Paragraph 1:22

1:22a

So: The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So indicates that what follows is a summary. This clause summarizes verses 6 through 21 and sets the scene for the next part of the story. Introduce this summary in a natural way in your language.

Naomi returned from the land of Moab with her daughter-in-law Ruth the Moabitess:

Here are some other ways to translate this verse part:

So Naomi came back from the territory of Moab with her daughter-in-law Ruth the Moabitess. (CSB)
-or-
This, then, was how Naomi came back from Moab with Ruth, her Moabite daughter-in-law. (Good News Translation)

1:22b

And they arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest: The Hebrew text begins a new sentence here. This may be more natural in many languages. For example:

When they arrived in Bethlehem, the barley harvest was just beginning. (Good News Translation)

barley harvest: The barley harvest was in late April or early May. Barley is a grain, like rice, corn, or millet. The grains grow in a cluster at the top of a thin stalk. People use the stalks and the grains as animal food, and they grind the barley grains into flour and make bread.

If people in your culture are not familiar with barley, here are some ways you can translate it:

• Use a word from the national or trade language and explain it in a footnote.

• Use an expression like “a grain called barley.”

• If no grain is grown in your area, it may be possible to use an expression like “grass with edible seeds.”

• It may be helpful to include a picture.

Here are some other ways to translate this verse part:

They arrived in Bethlehem in late spring, at the beginning of the barley harvest. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
The barley harvest was just beginning when Naomi and Ruth, her Moabite daughter-in-law, arrived in Bethlehem. (Contemporary English Version)