Ruth 1:21 - I went out full, and Yahweh has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since Yahweh has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?”
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What does "Ruth 1:21" mean?
This verse from Ruth 1:21 is a powerful statement of grief, loss, and a perception of divine abandonment. Let's break it down:
"I went out full..." This refers to Naomi's departure from Bethlehem years earlier with her husband, Elimelech, and her two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. "Full" means she had a husband, sons, and a stable life. She was secure and prosperous, or at least had the promise of it.
"...and Yahweh has brought me home again empty." This is the crux of her complaint. She returns to Bethlehem a widow, her sons dead, and having lost everything. The "empty" refers to the absence of her family, the expected continuation of her line, and her sense of well-being. She attributes her return to God's doing ("Yahweh has brought me home again"). This isn't necessarily saying God directly caused her losses, but rather that God is ultimately in control of all things, and He allowed these tragedies to befall her.
"Why do you call me Naomi..." Naomi means "pleasant" or "delightful." Given her current state of mourning and loss, she feels the name is now inappropriate. Her life is anything but pleasant.
"...since Yahweh has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?" This is where the depth of her despair is most evident. She feels that God has actively turned against her. "Testified against me" implies a legal sense; she feels judged and condemned by God. "Afflicted" further emphasizes her belief that God has caused her suffering. She sees her losses not as random occurrences, but as divine punishment or at least divine disfavor. The phrase "the Almighty" (Shaddai) emphasizes God's power, underlining her sense that she is helpless against His will.
In summary, Naomi is expressing:
Profound grief: She has lost her husband and sons, and is now returning to her homeland destitute.
A sense of abandonment by God: She believes God is responsible for her suffering, whether directly or through allowing it.
A rejection of her former identity: Her name, Naomi, no longer fits her circumstances; she feels she is no longer the pleasant woman she once was.
An accusation against God: She is directly accusing God of afflicting her and testifying against her.
This verse is important because it reflects a common human experience: questioning God in times of suffering. It also sets the stage for the rest of the Book of Ruth, where we see how God, despite Naomi's perception, is still working to bless her and restore her life through Ruth and Boaz. It is a raw and honest expression of faith in the face of overwhelming loss.
Ruth 1:21 - I went out full, and Yahweh has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since Yahweh has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?”
What does "Ruth 1:21" mean?
This verse from Ruth 1:21 is a powerful statement of grief, loss, and a perception of divine abandonment. Let's break it down:
"I went out full..." This refers to Naomi's departure from Bethlehem years earlier with her husband, Elimelech, and her two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. "Full" means she had a husband, sons, and a stable life. She was secure and prosperous, or at least had the promise of it.
"...and Yahweh has brought me home again empty." This is the crux of her complaint. She returns to Bethlehem a widow, her sons dead, and having lost everything. The "empty" refers to the absence of her family, the expected continuation of her line, and her sense of well-being. She attributes her return to God's doing ("Yahweh has brought me home again"). This isn't necessarily saying God directly caused her losses, but rather that God is ultimately in control of all things, and He allowed these tragedies to befall her.
"Why do you call me Naomi..." Naomi means "pleasant" or "delightful." Given her current state of mourning and loss, she feels the name is now inappropriate. Her life is anything but pleasant.
"...since Yahweh has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?" This is where the depth of her despair is most evident. She feels that God has actively turned against her. "Testified against me" implies a legal sense; she feels judged and condemned by God. "Afflicted" further emphasizes her belief that God has caused her suffering. She sees her losses not as random occurrences, but as divine punishment or at least divine disfavor. The phrase "the Almighty" (Shaddai) emphasizes God's power, underlining her sense that she is helpless against His will.
In summary, Naomi is expressing:
Profound grief: She has lost her husband and sons, and is now returning to her homeland destitute.
A sense of abandonment by God: She believes God is responsible for her suffering, whether directly or through allowing it.
A rejection of her former identity: Her name, Naomi, no longer fits her circumstances; she feels she is no longer the pleasant woman she once was.
An accusation against God: She is directly accusing God of afflicting her and testifying against her.
This verse is important because it reflects a common human experience: questioning God in times of suffering. It also sets the stage for the rest of the Book of Ruth, where we see how God, despite Naomi's perception, is still working to bless her and restore her life through Ruth and Boaz. It is a raw and honest expression of faith in the face of overwhelming loss.