Open Bible Translation / Ruth 1

Ruth 1 · review

For each verse: the current text and its status, the translator's notes, the original Hebrew (tap any word for its root and meaning), the Berean Standard Bible as a reference, the automatic checks, and the full history.

1. 1:1Draft

   In the time when the judges governed, a famine came over the land. A man from Bethlehem in Judah went to live as a foreigner in the fields of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.

   • Meaning: Bethlehem means "house of bread": the story opens with famine in the house of bread.

   וַיְהִ֗יבִּימֵי֙שְׁפֹ֣טהַשֹּׁפְטִ֔יםוַיְהִ֥ירָעָ֖בבָּאָ֑רֶץוַיֵּ֨לֶךְאִ֜ישׁמִבֵּ֧יתלֶ֣חֶםיְהוּדָ֗הלָגוּר֙בִּשְׂדֵ֣ימוֹאָ֔בה֥וּאוְאִשְׁתּ֖וֹוּשְׁנֵ֥יבָנָֽיו׃

   BSB: In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. And a certain man from Bethlehem in Judah, with his wife and two sons, went to reside in the land of Moab.

   • Noteshared wording: 10 words in a row identical to King James Version: «of moab he and his wife and his two sons» (public domain — allowed).
   History · 1 entry

   1. AI draft · AI (claude-opus-5-5) · Oct 20, 2026In the time when the judges governed, a famine came over the land. A man from Bethlehem in Judah went to live as a foreigner in the fields of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.
2. 1:2Draft

   The man's name was Elimelech, his wife's name was Naomi, and his two sons were named Mahlon and Chilion. They belonged to the Ephrathite clan of Bethlehem in Judah. They came to the fields of Moab and stayed there.

   • Meaning: Elimelech: "my God is king." Naomi: "pleasant."

   וְשֵׁ֣םהָאִ֣ישׁאֱֽלִימֶ֡לֶךְוְשֵׁם֩אִשְׁתּ֨וֹנָעֳמִ֜יוְשֵׁ֥םשְׁנֵֽי־בָנָ֣יו ׀מַחְל֤וֹןוְכִלְיוֹן֙אֶפְרָתִ֔יםמִבֵּ֥יתלֶ֖חֶםיְהוּדָ֑הוַיָּבֹ֥אוּשְׂדֵי־מוֹאָ֖בוַיִּֽהְיוּ־שָֽׁם׃

   BSB: The man’s name was Elimelech, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah, and they entered the land of Moab and settled there.

   • Noteshared wording: 13 words in a row identical to Berean Standard Bible: «the man s name was elimelech his wife s name was naomi and» (public domain — allowed).
   • Notecompared with BSB: Draft translates 'Ephrathites' as 'belonged to the Ephrathite clan' which is an interpretive expansion. The Hebrew simply identifies them as Ephrathites, a gentilicic term that could refer to clan or geographical origin.
   History · 1 entry

   1. AI draft · AI (claude-opus-5-5) · Oct 20, 2026The man's name was Elimelech, his wife's name was Naomi, and his two sons were named Mahlon and Chilion. They belonged to the Ephrathite clan of Bethlehem in Judah. They came to the fields of Moab and stayed there.
3. 1:3Draft

   Then Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died, leaving her with her two sons.

   וַיָּ֥מָתאֱלִימֶ֖לֶךְאִ֣ישׁנָעֳמִ֑יוַתִּשָּׁאֵ֥רהִ֖יאוּשְׁנֵ֥יבָנֶֽיהָ׃

   BSB: Then Naomi’s husband Elimelech died, and she was left with her two sons,

   History · 1 entry

   1. AI draft · AI (claude-opus-5-5) · Oct 20, 2026Then Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died, leaving her with her two sons.
4. 1:4Draft

   They married Moabite women; one was named Orpah and the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years.

   וַיִּשְׂא֣וּלָהֶ֗םנָשִׁים֙מֹֽאֲבִיּ֔וֹתשֵׁ֤םהָֽאַחַת֙עָרְפָּ֔הוְשֵׁ֥םהַשֵּׁנִ֖יתר֑וּתוַיֵּ֥שְׁבוּשָׁ֖םכְּעֶ֥שֶׂרשָׁנִֽים׃

   BSB: who took Moabite women as their wives, one named Orpah and the other named Ruth. And after they had lived in Moab about ten years,

   History · 1 entry

   1. AI draft · AI (claude-opus-5-5) · Oct 20, 2026They married Moabite women; one was named Orpah and the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years.
5. 1:5Draft

   Then Mahlon and Chilion also died, both of them, and the woman was left without her two boys and without her husband.

   • Alternative: "boys" translates yeladim (children, boys), not the usual word for "sons"; the author changes words on purpose.

   וַיָּמ֥וּתוּגַם־שְׁנֵיהֶ֖םמַחְל֣וֹןוְכִלְי֑וֹןוַתִּשָּׁאֵר֙הָֽאִשָּׁ֔המִשְּׁנֵ֥ייְלָדֶ֖יהָוּמֵאִישָֽׁהּ׃

   BSB: both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and without her husband.

   • Noteshared wording: 8 words in a row identical to King James Version: «both of them and the woman was left» (public domain — allowed).
   History · 1 entry

   1. AI draft · AI (claude-opus-5-5) · Oct 20, 2026Then Mahlon and Chilion also died, both of them, and the woman was left without her two boys and without her husband.
6. 1:6Draft

   So she got up with her daughters-in-law to return from the fields of Moab, for word had reached her there in Moab that the LORD had come to the aid of his people and given them bread.

   • Alternative: "had come to the aid of": literally "had visited" (paqad).
   • Meaning: "bread" (lechem) echoes the name Bethlehem, "house of bread."

   וַתָּ֤קָםהִיא֙וְכַלֹּתֶ֔יהָוַתָּ֖שָׁבמִשְּׂדֵ֣ימוֹאָ֑בכִּ֤ישָֽׁמְעָה֙בִּשְׂדֵ֣המוֹאָ֔בכִּֽי־פָקַ֤דיְהוָה֙אֶת־עַמּ֔וֹלָתֵ֥תלָהֶ֖םלָֽחֶם׃

   BSB: When Naomi heard in Moab that the LORD had attended to His people by providing them with food, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to leave the land of Moab.

   • Notecompared with BSB: Draft translates the idiom 'פקד...לתת להם לחם' as 'come to the aid of his people and given them bread.' The Hebrew verb פקד (attend to, visit, care for) combined with 'giving them bread' is rendered idiomatically, which is defensible but adds the interpretation 'come to the aid' where the Hebrew is more literally about visitation/attention.
   History · 1 entry

   1. AI draft · AI (claude-opus-5-5) · Oct 20, 2026So she got up with her daughters-in-law to return from the fields of Moab, for word had reached her there in Moab that the LORD had come to the aid of his people and given them bread.
7. 1:7Draft

   She left the place where she had been living, her two daughters-in-law with her, and they took the road back to the land of Judah.

   וַתֵּצֵ֗אמִן־הַמָּקוֹם֙אֲשֶׁ֣רהָיְתָה־שָׁ֔מָּהוּשְׁתֵּ֥יכַלֹּתֶ֖יהָעִמָּ֑הּוַתֵּלַ֣כְנָהבַדֶּ֔רֶךְלָשׁ֖וּבאֶל־אֶ֥רֶץיְהוּדָֽה׃

   BSB: Accompanied by her two daughters-in-law, she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road leading back to the land of Judah.

   • Noteshared wording: 9 words in a row identical to King James Version: «her two daughters in law with her and they» (public domain — allowed).
   • Noteshared wording: 9 words in a row identical to Berean Standard Bible: «she left the place where she had been living» (public domain — allowed).
   History · 1 entry

   1. AI draft · AI (claude-opus-5-5) · Oct 20, 2026She left the place where she had been living, her two daughters-in-law with her, and they took the road back to the land of Judah.
8. 1:8Draft

   Then Naomi told her two daughters-in-law, "Go home—each of you back to your mother's house. May the LORD show you loyal love, just as you have shown it to those who died and to me.

   • Alternative: "loyal love" (hesed): also "kindness," "faithfulness," "devotion."

   וַתֹּ֤אמֶרנָעֳמִי֙לִשְׁתֵּ֣יכַלֹּתֶ֔יהָלֵ֣כְנָהשֹּׁ֔בְנָהאִשָּׁ֖הלְבֵ֣יתאִמָּ֑הּיְהוָ֤העִמָּכֶם֙חֶ֔סֶדכַּאֲשֶׁ֧רעֲשִׂיתֶ֛םעִם־הַמֵּתִ֖יםוְעִמָּדִֽי׃

   BSB: Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you to your mother’s home. May the LORD show you loving devotion, as you have shown to your dead and to me.

   • Notecompared with BSB: Draft uses 'loyal love' for Hebrew חֶסֶד (hesed), while BSB uses 'loving devotion.' Both are legitimate renderings of this key covenant term.
   History · 1 entry

   1. AI draft · AI (claude-opus-5-5) · Oct 20, 2026Then Naomi told her two daughters-in-law, "Go home—each of you back to your mother's house. May the LORD show you loyal love, just as you have shown it to those who died and to me.
9. 1:9Draft

   May the LORD grant each of you rest in the house of a husband." She kissed them, and they broke down and wept aloud.

   • Alternative: "rest": a secure home.

   יִתֵּ֤ןיְהוָה֙לָכֶ֔םוּמְצֶ֣אןָמְנוּחָ֔האִשָּׁ֖הבֵּ֣יתאִישָׁ֑הּוַתִּשַּׁ֣קלָהֶ֔ןוַתִּשֶּׂ֥אנָהקוֹלָ֖ןוַתִּבְכֶּֽינָה׃

   BSB: May the LORD enable each of you to find rest in the home of your new husband.” And she kissed them as they wept aloud

   • Notecompared with BSB: Draft translates 'each of you rest' as 'each of you' but puts it in the context of finding rest 'in the house of a husband' (singular) rather than 'your new husband' as in BSB. The Hebrew has 'אִשָּׁה בֵּית אִישָׁהּ' meaning 'each woman in the house of her husband,' so the draft is accurate to use singular.
   History · 1 entry

   1. AI draft · AI (claude-opus-5-5) · Oct 20, 2026May the LORD grant each of you rest in the house of a husband." She kissed them, and they broke down and wept aloud.
10. 1:10Draft

    "No," they told her, "we are going back with you, to your people."

    וַתֹּאמַ֖רְנָה־לָּ֑הּכִּי־אִתָּ֥ךְנָשׁ֖וּבלְעַמֵּֽךְ׃

    BSB: and said, “Surely we will return with you to your people.”

    • Checkcompared with BSB: Draft adds 'No' at the beginning, which is not in the Hebrew text. The Hebrew begins directly with 'כִּי־אִתָּךְ נָשׁוּב' (surely/indeed with you we will return). The added 'No' changes the tone and is an interpretive addition not supported by the original.
    History · 1 entry

    1. AI draft · AI (claude-opus-5-5) · Oct 20, 2026"No," they told her, "we are going back with you, to your people."
11. 1:11Draft

    But Naomi said, "Go back, my daughters. Why come with me? Do I still have sons in my womb who could become your husbands?

    וַתֹּ֤אמֶרנָעֳמִי֙שֹׁ֣בְנָהבְנֹתַ֔ילָ֥מָּהתֵלַ֖כְנָהעִמִּ֑יהַֽעֽוֹד־לִ֤יבָנִים֙בְּֽמֵעַ֔יוְהָי֥וּלָכֶ֖םלַאֲנָשִֽׁים׃

    BSB: But Naomi replied, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb to become your husbands?

    • Noteshared wording: 10 words in a row identical to World English Bible: «with me do i still have sons in my womb» (public domain — allowed).
    History · 1 entry

    1. AI draft · AI (claude-opus-5-5) · Oct 20, 2026But Naomi said, "Go back, my daughters. Why come with me? Do I still have sons in my womb who could become your husbands?
12. 1:12Draft

    Go back, my daughters, go on your way; I'm too old to marry again. Even if I told myself, 'There is still hope for me,' even if I had a husband tonight and gave birth to sons,

    שֹׁ֤בְנָהבְנֹתַי֙לֵ֔כְןָכִּ֥יזָקַ֖נְתִּימִהְי֣וֹתלְאִ֑ישׁכִּ֤יאָמַ֨רְתִּי֙יֶשׁ־לִ֣יתִקְוָ֔הגַּ֣םהָיִ֤יתִיהַלַּ֨יְלָה֙לְאִ֔ישׁוְגַ֖םיָלַ֥דְתִּיבָנִֽים׃

    BSB: Return 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,

    History · 1 entry

    1. AI draft · AI (claude-opus-5-5) · Oct 20, 2026Go back, my daughters, go on your way; I'm too old to marry again. Even if I told myself, 'There is still hope for me,' even if I had a husband tonight and gave birth to sons,
13. 1:13Draft

    would you wait for them to grow up? Would you shut yourselves away from marriage for them? No, my daughters. My bitterness is far greater than yours, because the hand of the LORD has come out against me."

    • Alternative: The Hebrew can also mean: "it is very bitter for me because of you."

    הֲלָהֵ֣ן ׀תְּשַׂבֵּ֗רְנָהעַ֚דאֲשֶׁ֣ריִגְדָּ֔לוּהֲלָהֵן֙תֵּֽעָגֵ֔נָהלְבִלְתִּ֖יהֱי֣וֹתלְאִ֑ישׁאַ֣לבְּנֹתַ֗יכִּֽי־מַר־לִ֤ימְאֹד֙מִכֶּ֔םכִּֽי־יָצְאָ֥הבִ֖ייַד־יְהוָֽה׃

    BSB: would 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.”

    • Noteshared wording: 10 words in a row identical to Berean Standard Bible: «would you wait for them to grow up would you» (public domain — allowed).
    History · 1 entry

    1. AI draft · AI (claude-opus-5-5) · Oct 20, 2026would you wait for them to grow up? Would you shut yourselves away from marriage for them? No, my daughters. My bitterness is far greater than yours, because the hand of the LORD has come out against me."
14. 1:14Draft

    Again they wept aloud. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth held on to her.

    וַתִּשֶּׂ֣נָהקוֹלָ֔ןוַתִּבְכֶּ֖ינָהע֑וֹדוַתִּשַּׁ֤קעָרְפָּה֙לַחֲמוֹתָ֔הּוְר֖וּתדָּ֥בְקָהבָּֽהּ׃

    BSB: Again they wept aloud, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.

    • Noteshared wording: 8 words in a row identical to King James Version: «orpah kissed her mother in law but ruth» (public domain — allowed).
    • Noteshared wording: 9 words in a row identical to World English Bible: «then orpah kissed her mother in law but ruth» (public domain — allowed).
    History · 1 entry

    1. AI draft · AI (claude-opus-5-5) · Oct 20, 2026Again they wept aloud. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth held on to her.
15. 1:15Draft

    Naomi said, "Look, your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with your sister-in-law."

    וַתֹּ֗אמֶרהִנֵּה֙שָׁ֣בָהיְבִמְתֵּ֔ךְאֶל־עַמָּ֖הּוְאֶל־אֱלֹהֶ֑יהָשׁ֖וּבִיאַחֲרֵ֥ייְבִמְתֵּֽךְ׃

    BSB: “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; follow her back home.”

    History · 1 entry

    1. AI draft · AI (claude-opus-5-5) · Oct 20, 2026Naomi said, "Look, your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with your sister-in-law."
16. 1:16Draft

    But Ruth said, "Don't press me to leave you, to turn back and stop following you. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you spend the night, I will spend the night. Your people will be my people, and your God my God.

    וַתֹּ֤אמֶררוּת֙אַל־תִּפְגְּעִי־בִ֔ילְעָזְבֵ֖ךְלָשׁ֣וּבמֵאַחֲרָ֑יִךְכִּ֠יאֶל־אֲשֶׁ֨רתֵּלְכִ֜יאֵלֵ֗ךְוּבַאֲשֶׁ֤רתָּלִ֨ינִי֙אָלִ֔יןעַמֵּ֣ךְעַמִּ֔יוֵאלֹהַ֖יִךְאֱלֹהָֽי׃

    BSB: But Ruth replied: “Do not urge me to leave you or to turn from following you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.

    • Noteshared wording: 11 words in a row identical to World English Bible: «your people will be my people and your god my god» (public domain — allowed).
    • Noteshared wording: 9 words in a row identical to Berean Standard Bible: «your people will be my people and your god» (public domain — allowed).
    History · 1 entry

    1. AI draft · AI (claude-opus-5-5) · Oct 20, 2026But Ruth said, "Don't press me to leave you, to turn back and stop following you. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you spend the night, I will spend the night. Your people will be my people, and your God my God.
17. 1:17Draft

    Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, and worse, if anything but death comes between you and me."

    • Meaning: An oath formula: Ruth places her life under the LORD's judgment if she fails to keep her word.

    בַּאֲשֶׁ֤רתָּמ֨וּתִי֙אָמ֔וּתוְשָׁ֖םאֶקָּבֵ֑רכֹּה֩יַעֲשֶׂ֨היְהוָ֥הלִי֙וְכֹ֣היֹסִ֔יףכִּ֣יהַמָּ֔וֶתיַפְרִ֖ידבֵּינִ֥יוּבֵינֵֽךְ׃

    BSB: Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me, and ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”

    • Noteshared wording: 13 words in a row identical to World English Bible: «where you die i will die and there i will be buried may» (public domain — allowed).
    • Noteshared wording: 15 words in a row identical to Berean Standard Bible: «where you die i will die and there i will be buried may the lord» (public domain — allowed).
    • Notecompared with BSB: The draft renders 'May the LORD deal with me, and worse' while the BSB has 'May the LORD punish me, and ever so severely.' Both are acceptable renderings of the Hebrew idiom 'koh ya'aseh YHWH li v'koh yosiph,' though they differ slightly in emphasis.
    History · 1 entry

    1. AI draft · AI (claude-opus-5-5) · Oct 20, 2026Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, and worse, if anything but death comes between you and me."
18. 1:18Draft

    When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped arguing with her.

    וַתֵּ֕רֶאכִּֽי־מִתְאַמֶּ֥צֶתהִ֖יאלָלֶ֣כֶתאִתָּ֑הּוַתֶּחְדַּ֖ללְדַבֵּ֥ראֵלֶֽיהָ׃

    BSB: When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped trying to persuade her.

    • Noteshared wording: 8 words in a row identical to World English Bible: «was determined to go with her she stopped» (public domain — allowed).
    • Noteshared wording: 13 words in a row identical to Berean Standard Bible: «when naomi saw that ruth was determined to go with her she stopped» (public domain — allowed).
    History · 1 entry

    1. AI draft · AI (claude-opus-5-5) · Oct 20, 2026When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped arguing with her.
19. 1:19Draft

    So the two of them walked on until they reached Bethlehem. When they came into Bethlehem, the whole town was astir over them, and the women asked, "Is this really Naomi?"

    וַתֵּלַ֣כְנָהשְׁתֵּיהֶ֔םעַד־בֹּאָ֖נָהבֵּ֣יתלָ֑חֶםוַיְהִ֗יכְּבֹאָ֨נָה֙בֵּ֣יתלֶ֔חֶםוַתֵּהֹ֤םכָּל־הָעִיר֙עֲלֵיהֶ֔ןוַתֹּאמַ֖רְנָההֲזֹ֥אתנָעֳמִֽי׃

    BSB: So Naomi and Ruth traveled until they came to Bethlehem. When they entered Bethlehem, the whole city was stirred because of them, and the women of the city exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?”

    History · 1 entry

    1. AI draft · AI (claude-opus-5-5) · Oct 20, 2026So the two of them walked on until they reached Bethlehem. When they came into Bethlehem, the whole town was astir over them, and the women asked, "Is this really Naomi?"
20. 1:20Draft

    She answered them, "Don't call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has made my life very bitter.

    • Meaning: Naomi: "pleasant"; Mara: "bitter."

    וַתֹּ֣אמֶראֲלֵיהֶ֔ןאַל־תִּקְרֶ֥אנָהלִ֖ינָעֳמִ֑יקְרֶ֤אןָלִי֙מָרָ֔אכִּי־הֵמַ֥רשַׁדַּ֛ילִ֖ימְאֹֽד׃

    BSB: “Do not call me Naomi,” she replied. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has dealt quite bitterly with me.

    • Noteshared wording: 13 words in a row identical to World English Bible: «them don t call me naomi call me mara for the almighty has» (public domain — allowed).
    History · 1 entry

    1. AI draft · AI (claude-opus-5-5) · Oct 20, 2026She answered them, "Don't call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has made my life very bitter.
21. 1:21Draft

    I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. So why call me Naomi? The LORD has borne witness against me, and the Almighty has done me harm."

    • Text: "has borne witness against me" follows the Hebrew; the Septuagint reads "has humbled me."

    אֲנִי֙מְלֵאָ֣ההָלַ֔כְתִּיוְרֵיקָ֖םהֱשִׁיבַ֣נִייְהוָ֑הלָ֣מָּהתִקְרֶ֤אנָהלִי֙נָעֳמִ֔יוַֽיהוָה֙עָ֣נָהבִ֔יוְשַׁדַּ֖יהֵ֥רַֽעלִֽי׃

    BSB: I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? After all, the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me.”

    • Noteshared wording: 12 words in a row identical to Berean Standard Bible: «i went away full but the lord has brought me back empty» (public domain — allowed).
    History · 1 entry

    1. AI draft · AI (claude-opus-5-5) · Oct 20, 2026I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. So why call me Naomi? The LORD has borne witness against me, and the Almighty has done me harm."
22. 1:22Draft

    So Naomi returned, and with her Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, who came back from the fields of Moab. They reached Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning.

    וַתָּ֣שָׁבנָעֳמִ֗יוְר֨וּתהַמּוֹאֲבִיָּ֤הכַלָּתָהּ֙עִמָּ֔הּהַשָּׁ֖בָהמִשְּׂדֵ֣ימוֹאָ֑בוְהֵ֗מָּהבָּ֚אוּבֵּ֣יתלֶ֔חֶםבִּתְחִלַּ֖תקְצִ֥ירשְׂעֹרִֽים׃

    BSB: So Naomi returned from the land of Moab with her daughter-in-law Ruth the Moabitess. And they arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.

    History · 1 entry

    1. AI draft · AI (claude-opus-5-5) · Oct 20, 2026So Naomi returned, and with her Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, who came back from the fields of Moab. They reached Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning.

Ruth: Hebrew text from the Leningrad Codex (public domain); English reference: Berean Standard Bible (public domain).