Paragraph 1:8–10

1:8a

Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you to your mother’s home: In this clause, Naomi attempted to send her daughters-in-law back to their former homes in Moab.

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 contrasts the return to Moab in 1:8 with the return to Israel in 1:7. For example:

But on the way, Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back to your mother’s homes (New Living Translation (2004))

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

And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. (New American Standard Bible)
-or-

Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back! Each of you should go back to your mother’s home. (God’s Word)

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

Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, ‘Go back, each of you to your mother’s house. (New Jerusalem Bible)

Go back: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “Go return.” It is an idiom that gives emphasis to the command to return. Here Naomi strongly urged Ruth and Orpah to return to their homes.

The blessing that Naomi gives in 1:8b indicates that she thought well of them and wanted each of them to have a good life. So translate this idiom in a way that indicates emphasis but not anger or scolding.

Here are some other ways to translate this idiom:

Turn back (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
-or-
Listen to me! Each of you should return (God’s Word)

each of you to your mother’s home: Naomi urged her daughters-in-law to return to the homes they each came from before they married.

each of you: This phrase indicated that Ruth and Orpah had different mothers who lived in different homes.

Here are some ways to translate this phrase:

• Translate the phrase as each of you or something similar. For example:

Go back, each of you to your mother’s house. (New American Bible, Revised Edition)
-or-
Go back, both of you, home to your own mothers. (Revised English Bible)

• Leave this phrase implied. For example:

Go back to your mothers’ homes. (New Living Translation (2004))

your mother’s home: In Hebrew, this description is unusual. Elsewhere in the Old Testament a widow would return to her father’s house. The reference to their mother’s homes may be unnatural in some other languages also. If that is true in your language, consider providing a brief explanation in a footnote.

Here is a footnote example:

Naomi’s words may imply that it is more appropriate for the two widows to go home to their mothers, rather than stay with their mother-in-law. (modified from the NET Bible)

1:8b

May the LORD show you loving devotion, as you have shown to your dead and to me: This clause is a blessing. In this blessing, Naomi indicated her desire that the LORD would be kind to Orpah and Ruth.

loving devotion: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as loving devotion has several aspects of meaning. In this verse it refers particularly to faithfulness, love, and loyalty. This term also occurs in 2:20b and 3:10b.

See Loyalty, kindness, or loyal love in the “Introduction to Ruth” for a further discussion of this key Hebrew word.

as you have shown to your dead and to me: In this part of the blessing, Naomi used a comparison to describe the kindness that she wanted the LORD to show Orpah and Ruth. She compared it to the kindness that Ruth and Orpah had shown to her and to their husbands.

Here are some other ways to translate this comparison:

May the Lord be as kind to you as you were to me and to our loved ones who have died. (God’s Word)
-or-
May the Lord show you the same kind of devotion that you have shown to your deceased husbands and to me! (NET Bible)

your dead: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “the dead.” There are two ways to interpret this phrase:

(1) This phrase refers to Mahlon and Kilion. Both of them were dead. For example:

May the Lord be as kind to you as you have been to me and my sons who are now dead. (New Century Version)

(2) This phrase refers to Elimelech, Mahlon and Kilion. All three of them were dead. For example:

You were kind to my husband and sons, and you have always been kind to me. I pray that the Lord will be just as kind to you (Contemporary English Version)

Many versions are ambiguous as to the interpretation that they follow. For example:

May Yahweh show you faithful love, as you have done to those who have died and to me. (New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you translate this phrase in a way that allows either interpretation to be understood. However, if you need to choose one interpretation to follow, then it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with a majority of versions. The Hebrew text does not indicate that Orpah and Ruth ever had an opportunity to show kindness to Elimelech. He may have died before Orpah and Ruth met Mahlon and Kilion.

This phrase probably refers to acts of kindness that Ruth and Orpah had shown to their husbands while they were still alive.

In some languages, it may be more natural to arrange the clause parts in chronological order. For example:

You were kind to your husbands who have died, and to me. I pray that Yahweh will be kind to you in the same way.

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