Ruth 1:13 - 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.”
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What does "Ruth 1:13" mean?
This verse, Ruth 1:13, expresses Naomi's deep grief and the complex reasoning behind her insistence that her daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah, return to their own families in Moab. Let's break it down:
"Would you then wait until they were grown?" Naomi is hypothetically asking if Ruth and Orpah would remain unmarried until Naomi were to have more sons who could grow up and then marry them, according to the levirate marriage custom.
"Would you then refrain from having husbands?" She's highlighting the absurdity of this idea. To wait for new sons of Naomi is impractical and unlikely. Essentially, Naomi is saying "Are you going to stay celibate and unmarried indefinitely for my sake?" She knows the answer is no.
"No, my daughters, for it grieves me seriously for your sakes..." Naomi acknowledges the pain and hardship that Ruth and Orpah would face if they stayed with her. She understands that as a widowed, impoverished woman in a foreign land, she can offer them no security or hope for the future. This is her compassion shining through.
"...for Yahweh’s hand has gone out against me." This is the crucial part revealing Naomi's perspective on her misfortunes. She believes that God (Yahweh) is the cause of her suffering. She sees her losses (husband and sons) as divine punishment or a sign of God's disfavor. Because she is cursed, she worries that staying with her will also bring them misfortune.
In essence, Naomi is saying:
>I can't provide for you, and my life is cursed by God. Don't sacrifice your chances at a happy marriage and family for me. Go back to your own people where you have a better chance of finding husbands and building new lives.
This verse is a pivotal moment in the story, showcasing Naomi's selfless love, her deep sorrow, and her perception of divine judgment. It sets the stage for Ruth's famous declaration of loyalty in the following verses.
Ruth 1:13 - 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.”
What does "Ruth 1:13" mean?
This verse, Ruth 1:13, expresses Naomi's deep grief and the complex reasoning behind her insistence that her daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah, return to their own families in Moab. Let's break it down:
"Would you then wait until they were grown?" Naomi is hypothetically asking if Ruth and Orpah would remain unmarried until Naomi were to have more sons who could grow up and then marry them, according to the levirate marriage custom.
"Would you then refrain from having husbands?" She's highlighting the absurdity of this idea. To wait for new sons of Naomi is impractical and unlikely. Essentially, Naomi is saying "Are you going to stay celibate and unmarried indefinitely for my sake?" She knows the answer is no.
"No, my daughters, for it grieves me seriously for your sakes..." Naomi acknowledges the pain and hardship that Ruth and Orpah would face if they stayed with her. She understands that as a widowed, impoverished woman in a foreign land, she can offer them no security or hope for the future. This is her compassion shining through.
"...for Yahweh’s hand has gone out against me." This is the crucial part revealing Naomi's perspective on her misfortunes. She believes that God (Yahweh) is the cause of her suffering. She sees her losses (husband and sons) as divine punishment or a sign of God's disfavor. Because she is cursed, she worries that staying with her will also bring them misfortune.
In essence, Naomi is saying:
>I can't provide for you, and my life is cursed by God. Don't sacrifice your chances at a happy marriage and family for me. Go back to your own people where you have a better chance of finding husbands and building new lives.
This verse is a pivotal moment in the story, showcasing Naomi's selfless love, her deep sorrow, and her perception of divine judgment. It sets the stage for Ruth's famous declaration of loyalty in the following verses.