Ruth 1:4 - They took for themselves wives of the women of Moab. The name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other was Ruth. They lived there about ten years.
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What does "Ruth 1:4" mean?
Ruth 1:4 states, "They took for themselves wives of the women of Moab. The name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other was Ruth. They lived there about ten years."
Here's a breakdown of what this verse means:
"They took for themselves wives of the women of Moab": This refers to Mahlon and Chilion, the sons of Naomi and Elimelech (introduced in verse 2). They married women from Moab, a neighboring nation to Israel. This act was somewhat controversial because Moabites were generally not considered part of the Israelite community.
"The name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other was Ruth": This identifies the two Moabite women who married Mahlon and Chilion, respectively. Their names are significant because they will become central to the story.
"They lived there about ten years": This indicates that Mahlon and Chilion, along with their wives, resided in Moab for approximately a decade. This provides a timeframe for the events that follow, including the deaths of Elimelech, Mahlon, and Chilion, which are mentioned in the next verse.
In essence, this verse sets the stage for the Book of Ruth by:
Introducing the key characters: Orpah and Ruth.
Establishing their Moabite origin, which is relevant to the cultural and religious context of the story.
Indicating the duration of the family's stay in Moab, leading to the subsequent hardships and the eventual return of Naomi and Ruth to Bethlehem.
Ruth 1:4 - They took for themselves wives of the women of Moab. The name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other was Ruth. They lived there about ten years.
What does "Ruth 1:4" mean?
Ruth 1:4 states, "They took for themselves wives of the women of Moab. The name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other was Ruth. They lived there about ten years."
Here's a breakdown of what this verse means:
"They took for themselves wives of the women of Moab": This refers to Mahlon and Chilion, the sons of Naomi and Elimelech (introduced in verse 2). They married women from Moab, a neighboring nation to Israel. This act was somewhat controversial because Moabites were generally not considered part of the Israelite community.
"The name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other was Ruth": This identifies the two Moabite women who married Mahlon and Chilion, respectively. Their names are significant because they will become central to the story.
"They lived there about ten years": This indicates that Mahlon and Chilion, along with their wives, resided in Moab for approximately a decade. This provides a timeframe for the events that follow, including the deaths of Elimelech, Mahlon, and Chilion, which are mentioned in the next verse.
In essence, this verse sets the stage for the Book of Ruth by:
Introducing the key characters: Orpah and Ruth.
Establishing their Moabite origin, which is relevant to the cultural and religious context of the story.
Indicating the duration of the family's stay in Moab, leading to the subsequent hardships and the eventual return of Naomi and Ruth to Bethlehem.