But Ruth replied: "Do not urge me to leave you or to turn from following you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. But Ruth repliedThe name "Ruth" in Hebrew is רוּת (Rut), which is believed to mean "friend" or "companion." This sets the tone for her character throughout the book. Ruth's reply is a pivotal moment, showcasing her loyalty and commitment. In the ancient Near Eastern context, such a declaration was profound, as it involved leaving one's own family and gods, which was a significant cultural and religious shift. Do not urge me to leave you
The Hebrew word for "urge" is פָּגַע (paga), which can mean to entreat or press upon someone. Ruth's plea is heartfelt, indicating a deep emotional bond with Naomi. In the historical context, leaving one's family was not just a physical departure but a severance of social and religious ties, making Ruth's insistence even more remarkable. or to turn back from following you
The phrase "turn back" comes from the Hebrew שׁוּב (shuv), meaning to return or go back. Ruth's determination not to "turn back" signifies a complete break from her past life. This reflects a spiritual and physical journey, symbolizing repentance and conversion, themes that resonate deeply within the Christian faith. For wherever you go, I will go
This statement underscores Ruth's unwavering commitment. The Hebrew word for "go" is הָלַךְ (halak), which implies a way of life or conduct. Ruth is not merely speaking of physical movement but aligning her life's path with Naomi's, demonstrating a profound act of love and loyalty. and wherever you live, I will live
The Hebrew word for "live" is לִין (lin), which can mean to lodge or dwell. Ruth's commitment to live where Naomi lives signifies her willingness to embrace a new community and identity. This reflects the Christian call to abide in Christ and the community of believers, transcending cultural and ethnic boundaries. Your people will be my people
This declaration is a significant cultural and social commitment. In the ancient world, one's identity was closely tied to their people and land. Ruth's willingness to adopt Naomi's people as her own signifies a complete integration into a new community, reflecting the Christian concept of the church as a diverse yet unified body of believers. and your God will be my God
This is perhaps the most profound part of Ruth's declaration. The Hebrew word for "God" here is אֱלֹהִים (Elohim), a term used for the God of Israel. Ruth's acceptance of Naomi's God signifies a conversion, a turning away from the gods of Moab to the one true God. This mirrors the Christian experience of conversion, where one turns from old allegiances to embrace faith in the God of the Bible. Persons / Places / Events 1. RuthA Moabite woman, widow of Mahlon, who demonstrates loyalty and faithfulness to her mother-in-law, Naomi. 2. NaomiAn Israelite woman who loses her husband and sons in Moab and decides to return to Bethlehem. 3. MoabA region east of the Dead Sea, often in conflict with Israel, where Naomi's family sought refuge during a famine. 4. BethlehemNaomi's hometown in Judah, known as the "House of Bread," to which she returns with Ruth. 5. The JourneyThe physical and spiritual journey from Moab to Bethlehem, symbolizing Ruth's transition from paganism to faith in the God of Israel. Teaching Points Loyalty and CommitmentRuth's declaration to Naomi is a profound example of loyalty. In our relationships, we are called to be steadfast and faithful, reflecting God's unwavering love for us. Faith and ConversionRuth's decision to adopt Naomi's people and God signifies a conversion experience. It challenges us to examine our own faith journey and commitment to God. Cross-Cultural AcceptanceRuth, a Moabite, is accepted into the Israelite community, illustrating God's heart for all nations and the breaking down of cultural barriers in Christ. God's ProvidenceRuth's account is a testament to God's providence and how He works through ordinary people and circumstances to fulfill His divine purposes. Legacy of FaithRuth's inclusion in the lineage of David and Jesus highlights the impact of a life lived in faith and obedience, encouraging us to consider the legacy we are leaving. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Ruth's commitment to Naomi challenge our understanding of loyalty in our own relationships? 2. In what ways does Ruth's journey from Moab to Bethlehem reflect a spiritual journey of faith and conversion? 3. How can Ruth's acceptance into the Israelite community inspire us to embrace diversity and unity within the body of Christ? 4. What does Ruth's account teach us about God's providence and His ability to use our circumstances for His greater purpose? 5. How can we apply the legacy of Ruth's faithfulness in our own lives, and what impact might it have on future generations? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 12Ruth's commitment mirrors Abraham's call to leave his homeland and follow God's leading, highlighting faith and obedience. Matthew 1Ruth is listed in the genealogy of Jesus, showing God's inclusive plan of salvation and the importance of faithfulness. 1 Samuel 18The covenant friendship between David and Jonathan parallels Ruth's loyalty to Naomi, emphasizing steadfast love and commitment. Hebrews 11Ruth's faith can be seen as part of the "great cloud of witnesses," exemplifying trust in God's promises. Philippians 2Ruth's selflessness and humility reflect the attitude of Christ, who put others before Himself. | A Good Resolution | Essex Remembrancer | Ruth 1:16-17 | | Conduct of Orpah and Ruth Contrasted | Charles M. Southgate. | Ruth 1:16-17 | | Entreaty May Prove Too Earnest | W.M. Statham | Ruth 1:16, 17 | | Influence | E. Biscombe. | Ruth 1:16-17 | | Religion a Powerful Bond | C. Ness. | Ruth 1:16-17 | | Ruth and Naomi | Sermons by the Monday Club | Ruth 1:16-17 | | Ruth Deciding for God | Spurgeon, Charles Haddon | Ruth 1:16-17 | | Ruth the True-Hearted | C. H. Payne, D. D. | Ruth 1:16-17 | | Ruth: Mind, its Purposes and Powers | Homilist | Ruth 1:16-17 | | Ruth; Or, Decision for God | Aubrey C. Price, B. A. | Ruth 1:16-17 | | Ruth's Choice | Charles M. Southgate. | Ruth 1:16-17 | | Ruth's Decision | F. Ellaby, B. A. | Ruth 1:16-17 | | Ruth's Spiritual Affinity with Naomi | A. Thomson, D. D. | Ruth 1:16-17 | | Ruth's Trial and Decision | A. Thomson, D. D. | Ruth 1:16-17 | | The Faithful Choice | S. H. Tyng, D. D. | Ruth 1:16-17 | | The Influence of Friends | S. Cooke, D. D. | Ruth 1:16-17 | | The Noble Choice | T. De Witt Talmage. | Ruth 1:16-17 | | The Power of Christian Character | | Ruth 1:16-17 | | True Decision | S.H.Tyng, D. D. | Ruth 1:16-17 | | Trueheartedness and the Tests of True-Heartedness | E. H. Chapin, D. D. | Ruth 1:16-17 | | Constancy | J.R. Thomson | Ruth 1:16-18 |
People Chilion, Elimelech, Ephrathites, Mahlon, Mara, Naomi, Orpah, RuthPlaces Bethlehem, MoabTopics Entreat, Goest, Intreat, Leave, Lodge, Lodgest, Replied, Requesting, Rest, Return, Ruth, Stay, Turn, Urge, WhitherDictionary of Bible Themes Ruth 1:16 5895 intimacy
6622 choice
8463 priority, of faith, hope and love Ruth 1:3-17 5674 daughters Ruth 1:6-18 5339 home Ruth 1:11-18 5681 family, nature of Ruth 1:15-16 8410 decision-making, examples Ruth 1:15-17 8225 devotion Ruth 1:16-17 5424 nationalism
5691 friends, good
5743 widows
5745 women
5746 youth
7032 unity, God's people
8300 love, and the world
8304 loyalty
8341 separation
8356 unselfishness Ruth 1:16-18 5117 Ruth
8252 faithfulness, relationships Library A Gentle Heroine, a Gentile Convert
'And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17. Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. 18. When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her. 19. So they two went until they came to Beth-lehem. And it …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureThe Worst Things Work for Good to the Godly
DO not mistake me, I do not say that of their own nature the worst things are good, for they are a fruit of the curse; but though they are naturally evil, yet the wise overruling hand of God disposing and sanctifying them, they are morally good. As the elements, though of contrary qualities, yet God has so tempered them, that they all work in a harmonious manner for the good of the universe. Or as in a watch, the wheels seem to move contrary one to another, but all carry on the motions of the watch: …
Thomas Watson—A Divine Cordial Bands of Love
P. G. Ruth i. 16, 17 A homeless Stranger amongst us came To this land of death and mourning; He walked in a path of sorrow and shame, Through insult, and hate, and scorning. A Man of sorrows, of toil and tears, An outcast Man and a lonely; But He looked on me, and through endless years Him must I love--Him only. Then from this sad and sorrowful land, From this land of tears He departed; But the light of His eyes and the touch of His hand Had left me broken-hearted. And I clave to Him as He turned …
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen, Suso, and Others What is Thy Beloved, More than Another Beloved, O Thou Fairest among Women! what is Thy Beloved, More than Another Beloved, that Thou Dost So Charge Us?
The daughters of Jerusalem do not cease to call her the fairest among women, because her most painful wounds are hidden, and those which are exposed even add lustre to her beauty. They are astonished at beholding a love so strong, so constant and so faithful in the midst of so many disasters. They inquire, Who is this Well-beloved? For, say they, He must be of unequalled attraction, thus to engage His Spouse; for though these souls are spiritual, they are not yet sufficiently advanced to comprehend …
Madame Guyon—Song of Songs of Solomon Whether the Old Law Set Forth Suitable Precepts About the Members of the Household?
Objection 1: It would seem that the Old Law set forth unsuitable precepts about the members of the household. For a slave "is in every respect his master's property," as the Philosopher states (Polit. i, 2). But that which is a man's property should be his always. Therefore it was unfitting for the Law to command (Ex. 21:2) that slaves should "go out free" in the seventh year. Objection 2: Further, a slave is his master's property, just as an animal, e.g. an ass or an ox. But it is commanded (Dt. …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica Epistle xxxii. To Narses the Patrician.
To Narses the Patrician. Gregory to Narses, &c. Your most sweet Charity has said much to me in your letters in praise of my good deeds, to all which I briefly reply, Call me not Noemi, that is beautiful; but call me Mara, that is bitter; for I am full of bitterness (Ruth i. 20). But as to the cause of the presbyters [1555] , which is pending with my brother and fellow-bishop, the most reverend Patriarch John, we have, as I think, for our adversary the very man whom you assert to be desirous of observing …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great Epistle cxxi. To Leander, Bishop of Hispalis (Seville).
To Leander, Bishop of Hispalis (Seville). Gregory to Leander, Bishop of Spain. I have the epistle of thy Holiness, written with the pen of charity alone. For what the tongue transferred to the paper had got its tincture from the heart. Good and wise men were present when it was read, and at once their bowels were stirred with emotion. Everyone began to seize thee in his heart with the hand of love, for that in that epistle the sweetness of thy disposition was not to be heard, but seen. All severally …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great Man.
THE IMAGE OF GOD. MAN is God's image, and to curse wickedly the image of God, is to curse God himself. Suppose that a man should say with his mouth, I wish that the king's picture were burned; would not this man's so saying render him as an enemy to the person of the king? Even so it is with them that by cursing wish evil to their neighbors or themselves; they contemn the image of God himself. This world, as it dropped from the fingers of God, was far more glorious than it is now. VALUE OF THE SOUL. …
John Bunyan—The Riches of Bunyan Epistle vi. To Narses, Patrician .
To Narses, Patrician [1305] . Gregory to Narses, &c. In describing loftily the sweetness of contemplation, you have renewed the groans of my fallen state, since I hear what I have lost inwardly while mounting outwardly, though undeserving, to the topmost height of rule. Know then that I am stricken with so great sorrow that I can scarcely speak; for the dark shades of grief block up the eyes of my soul. Whatever is beheld is sad, whatever is thought delightful appears to my heart lamentable. For …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great A Cloud of Witnesses.
"By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was a-dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when his end was nigh, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.... By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed about for seven days. By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient, …
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews Departure from Ireland. Death and Burial at Clairvaux.
[Sidenote: 1148, May (?)] 67. (30). Being asked once, in what place, if a choice were given him, he would prefer to spend his last day--for on this subject the brothers used to ask one another what place each would select for himself--he hesitated, and made no reply. But when they insisted, he said, "If I take my departure hence[821] I shall do so nowhere more gladly than whence I may rise together with our Apostle"[822]--he referred to St. Patrick; "but if it behoves me to make a pilgrimage, and …
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh Place of Jesus in the History of the World.
The great event of the History of the world is the revolution by which the noblest portions of humanity have passed from the ancient religions, comprised under the vague name of Paganism, to a religion founded on the Divine Unity, the Trinity, and the Incarnation of the Son of God. It has taken nearly a thousand years to accomplish this conversion. The new religion had itself taken at least three hundred years in its formation. But the origin of the revolution in question with which we have to do …
Ernest Renan—The Life of Jesus Christ the Mediator of the Covenant
'Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant,' &c. Heb 12:24. Jesus Christ is the sum and quintessence of the gospel; the wonder of angels; the joy and triumph of saints. The name of Christ is sweet, it is as music in the ear, honey in the mouth, and a cordial at the heart. I shall waive the context, and only speak of that which concerns our present purpose. Having discoursed of the covenant of grace, I shall speak now of the Mediator of the covenant, and the restorer of lapsed sinners, Jesus the Mediator …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity Appendix xii. The Baptism of Proselytes
ONLY those who have made study of it can have any idea how large, and sometimes bewildering, is the literature on the subject of Jewish Proselytes and their Baptism. Our present remarks will be confined to the Baptism of Proselytes. 1. Generally, as regards proselytes (Gerim) we have to distinguish between the Ger ha-Shaar (proselyte of the gate) and Ger Toshabh (sojourner,' settled among Israel), and again the Ger hatstsedeq (proselyte of righteousness) and Ger habberith (proselyte of the covenant). …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Meditations of the Blessed State of a Regenerate Man in Heaven.
Here my meditation dazzles, and my pen falls out of my hand; the one being not able to conceive, nor the other to describe, that most excellent bliss, and eternal weight of glory (2 Cor. iv. 17; Rom. viii. 18)--whereof all the afflictions of this present life are not worthy--which all the elect shall with the blessed Trinity enjoy, from that time that they shall be received with Christ, as joint-heirs (Rom. viii. 17) into that everlasting kingdom of joy. Notwithstanding, we may take a scantling thereof. …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety Ruth
Goethe has characterized the book of Ruth as the loveliest little idyll that tradition has transmitted to us. Whatever be its didactic purpose--and some would prefer to think that it had little or none-it is, at any rate, a wonderful prose poem, sweet, artless, and persuasive, touched with the quaintness of an older world and fresh with the scent of the harvest fields. The love--stronger than country--of Ruth for Naomi, the gracious figure of Boaz as he moves about the fields with a word of blessing …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Ruth 1:16 NIVRuth 1:16 NLTRuth 1:16 ESVRuth 1:16 NASBRuth 1:16 KJV
Ruth 1:16 Commentaries
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