sister-in-law.”

NASB 1977
Then she said, “Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; return after your sister-in-law.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then she said, “Behold, your sister-in-law has returned to her people and her gods; return after your sister-in-law.”

Amplified Bible
Then Naomi said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; turn back and follow your sister-in-law.”

Christian Standard Bible
Naomi said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. Follow your sister-in-law.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Naomi said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her god. Follow your sister-in-law.”

American Standard Version
And she said, Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back unto her people, and unto her god: return thou after thy sister-in-law.

Contemporary English Version
Naomi then said to Ruth, "Look, your sister-in-law is going back to her people and to her gods! Why don't you go with her?"

English Revised Version
And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her god: return thou after thy sister in law.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Naomi said, "Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. Go back with your sister-in-law."

Good News Translation
So Naomi said to her, "Ruth, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her god. Go back home with her."

International Standard Version
Naomi told Ruth, "Look, your sister-in-law has returned to her people and to her gods. Follow your sister-in-law!"

Majority Standard Bible
?Look,? said Naomi, ?your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; follow her back home.?

NET Bible
So Naomi said, "Look, your sister-in-law is returning to her people and to her god. Follow your sister-in-law back home!"

New Heart English Bible
She said, "Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people, and to her god. Follow your sister-in-law.

Webster's Bible Translation
And she said, Behold, thy sister-in-law hath gone back to her people, and to her gods: return thou after thy sister-in-law.

World English Bible
She said, “Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her god. Follow your sister-in-law.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And she says, “Behold, your sister-in-law has turned back to her people, and to her god, turn back after your sister-in-law.”

Young's Literal Translation
And she saith, 'Lo, thy sister-in-law hath turned back unto her people, and unto her god, turn thou back after thy sister-in-law.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And she will say, Behold, thy sister-in-law turned back to her people, and to her gods: turn thou back after thy sister-in-law.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Noemi said to her: Behold thy kinswoman is returned to her people, and to her gods, go thou with her.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Naomi said to her, “See, your kinswoman returns to her people, and to her gods. Hurry after her.”

New American Bible
“See now,” she said, “your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her god. Go back after your sister-in-law!”

New Revised Standard Version
So she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And her mother-in-law said to her, Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her kinsmen; return also after your sister-in-law.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And her mother in law said to her: “Behold, your sister in law returned to her people and to the house of her people. Return you also after your sister in law”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And she said: 'Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back unto her people, and unto her god; return thou after thy sister-in-law.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Noemin said to Ruth, Behold, thy sister-in-law has returned to her people and to her gods; turn now thou also after thy sister-in-law.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Ruth's Loyalty to Naomi
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.…

Cross References
Genesis 12:1
Then the LORD said to Abram, “Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you.

Genesis 31:14-16
And Rachel and Leah replied, “Do we have any portion or inheritance left in our father’s house? / Are we not regarded by him as outsiders? Not only has he sold us, but he has certainly squandered what was paid for us. / Surely all the wealth that God has taken away from our father belongs to us and to our children. So do whatever God has told you.”

Joshua 24:15
But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!”

1 Kings 11:4
For when Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and he was not wholeheartedly devoted to the LORD his God, as his father David had been.

1 Kings 18:21
Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people did not answer a word.

2 Kings 2:2
and Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel.” But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.

2 Kings 2:6
And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me on to the Jordan.” But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on.

Psalm 45:10
Listen, O daughter! Consider and incline your ear: Forget your people and your father’s house,

Isaiah 55:6-7
Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. / Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.

Jeremiah 2:13
“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living water, and they have dug their own cisterns—broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

Matthew 10:37
Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me;

Matthew 19:29
And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for the sake of My name will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.

Luke 9:57-62
As they were walking along the road, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow You wherever You go.” / Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” / Then He said to another man, “Follow Me.” The man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” ...

Luke 14:26
“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple.

John 6:66-69
From that time on many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him. / So Jesus asked the Twelve, “Do you want to leave too?” / Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. ...


Treasury of Scripture

And she said, Behold, your sister in law is gone back to her people, and to her gods: return you after your sister in law.

gone back

Psalm 36:3
The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.

Psalm 125:5
As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.

Zephaniah 1:6
And them that are turned back from the LORD; and those that have not sought the LORD, nor inquired for him.

her gods

Judges 11:24
Wilt not thou possess that which Chemosh thy god giveth thee to possess? So whomsoever the LORD our God shall drive out from before us, them will we possess.

return

Joshua 24:15,19
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD…

2 Samuel 15:19,20
Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile…

2 Kings 2:2
And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.

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Ruth 1
1. Elimelech, driven by famine into Moab, dies there
4. Mahlon and Chilion, having married wives of Moab, die also
6. Naomi, returning homeward
8. dissuades her two daughters-in-law from going with her
14. Orpah leaves her, but Ruth with great constancy accompanies her
19. The two come to Bethlehem, where they are gladly received














Look
The Hebrew word here is "hineh," often used to draw attention to something important or to emphasize a point. Naomi is urging Ruth to consider the reality of the situation. This word sets the tone for a pivotal moment, highlighting the gravity of the decision Ruth is about to make. It is a call to awareness, urging Ruth to see the situation clearly and make a conscious choice.

said Naomi
Naomi, whose name means "pleasant," is a central figure in this narrative. Her life has been marked by hardship and loss, yet she remains a guiding force for Ruth. Her words carry the weight of experience and the pain of her own losses. Naomi's character is a testament to the enduring strength and resilience found in faith, even amidst suffering.

your sister-in-law has gone back
The phrase indicates a return to familiar territory, both physically and spiritually. Orpah's decision to return to her people and gods reflects a choice to seek security in the known, rather than venture into the unknown. This highlights the cultural and religious crossroads at which Ruth stands, emphasizing the significance of her impending decision.

to her people
This phrase underscores the importance of cultural identity and belonging. In the ancient Near Eastern context, one's people were not just family but a source of identity and support. Orpah's return to her people signifies a retreat to the safety of her cultural roots, a choice that contrasts with Ruth's eventual decision to embrace a new identity.

and her gods
The mention of "gods" reflects the polytheistic beliefs prevalent in Moab, where multiple deities were worshiped. This phrase highlights the spiritual dimension of Orpah's decision, as she returns to the religious practices of her upbringing. It sets the stage for Ruth's profound declaration of faith in the God of Israel, which will follow in the narrative.

return after your sister-in-law
Naomi's urging for Ruth to follow Orpah is both a practical and emotional appeal. It reflects Naomi's concern for Ruth's well-being, as she believes Ruth's prospects might be better among her own people. However, this also serves as a narrative device to contrast Ruth's steadfast loyalty and faith, which will soon be revealed. Naomi's words challenge Ruth to make a choice that will define her future and legacy.

(15) Naomi, now armed with a fresh argument, urges Ruth to follow her sister-in-law's example.

Her gods.--Naomi doubtless views the Moabite idols as realities, whose power is, however, confined to the land of Moab. She is not sufficiently enlightened in her religion to see in the Lord more than the God of Israel.

Verse 15. - And she said, Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back to her people, and to her gods: return thou after thy sister-in-law. The expression that stands in King James's version thus, "and to her gods," is rendered by Dr. Cassel "and to her God." The same interpretation, it is noteworthy, is given in the Targum of Jonathan, who renders the expression, "and to her Fear" (וּלְוַת דְּחַלְרָּהּ). Such a translation assumes that the Moabites were not only theists, but monotheists. And yet in the mythology, or primitive theology, of Moab, we read both of Baal-Peor and of Chemosh. As to the former, see Numbers 25:8, 5; Deuteronomy 4:3; Psalm 106:28; Hosea 9:10. As to the latter, see Judges 11:24; 1 Kings 11:7, 33; Jeremiah 48:7, 13. In Numbers, moreover, 21:29, and in Jeremiah 48:46, the Moabites are called the people of Chemosh, and frequently is their national god called Chemosh in the inscription of King Mesha on the Moabitish Stone, so recently discovered and deciphered. It is supposed, not without reason, that the two names belonged to one deity, Chemosh being the old native name. Nevertheless, the translation "to her god" is an interpretation, not a literal rendering, and, on the other hand, the translation "to her gods" would, on the hypothesis of the monotheism of the Moabites, be unidiomatic. The original expression, "to her Elohim," does not tell anything, and was not intended by Naomi to tell anything, or to hint anything, of a numerical character concerning the object or objects of the Moabitish worship. It was an expression equally appropriate whether there was, or was not, a plurality of objects worshipped. It might be liberally rendered, and to her own forms of religious worship. The word elohim was a survival of ancient polytheistic theology and worship, when a plurality of powers were held in awe. "For," says Fuller, "the heathen, supposing that the whole world, with all the creatures therein, was too great a diocese to be daily visited by one and the same deity, they therefore assigned sundry gods to several creatures." The time arrived, however, when the great idea flashed into the Hebrew mind, The Powers are One and hence the plural noun, with its subtended conception of unity, became construed with verbs and adjectives in the singular number. It was so construed when applied to the one living God; but it readily retained its original applicability to a plurality of deifies, and hence, in such a passage as the one before us, where there is neither adjective nor verb to indicate the number, the word is quite incapable of exact rendering into English. Orpah had returned to her people and her Elohim. Return thou after thy sister-in-law. Are we then to suppose that Naomi desired Ruth to return to her Moabitish faith? Is it with a slight degree of criticism that she referred to Orpah's palinode? Would she desire that Ruth should, in this matter, follow in her sister-in-law's wake? We touch on tender topics. Not unlikely she had all along suspected or seen that Orpah would not have insuperable religious scruples. And not unlikely, too, she would herself be free from narrow religious bigotry, at least to the extent of dimly admitting that the true worship of the heart could reach the true God, even when offensive names, and forms, and symbolisms were present in the outer courts of the creed. Nevertheless, when she said to Ruth, "Return thou after thy sister-in-law," she no doubt was rather putting her daughter-in-law to a final test, and leading her to thorough self-sifting, than encouraging her to go back to her ancestral forms of worship. "God," says Fuller, "wrestled with Jacob with desire to be conquered; so Naomi no doubt opposed Ruth, hoping and wishing that she herself might be foiled."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Look,”
הִנֵּה֙ (hin·nêh)
Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

said Naomi,
וַתֹּ֗אמֶר (wat·tō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“your sister-in-law
יְבִמְתֵּ֔ךְ (yə·ḇim·têḵ)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 2994: A sister-in-law

has gone back
שָׁ֣בָה (šā·ḇāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

her people
עַמָּ֖הּ (‘am·māh)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

and
וְאֶל־ (wə·’el-)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

her gods;
אֱלֹהֶ֑יהָ (’ĕ·lō·he·hā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

follow
שׁ֖וּבִי (šū·ḇî)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

[her] back home.”
אַחֲרֵ֥י (’a·ḥă·rê)
Preposition
Strong's 310: The hind or following part


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OT History: Ruth 1:15 She said Behold your sister-in-law is gone (Ru Rut.)
Ruth 1:14
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