Ruth 1:13 (KJV)

What does Ruth 1:13 mean?

Ruth 1:13 shows Naomi telling her daughters-in-law that it would make no sense for them to wait for her to have more sons to marry, and she expresses deep sorrow because she feels that God’s hand has turned against her. Naomi is urging them not to tie their futures to her, since she believes her situation is hopeless and painful for all of them.

In this verse, Naomi is speaking to Ruth and Orpah after the deaths of their husbands, Naomi’s sons. She uses strong language to show how unreasonable it would be for them to wait for new sons to grow up, and she is emotionally honest about her grief and sense of loss. Naomi’s words reveal her deep pain and her belief that her misfortunes are a result of God’s actions.

The Hebrew behind Ruth 1:13

• "grieveth" (מַר־לִי, mar-li, from H4843) means "it is very bitter to me." Naomi is not just sad; she feels a deep bitterness and distress, which highlights the depth of her sorrow.
• "hand" (יָד, yad, from H3027) refers to God’s power or action. When Naomi says "the hand of the LORD is gone out against me," she is saying she feels personally afflicted by God’s intervention.
• "LORD" (יְהוָה, YHWH, from H3068) is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing that Naomi sees her suffering as coming directly from the God of Israel.

Why Ruth 1:13 matters

• Ruth 1:13 helps readers understand Naomi’s emotional state and why she insists her daughters-in-law should not stay with her—she feels her life is marked by loss and God’s disfavor.
• The verse highlights the cultural practice of levirate marriage, where a widow might marry a brother-in-law, and shows why Naomi thinks this is impossible in her case.
• Naomi’s honesty about her grief and her view of God’s role in her suffering sets the stage for Ruth’s later loyalty and the unfolding of hope in the story.