Ruth 1:19
New International Version
So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?”

New Living Translation
So the two of them continued on their journey. When they came to Bethlehem, the entire town was excited by their arrival. “Is it really Naomi?” the women asked.

English Standard Version
So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, “Is this Naomi?”

Berean Standard Bible
So Naomi and Ruth traveled until they came to Bethlehem. When they entered Bethlehem, the whole city was stirred because of them, and the women of the city exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?”

King James Bible
So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?

New King James Version
Now the two of them went until they came to Bethlehem. And it happened, when they had come to Bethlehem, that all the city was excited because of them; and the women said, “Is this Naomi?”

New American Standard Bible
So they both went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they had come to Bethlehem, all the city was stirred because of them, and the women said, “Is this Naomi?”

NASB 1995
So they both went until they came to Bethlehem. And when they had come to Bethlehem, all the city was stirred because of them, and the women said, “Is this Naomi?”

NASB 1977
So they both went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came about when they had come to Bethlehem, that all the city was stirred because of them, and the women said, “Is this Naomi?”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then they both went until they came to Bethlehem. Now it happened, when they had come to Bethlehem, all the city was stirred because of them, and the women said, “Is this Naomi?”

Amplified Bible
So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole city was stirred because of them, and the women asked, “Is this Naomi?”

Christian Standard Bible
The two of them traveled until they came to Bethlehem. When they entered Bethlehem, the whole town was excited about their arrival and the local women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The two of them traveled until they came to Bethlehem. When they entered Bethlehem, the whole town was excited about their arrival and the local women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?"”

American Standard Version
So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and the women said, Is this Naomi?

Contemporary English Version
They reached Bethlehem, and the whole town was excited to see them. The women who lived there asked, "Can this really be Naomi?"

English Revised Version
So they two went until they came to Beth-lehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Beth-lehem, that all the city was moved about them, and the women said, Is this Naomi?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So both of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they entered Bethlehem, the whole town was excited about them. "This can't be Naomi, can it?" the women asked.

Good News Translation
They went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they arrived, the whole town became excited, and the women there exclaimed, "Is this really Naomi?"

International Standard Version
So they continued on until they reached Bethlehem. Now when the two of them arrived in Bethlehem, the entire town got excited at the news of their arrival and they asked one another, "Can this be Naomi?"

Majority Standard Bible
So Naomi and Ruth traveled until they came to Bethlehem. When they entered Bethlehem, the whole city was stirred because of them, and the women of the city exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?”

NET Bible
So the two of them journeyed together until they arrived in Bethlehem. Naomi and Ruth Arrive in Bethlehem When they entered Bethlehem, the whole village was excited about their arrival. The women of the village said, "Can this be Naomi?"

New Heart English Bible
So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. It happened, when they had come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they asked, "Is this Naomi?"

Webster's Bible Translation
So they two went until they came to Beth-lehem. And it came to pass, when they had come to Beth-lehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?

World English Bible
So they both went until they came to Bethlehem. When they had come to Bethlehem, all the city was excited about them, and they asked, “Is this Naomi?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the two of them go until their coming to Beth-Lehem; and it comes to pass at their coming to Beth-Lehem, that all the city is moved at them, and they say, “Is this Naomi?”

Young's Literal Translation
and they go both of them till their coming in to Beth-Lehem; and it cometh to pass at their coming in to Beth-Lehem, that all the city is moved at them, and they say, 'Is this Naomi?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And they two will go till they came to the house of bread. And it will be as they came to the house of bread, and all the city will be moved at them, and they will say, Is this Naomi?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
So they went together and came to Bethlehem. And when they were come into the city, the report was quickly spread among all: and the women said: This is that Noemi.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And so they set out together, and they came to Bethlehem. When they had entered the city, the news quickly spread among them all. And the women said, “This is that Naomi.”

New American Bible
So they went on together until they reached Bethlehem. On their arrival there, the whole town was excited about them, and the women asked: “Can this be Naomi?”

New Revised Standard Version
So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them; and the women said, “Is this Naomi?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
So they went together until they came to Beth-lehem of Judah. And it came to pass, when they were come to Beth-lehem, the whole city rejoiced over them, and they said, Is this Naomi?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they came as one unto Bayth Lekhem of Yehuda, and it happened that when they came to Bayth Lekhem, all the city was gladdened by them, and they were saying: “It is Namei!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
So they two went until they came to Beth-lehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Beth-lehem, that all the city was astir concerning them, and the women said: 'Is this Naomi?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they went both of them until they came to Bethleem: and it came to pass, when they arrived at Bethleem, that all the city rang with them, and they said, Is this Noemin?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Return to Bethlehem
19So Naomi and Ruth traveled until they came to Bethlehem. When they entered Bethlehem, the whole city was stirred because of them, and the women of the city exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?” 20“Do not call me Naomi,” she replied. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has dealt quite bitterly with me.…

Cross References
Ruth 4:14-17
Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a kinsman-redeemer. May his name become famous in Israel. / He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.” / And Naomi took the child, placed him on her lap, and became a nurse to him. ...

1 Samuel 1:19-20
The next morning they got up early to bow in worship before the LORD, and then they returned home to Ramah. And Elkanah had relations with his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her. / So in the course of time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.”

1 Samuel 2:1-10
At that time Hannah prayed: “My heart rejoices in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD. My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, for I rejoice in Your salvation. / There is no one holy like the LORD. Indeed, there is no one besides You! And there is no Rock like our God. / Do not boast so proudly, or let arrogance come from your mouth, for the LORD is a God who knows, and by Him actions are weighed. ...

1 Samuel 9:6-10
“Look,” said the servant, “in this city there is a man of God who is highly respected; everything he says surely comes to pass. Let us go there now. Perhaps he will tell us which way to go.” / “If we do go,” Saul replied, “what can we give the man? For the bread in our packs is gone, and there is no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?” / The servant answered him again. “Look,” he said, “I have here in my hand a quarter shekel of silver. I will give it to the man of God, and he will tell us our way.” ...

1 Kings 17:18-24
“O man of God,” said the woman to Elijah, “what have you done to me? Have you come to remind me of my iniquity and cause the death of my son?” / But Elijah said to her, “Give me your son.” So he took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed. / Then he cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, have You also brought tragedy on this widow who has opened her home to me, by causing her son to die?” ...

2 Kings 4:8-37
One day Elisha went to Shunem, and a prominent woman who lived there persuaded him to have a meal. So whenever he would pass by, he would stop there to eat. / Then the woman said to her husband, “Behold, now I know that the one who often comes our way is a holy man of God. / Please let us make a small room upstairs and put in it a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp for him. Then when he comes to us, he can stay there.” ...

2 Kings 8:1-6
Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, “Arise, you and your household; go and live as a foreigner wherever you can. For the LORD has decreed that a seven-year famine will come to the land.” / So the woman had proceeded to do as the man of God had instructed. And she and her household lived as foreigners for seven years in the land of the Philistines. / At the end of seven years, when the woman returned from the land of the Philistines, she went to the king to appeal for her house and her land. ...

Matthew 1:5-6
Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, / and Jesse the father of David the king. Next: David was the father of Solomon by Uriah’s wife,

Matthew 2:1-2
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, / asking, “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”

Luke 1:39-45
In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah, / where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. / When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ...

Luke 2:4-7
So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David. / He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child. / While they were there, the time came for her Child to be born. ...

Luke 7:11-17
Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain. His disciples went with Him, accompanied by a large crowd. / As He approached the town gate, He saw a dead man being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. / When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said, “Do not weep.” ...

John 4:5-42
So He came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. / Since Jacob’s well was there, Jesus, weary from His journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. / When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” ...

Acts 2:6-12
And when this sound rang out, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking his own language. / Astounded and amazed, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? / How is it then that each of us hears them in his own native language? ...

Acts 9:36-42
In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated as Dorcas), who was always occupied with works of kindness and charity. / At that time, however, she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upper room. / Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to urge him, “Come to us without delay.” ...


Treasury of Scripture

So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?

Matthew 21:10
And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?

Is this Naomi?

Isaiah 23:7
Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days? her own feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn.

Lamentations 2:15
All that pass by clap their hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men call The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth?

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Arrived Astir Bethlehem Beth-Lehem City Exclaimed Moved Naomi Na'omi Stirred Whole Women
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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














So the two of them
This phrase refers to Naomi and Ruth, highlighting their unity and shared purpose. In the Hebrew text, the word for "two" (שְׁתֵּיהֶן, sh'teihen) emphasizes their companionship and mutual commitment. This bond is significant, as it transcends cultural and familial boundaries, illustrating the power of loyalty and love. Ruth's decision to accompany Naomi is a profound act of faith and devotion, reflecting the biblical principle of leaving one's past to embrace a new identity in God's plan.

continued on their journey
The Hebrew root for "continued" (יָלַךְ, yalak) implies a determined progression. This journey is not just physical but also spiritual, symbolizing a transition from despair to hope. Naomi and Ruth's perseverance is a testament to their faith and resilience, serving as an inspiration for believers to trust in God's guidance even when the path is uncertain.

until they came to Bethlehem
Bethlehem, meaning "house of bread" in Hebrew, is a place of providence and future redemption. Historically, it is the birthplace of King David and, prophetically, of Jesus Christ. Their arrival in Bethlehem marks a turning point, where God's provision begins to unfold. This setting foreshadows the coming of the Messiah, who would be the ultimate source of spiritual nourishment.

When they entered Bethlehem
The act of entering signifies a new beginning. In the biblical narrative, entering a city often represents entering into a new phase of life or a divine appointment. For Naomi and Ruth, this entrance is both a return and a new start, filled with potential for restoration and blessing.

the whole city was stirred because of them
The Hebrew word for "stirred" (תְּהוּם, tehum) conveys a sense of excitement and commotion. This reaction indicates that Naomi's return is significant to the community, perhaps due to her previous status or the unusual circumstances of her return. It reflects how God often uses ordinary events to capture attention and prepare hearts for His work.

and the women of the city exclaimed
The focus on the women highlights the communal nature of ancient societies, where news and emotions were shared collectively. Women's voices in this context are crucial, as they often serve as the bearers of tradition and social cohesion. Their exclamation sets the stage for Naomi's account to unfold, emphasizing the importance of community in God's redemptive plan.

Can this be Naomi?
This question reveals both surprise and recognition. Naomi's name means "pleasant," yet her return is marked by hardship, prompting the community to question her identity. This moment underscores the theme of transformation and the impact of life's trials on one's identity. It invites reflection on how God can restore and redefine us through His grace, even when circumstances seem to have altered our very essence.

(19) They went.--The journey for two women apparently alone was long and toilsome, and not free from danger. Two rivers, Arnon and Jordan, had to be forded or otherwise crossed; and the distance of actual journeying cannot have been less than fifty miles. Thus, weary and travel-stained, they reach Bethlehem, and neighbours, doubtless never looking to see Naomi again, are all astir with excitement. It would seem that though the news of the end of the famine had reached Naomi in Moab, news of her had not reached Bethlehem.

They said . . .--The Bethlehemite women, that is, for the verb is feminine. Grief and toil had doubtless made her look aged and worn.

Verse 19. - And they two went - they trudged along, the two of them - until they came to Bethlehem. In the expression "the two of them" the masculine pronoun (הֶם for הֶן) occurs, as in verses 8 and 9. It mirrors in language the actual facts of relationship in life. The masculine is some- times assumptively representative of both itself and the feminine. And sometimes, even apart from the representative element, it is the overlapping and overbearing gender. And it came to pass, as they entered Bethlehem, that the whole city got into commotion concerning them, and they said, Is this Naomi? Naomi, though greatly altered in appearance, besides being travel-worn and weary, was recognized. But who was that pensive and beautiful companion by her side? Where was Elimelech? Where was Machne and Chillon? Why are they not with ir mother? Such would be some of the questions started, and keenly talked about and discussed. Then on both the wayfarers the finger-marks of poverty, involuntary signals of distress, would be unconcealable. Interest, sympathy, gossip would be alive throughout the little town, especially among the female portion of the population, and loud would be their exclamations of surprise. The verb they said is feminine in Hebrew, וַתּלֺאמַרְנָה a nicety which cannot be reproduced in English without obtruding too prominently the sex referred to, as m Michaelis's version - "and all the women said." So the Vulgate. The verb which we have rendered got into commotion is found in 1 Samuel 4:5 - "the earth rail again;" and in 1 Kings 1:45 - "the city rang again."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So [Naomi and Ruth]
שְׁתֵּיהֶ֔ם (šə·tê·hem)
Number - fdc | third person masculine plural
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)

traveled
וַתֵּלַ֣כְנָה (wat·tê·laḵ·nāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine plural
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

until
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

they came
בֹּאָ֖נָה (bō·’ā·nāh)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to
בֵּ֣ית (bêṯ)
Preposition
Strong's Hebrew

Bethlehem.
לָ֑חֶם (lā·ḥem)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1035: Bethlehem -- 'place of bread', a city in Judah, also a city in Zebulun

When they
וַיְהִ֗י (way·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

entered
כְּבֹאָ֙נָה֙ (kə·ḇō·’ā·nāh)
Preposition-k | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

Bethlehem,
לֶ֔חֶם (le·ḥem)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1035: Bethlehem -- 'place of bread', a city in Judah, also a city in Zebulun

the whole
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

city
הָעִיר֙ (hā·‘îr)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

was stirred
וַתֵּהֹ֤ם (wat·tê·hōm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1949: To make an uproar, agitate greatly

because of them,
עֲלֵיהֶ֔ן (‘ă·lê·hen)
Preposition | third person feminine plural
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

and the women [of the city] exclaimed,
וַתֹּאמַ֖רְנָה (wat·tō·mar·nāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Can this
הֲזֹ֥את (hă·zōṯ)
Article | Pronoun - feminine singular
Strong's 2063: Hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so much, such deed, that,

be Naomi?”
נָעֳמִֽי׃ (nā·‘o·mî)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 5281: Naomi -- mother-in-law of Ruth


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OT History: Ruth 1:19 So they two went until they came (Ru Rut.)
Ruth 1:18
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