1:7a

Accompanied by her two daughters-in-law, she left the place where she had been living: This clause is more literally “and she went out from the place where she had been there and her two daughters-in-law [were] with her.”

The Berean Standard Bible and some other versions have reordered the clause parts. The Hebrew order first indicates Naomi’s action, and then indicates that her daughters-in-law were with her. In some languages, it may be more natural to follow the Hebrew order. For example:

So she departed from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her (New American Standard Bible)

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 talks about the result/consequence of the news that the LORD had come to the aid of his people. For example:

So she set out from the place where she had been living, she and her two daughters-in-law (New Revised Standard Version)

• Indicate that this clause begins to give the details of Naomi’s return home. For example:

This is how it happened. She departed from the place where she had been living, accompanied by her two daughters-in-law

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

Accompanied by her two daughters-in-law, she left the place where she had been living (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

The Hebrew verbs that the Berean Standard Bible translates as left and had been living are singular, with Naomi as the subject. However, in some languages it may be more natural to translate these verbs as plural, since the two daughters-in-law were accompanying Naomi. For example:

They started out together to go back (Good News Translation)

Translate these verbs in a natural way in your language when one person is in focus, but more than one person is doing the same action.

the place where she had been living: This phrase refers to Naomi’s home in Moab.

1:7b

and set out on the road leading back to the land of Judah: This clause is more literally “and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.” There are two ways to interpret the referent of the Hebrew word “to return” that the Berean Standard Bible translates as leading back :

(1) It refers to the noun “way.” It was the way/road that would return them to the land of Judah. For example:

and they set out on the road back to the land of Judah (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

(2) It refers to the verb “went.” The reason they went was to return to the land of Judah. For example:

began to leave the place where she had been living to return to the land of Judah (NET Bible)

Some versions are ambiguous as to the interpretation that they follow. It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with the majority of versions.

In this verse part, the Hebrew word “to return” may cause confusion if translated literally. All three women were traveling together. However, only Naomi would actually “return” to Judah, since Orpah and Ruth had not been there before.

In some languages, it may be more natural to translate this verse part differently. For example:

• Use a phrase other than leading back or “return.” For example:

they went on the road that led to Judah

• Translate in a way that the phrase leading back or “return” refers only to Naomi. For example:

They traveled on the road that led back to Naomi’s home in the land of Judah.

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