New International Version would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the LORD’s hand has turned against me!” New Living Translation Would you wait for them to grow up and refuse to marry someone else? No, of course not, my daughters! Things are far more bitter for me than for you, because the LORD himself has raised his fist against me.” English Standard Version would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.” Berean Standard Bible would you wait for them to grow up? Would you refrain from having husbands? No, my daughters, it is much more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.” Berean Literal Bible would you⁺ wait for them until that they were grown? Would you⁺ shut yourselves off from being wife to a man? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter for me from you⁺, for the hand of YHWH has gone out against me.” King James Bible Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me. New King James Version would you wait for them till they were grown? Would you restrain yourselves from having husbands? No, my daughters; for it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me!” New American Standard Bible would you therefore wait until they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters; for it is much more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the LORD has come out against me.” NASB 1995 would you therefore wait until they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters; for it is harder for me than for you, for the hand of the LORD has gone forth against me.” NASB 1977 would you therefore wait until they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters; for it is harder for me than for you, for the hand of the LORD has gone forth against me.” Legacy Standard Bible would you therefore wait until they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters; for it is more bitter for me than for you, for the hand of Yahweh has gone forth against me.” Amplified Bible would you wait until they were grown? Would you go without marrying? No, my daughters; for it is much more difficult for me than for you, because the LORD’S hand has gone against me.” Berean Annotated Bible would you⁺ wait for them to grow up? Would you⁺ refrain from having husbands? No, my daughters, it is much more bitter for me than for you⁺, because the hand of the LORD {YHWH} has gone out against me. Christian Standard Bible would you be willing to wait for them to grow up? Would you restrain yourselves from remarrying? No, my daughters, my life is much too bitter for you to share, because the LORD’s hand has turned against me.” Holman Christian Standard Bible would you be willing to wait for them to grow up? Would you restrain yourselves from remarrying? No, my daughters, my life is much too bitter for you to share, because the LORD’s hand has turned against me.” American Standard Version would ye therefore tarry till they were grown? would ye therefore stay from having husbands? nay, my daughters, for it grieveth me much for your sakes, for the hand of Jehovah is gone forth against me. Contemporary English Version would you wait for them to become old enough to marry? No, my daughters! Life is harder for me than it is for you, because the LORD has turned against me." English Revised Version would ye therefore tarry till they were grown? would ye therefore stay from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes, for the hand of the LORD is gone forth against me. GOD'S WORD® Translation would you wait until they grew up and stay single just for them? No, my daughters. My bitterness is much worse than yours because the LORD has sent me so much trouble." Good News Translation would you wait until they had grown up? Would this keep you from marrying someone else? No, my daughters, you know that's impossible. The LORD has turned against me, and I feel very sorry for you." International Standard Version would you wait for them until they were grown? Would you refrain from marriage for them? No, my daughters! I'm more deeply grieved than you, because the LORD is working against me!" NET Bible surely you would not want to wait until they were old enough to marry! Surely you would not remain unmarried all that time! No, my daughters, you must not return with me. For my intense suffering is too much for you to bear. For the LORD is afflicting me!" New Heart English Bible would you then wait until they were grown? Would you then refrain from having husbands? No, my daughters, for it grieves me much for your sakes, for the hand of the LORD has gone out against me." Webster's Bible Translation Would ye wait for them till they should be grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes, that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Biblewould you wait for them to grow up? Would you refrain from having husbands? No, my daughters, it is much more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.” World English Bible would you then wait until they were grown? Would you then refrain from having husbands? No, my daughters, for it grieves me seriously for your sakes, for Yahweh’s hand has gone out against me.” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versiondo you wait for them until they grow up? Do you shut yourselves up for them, not to be to a husband? No, my daughters, for more bitter to me than to you, for the hand of YHWH has gone out against me.” Berean Literal Bible would you⁺ wait for them until that they were grown? Would you⁺ shut yourselves off from being wife to a man? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter for me from you⁺, for the hand of YHWH has gone out against me.” Young's Literal Translation for them do ye wait till that they grow up? for them do ye shut yourselves up, not to be to a husband? nay, my daughters, for more bitter to me than to you, for the hand of Jehovah hath gone out against me.' Smith's Literal Translation Will ye wait for them till they shall grow? Will remain shut up for them not to be for a husband? Nay, my daughters, for it is bitter to me greatly for you, that the hand of Jehovah will go forth against me. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleIf you would wait till they were grown up, and come to man's estate, you would be old women before you marry. Do not so, my daughters, I beseech you: for I am grieved the more for your distress, and the hand of the Lord is gone out against me. Catholic Public Domain Version if you were willing to wait until they were grown and had completed the years of adolescence, you would be elderly before you could marry. Do not do so, I beg you, my daughters. For your difficulties weigh upon me greatly, and the hand of the Lord has been set against me.” New American Bible would you wait for them and deprive yourselves of husbands until those sons grew up? No, my daughters, my lot is too bitter for you, because the LORD has extended his hand against me.” New Revised Standard Version would you then wait until they were grown? Would you then refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, it has been far more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the LORD has turned against me.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleWould you wait for them till they were grown? Would you stay for them from having husbands? No, my daughters; for I am greatly grieved for your sakes, and it grieves me more than it does you, because the hand of the LORD is gone forth against me. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And will you wait for them until they are grown, and will you be prohibited from being married to a man? No, my daughters, because I myself have been very bitter for you, and for me it is more bitter than for you, because the hand of LORD JEHOVAH has gone out after me!” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye shut yourselves off for them and have no husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes, for the hand of the LORD is gone forth against me.' Brenton Septuagint Translation would ye wait for them till they should be grown? or would ye refrain from being married for their sakes? Not so, my daughters; for I am grieved for you, that the hand of the Lord has gone forth against me. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context Ruth's Loyalty to Naomi…12Return home, my daughters. Go on, for I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was hope for me to have a husband tonight and to bear sons, 13would you wait for them to grow up? Would you refrain from having husbands? No, my daughters, it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.” 14Again they wept aloud, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.… Cross References would you wait for them to grow up? Genesis 38:11 Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Live as a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up.” For he thought, “He may die too, like his brothers.” So Tamar went to live in her father’s house. Deuteronomy 25:5-6 When brothers dwell together and one of them dies without a son, the widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother is to take her as his wife and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law for her. / The first son she bears will carry on the name of the dead brother, so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel. Luke 20:27-33 Then some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to question Him. / “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man is to marry his brother’s widow and raise up offspring for him. / Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a wife but died childless. … Would you refrain from having husbands? 1 Corinthians 7:39 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord. 1 Timothy 5:14 So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, denying the adversary occasion for slander. 1 Corinthians 7:8-9 Now to the unmarried and widows I say this: It is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am. / But if they cannot control themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion. No, my daughters, it is much more bitter for me than for you, Job 7:11 Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. 1 Samuel 1:10-11 In her bitter distress, Hannah prayed to the LORD and wept with many tears. / And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever touch his head.” Lamentations 3:15 He has filled me with bitterness; He has intoxicated me with wormwood. because the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.” Psalm 39:10 Remove Your scourge from me; I am perishing by the force of Your hand. Judges 2:15 Wherever Israel marched out, the hand of the LORD was against them to bring calamity, just as He had sworn to them. So they were greatly distressed. 1 Samuel 5:6 Now the hand of the LORD was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity, ravaging them and afflicting them with tumors. Genesis 38:26 Judah recognized the items and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not have relations with her again. 1 Samuel 1:8 “Hannah, why are you crying?” her husband Elkanah asked. “Why won’t you eat? Why is your heart so grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?” Genesis 19:31-32 One day the older daughter said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is no man in the land to sleep with us, as is the custom over all the earth. / Come, let us get our father drunk with wine so we can sleep with him and preserve his line.” Job 19:21 Have pity on me, my friends, have pity, for the hand of God has struck me. Treasury of Scripture Would you tarry for them till they were grown? would you stay for them from having husbands? no, my daughters; for it grieves me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me. tarry [heb] hope Deuteronomy 2:15 For indeed the hand of the LORD was against them, to destroy them from among the host, until they were consumed. Judges 2:15 Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed. 1 Samuel 5:11 So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and our people: for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there. Jump to Previous Account Bitter Bitterness Daughters Enough Exceedingly Hand Harder Husbands Lord's Marrying Refrain Sake Sakes Shut Tarry Unmarried Wait YourselvesJump to Next Account Bitter Bitterness Daughters Enough Exceedingly Hand Harder Husbands Lord's Marrying Refrain Sake Sakes Shut Tarry Unmarried Wait YourselvesRuth 1 1. Elimelech, driven by famine into Moab, dies there4. 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 would you wait for them to grow up? Naomi asks whether Orpah and Ruth could reasonably wait for hypothetical sons to be born and reach adulthood. Under the custom of levirate marriage, a deceased man’s brother could marry his widow to preserve the family line. Naomi has no remaining sons, and she knows she is beyond the ordinary hope of bearing more. Gen 38:11 Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar,… Would you refrain from having husbands? Waiting for future sons would require Orpah and Ruth to remain unmarried for many years. Marriage offered women protection, provision, and the prospect of children, so Naomi urges them to return to Moab, where they could rebuild their lives among their own people. 1Co 7:39 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives.… No, my daughters, it is much more bitter for me than for you, Naomi recognizes that their losses are real, yet she bears the weight of losing her husband, both sons, and the future she expected for her family. Her grief has left her feeling deeply afflicted, though she still seeks what is best for her daughters-in-law. Job 7:11 Therefore I will not restrain my mouth;… because the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.” Naomi understands her suffering as having come under God’s sovereign hand. She does not deny the Lord’s rule over her circumstances, even while she cannot yet see how He will use her loss, Ruth’s loyalty, and their return to Bethlehem for restoration. Psa 39:10 Remove Your scourge from me; I am perishing… Persons / Places / Events 1. NaomiA central figure in the Book of Ruth, Naomi is a widow who has lost her husband and two sons. She is returning to Bethlehem from Moab and is urging her daughters-in-law to stay in Moab. 2. Ruth One of Naomi's daughters-in-law, a Moabite woman who shows loyalty and devotion to Naomi, eventually choosing to accompany her back to Bethlehem. 3. Orpah Naomi's other daughter-in-law, who initially sets out with Naomi but eventually decides to return to her own people in Moab. 4. Moab A region east of the Dead Sea, where Naomi and her family had moved during a famine in Bethlehem. It is a place associated with foreign gods and customs. 5. Bethlehem Naomi's original home, to which she decides to return after the deaths of her husband and sons, symbolizing a return to her roots and faith. Teaching Points The Cost of Following GodNaomi's statement in Ruth 1:13 reflects the cost and sacrifice involved in following God's path. Believers are often called to make difficult choices that may involve personal loss or hardship. God's Sovereignty in Suffering Naomi's lamentation about the Lord's hand being against her invites reflection on God's sovereignty and purpose in times of suffering. It encourages believers to trust in God's ultimate plan, even when circumstances are challenging. Loyalty and Commitment Ruth's decision to stay with Naomi, despite Naomi's urging to return to Moab, exemplifies steadfast loyalty and commitment. This mirrors the call for believers to remain faithful to God and His people. Hope in Despair Naomi's despair is palpable, yet the account of Ruth shows that God can bring hope and redemption out of seemingly hopeless situations. This encourages believers to hold onto hope in God's promises. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Ruth 1:13?2. How does Ruth 1:13 illustrate Naomi's feelings of bitterness and despair? 3. What does Naomi's lament reveal about her understanding of God's sovereignty? 4. How can Ruth 1:13 encourage us during times of personal suffering? 5. Compare Naomi's situation in Ruth 1:13 with Job's trials. What similarities exist? 6. How can we support others experiencing bitterness like Naomi in Ruth 1:13? 7. Why does Naomi feel the LORD's hand is against her in Ruth 1:13? 8. How does Ruth 1:13 reflect the theme of suffering and divine providence? 9. What historical context influences Naomi's lament in Ruth 1:13? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Ruth 1? (13) It grieveth me much for your sakes.--A much more probable translation is, it is far more bitter for me than for you. An exact parallel to the construction is found in Genesis 19:9. The ancient versions are divided, the LXX., Peshito Syriac, and Targum support this translation; the Vulg. is rather loose in its rendering.Naomi’s triple appeal unmasks the futility of her daughters-in-law waiting for nonexistent sons, highlights the wisdom of remarriage, and reveals her own deep sorrow under God’s sovereign hand. Her candid, faith-filled lament sets the stage for Ruth’s loyal choice and for the Lord to turn bitterness into blessing, proving that even perceived divine opposition can become the pathway to covenant redemption. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew would you waitתְּשַׂבֵּ֗רְנָה (tə·śab·bê·rə·nāh) Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person feminine plural Strong's 7663: To scrutinize, to expect for them הֲלָהֵ֣ן ׀ (hă·lā·hên) Conjunction Strong's 3860: Popularly for, if, therefore to עַ֚ד (‘aḏ) Preposition Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while grow up? יִגְדָּ֔לוּ (yiḡ·dā·lū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 1431: To grow up, become great Would you refrain תֵּֽעָגֵ֔נָה (tê·‘ā·ḡê·nāh) Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - second person feminine plural Strong's 5702: To shut oneself in or off from לְבִלְתִּ֖י (lə·ḇil·tî) Preposition-l Strong's 1115: A failure of, not, except, without, unless, besides, because not, until having הֱי֣וֹת (hĕ·yō·wṯ) Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be husbands? לְאִ֑ישׁ (lə·’îš) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person No, אַ֣ל (’al) Adverb Strong's 408: Not my daughters, בְּנֹתַ֗י (bə·nō·ṯay) Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singular Strong's 1323: A daughter it grieves מַר־ (mar-) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 4843: To be, bitter me לִ֤י (lî) Preposition | first person common singular Strong's Hebrew very much מְאֹד֙ (mə·’ōḏ) Adverb Strong's 3966: Vehemence, vehemently, wholly, speedily for מִכֶּ֔ם (mik·kem) Preposition | second person masculine plural Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of your sakes that כִּֽי־ (kî-) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction the hand יַד־ (yaḏ-) Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 3027: A hand of the LORD יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel has gone out יָצְאָ֥ה (yā·ṣə·’āh) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim against me.” בִ֖י (ḇî) Preposition | first person common singular Strong's Hebrew Additonal Resources Ruth 1:13 Blue Letter BibleRuth 1:13 Bible Gateway Ruth 1:13 Bible.com Ruth 1:13 NIV |
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