Paragraph 1:3–5

This paragraph gives the details of Naomi’s situation. After Elimelech and his family went to Moab, Naomi’s husband and her two sons died. She became a widow with no male family members to provide for her and protect her. This crisis is the main problem of the story. The rest of the story tells how this crisis is resolved.

1:3a

Then Naomi’s husband Elimelech died: Here are some ways to indicate the connection of this clause to the previous clause. Any of these options is acceptable:

• Indicate that this clause is the next event in the story. The Berean Standard Bible and some other versions translate this function with a word like Then or “And.” Here this word introduces the next event. For example:

Now Naomi’s husband Elimelech died. (God’s Word)
-or-

And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. (King James Version)

• Indicate that this clause talks about an event that occurred at an unspecified time after their arrival in Moab. For example:

Sometime later Naomi’s husband Elimelech died, so she and her two sons were left alone. (NET Bible)
-or-

While they were living there, Elimelech died, and Naomi was left alone with her two sons (Good News Translation)

• Indicate that this clause talks about an event that was not expected. For example:

But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. (English Standard Version)

• Leave the connection to the previous clause implied. For example:

Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left with her two sons. (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

This clause refers to Elimelech as Naomi’s husband. In Hebrew, it is unusual to refer to a man in relation to a woman. However, by referring to Elimelech as Naomi’s husband, the author is giving attention to Naomi as the main character of this part of the story.

It is recommended that you translate this clause in a natural way in your language to indicate that Naomi is now the main character in the story. Here are two examples:

• Translate literally. Keep the reference to Elimelech as Naomi’s husband. For example:

But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died (English Standard Version)

• Translate that Elimelech died. In 1:3b remind the readers that his wife’s (widow’s) name was Naomi by making her name explicit. For example:

Elimelech died, 3b leaving Naomi with only her two sons (Contemporary English Version)

1:3b

and she was left with her two sons: Here are some ways to indicate the connection of this clause to the previous clause. Either of these options is acceptable:

• Indicate that this clause talks about the result of the death of Elimelech. For example:

So she and her two sons were left alone. (NET Bible)

• Indicate that this clause talks about the next situation in the story. For example:

and Naomi was left with her two sons (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

The Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as was left means “left behind.” In this clause, the word refers to Naomi losing her husband. She needed to care for her two sons alone, as a single mother.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Naomi was left a widow with her two sons. (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Naomi no longer had a husband, only her two sons.

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