Ruth 1:12 - Go back, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say, ‘I have hope,’ if I should even have a husband tonight, and should also bear sons;
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What does "Ruth 1:12" mean?
This verse from Ruth 1:12 is spoken by Naomi to her daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth, after the death of her husband and sons. It expresses her deep sorrow and hopelessness, and her desire for her daughters-in-law to return to their families in Moab and find new husbands. Let's break it down:
"Go back, my daughters, go your way;" Naomi is urging them to return to their homes and families in Moab. She wants them to look after themselves and not feel obligated to stay with her.
"for I am too old to have a husband." In that culture, a woman's security and future depended heavily on having a husband and sons to provide for her. Naomi feels she is past the age where she could realistically remarry.
"If I should say, ‘I have hope,’ if I should even have a husband tonight, and should also bear sons;" This is a rhetorical statement highlighting the unlikelihood of Naomi having more children. She's saying, "Even if a miracle happened and I remarried tonight and then became pregnant, it would take years for these hypothetical sons to grow up and be able to provide for you."
In essence, Naomi is saying:
She has no hope of providing them with new husbands or sons.
She is too old to have more children herself.
Therefore, she believes it's in their best interest to return to their own families and find new husbands who can provide for them.
The verse underscores Naomi's despair and her selflessness. She is not only mourning her own loss but also concerned for the future well-being of her daughters-in-law. She wants them to have a chance at happiness and security, even if it means they must leave her. This sets the stage for Ruth's selfless decision to stay with Naomi, a key element in the book of Ruth.
Ruth 1:12 - Go back, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say, ‘I have hope,’ if I should even have a husband tonight, and should also bear sons;
What does "Ruth 1:12" mean?
This verse from Ruth 1:12 is spoken by Naomi to her daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth, after the death of her husband and sons. It expresses her deep sorrow and hopelessness, and her desire for her daughters-in-law to return to their families in Moab and find new husbands. Let's break it down:
"Go back, my daughters, go your way;" Naomi is urging them to return to their homes and families in Moab. She wants them to look after themselves and not feel obligated to stay with her.
"for I am too old to have a husband." In that culture, a woman's security and future depended heavily on having a husband and sons to provide for her. Naomi feels she is past the age where she could realistically remarry.
"If I should say, ‘I have hope,’ if I should even have a husband tonight, and should also bear sons;" This is a rhetorical statement highlighting the unlikelihood of Naomi having more children. She's saying, "Even if a miracle happened and I remarried tonight and then became pregnant, it would take years for these hypothetical sons to grow up and be able to provide for you."
In essence, Naomi is saying:
She has no hope of providing them with new husbands or sons.
She is too old to have more children herself.
Therefore, she believes it's in their best interest to return to their own families and find new husbands who can provide for them.
The verse underscores Naomi's despair and her selflessness. She is not only mourning her own loss but also concerned for the future well-being of her daughters-in-law. She wants them to have a chance at happiness and security, even if it means they must leave her. This sets the stage for Ruth's selfless decision to stay with Naomi, a key element in the book of Ruth.