SIL Translator’s Notes on Ruth 1:9

1:9a

May the LORD enable each of you to find rest: This clause is a continuation of the blessing from 1:8b. The clause is more literally “May Yahweh give to you and find rest [each] woman.” The syntax is unusual. In Hebrew, the wish/prayer “May Yahweh give to you” has no object. Also, the verb find is a command form. There are two main interpretations of this clause:

(1) The phrase “and find rest” is not a command. Rather, it is the object of the prayer “May Yahweh give to you.” For example:

May the Lord grant that each of you find security. (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

(2) The phrase “and find rest” is the consequence of the prayer “May Yahweh give to you.” For example:

May the Lord repay each of you so that you may find security. (God’s Word)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most versions.

May the LORD enable: This phrase is a wish/prayer of Naomi. Here are some other ways to translate it:

May the Lord give (New Century Version)
-or-
May the Lord grant (New International Version)
-or-
May the Lord bless you (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
And may the Lord make it possible (Good News Translation)

each of you: This phrase makes explicit that Naomi’s wish/prayer is for the benefit of both of her daughters-in-law. For example:

for each of you (Good News Translation)

Some versions leave the phrase each of implied. For example:

May the Lord give you (New Century Version)

rest: In Hebrew, this word means either “rest” or “resting place.” Here it refers to a situation that is secure and free from anxiety “after wandering, uncertainty, and pain.”

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

that you may each find happiness (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
the security (NET Bible)

in the home of your new husband: This phrase describes the kind of rest that Naomi wants for her daughters-in-law. The best way for a young widow to have security was to marry another husband.

to marry again and have a home (Good News Translation)
-or-
with a husband! (New Jerusalem Bible)

1:9b

And she kissed them as they wept aloud: This clause describes Naomi’s gesture of farewell to her daughters-in-law before they parted ways.

Here are some ways to indicate the connection of 1:9b to the previous clauses. Either of these options is acceptable:

• Indicate that this clause talks about the next action in the story. For example:

And she kissed them farewell. (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
-or-

Then she kissed them goodbye (NET Bible)

• Indicate that this clause talks about the result of Naomi urging Orpah and Ruth to return to Moab and blessing them. For example:

So Naomi kissed them good-bye. (Good News Translation)

And she kissed them: This clause describes a leave-taking custom. She probably kissed them on both cheeks. This was a proper gesture of farewell in that culture. However, in some cultures, this kind of kiss may be considered to be improper or unusual.

Here are some other ways to translate this gesture:

• Add a footnote to explain the meaning. Here is a possible footnote example:

In that culture, a proper leave-taking gesture was to give a small kiss on both cheeks.

• Make explicit the purpose of the gesture in a general way. For example:

Then Naomi expressed a fond farewell to them

• Substitute a different gesture that has the same function in your language. For example:

Then they embraced in farewell

as they wept aloud: This clause describes what happened when Naomi kissed them goodbye. The phrase wept aloud means that they wept/cried loudly.

There are two ways to interpret the referents of the pronoun they in this clause:

(1) Orpah and Ruth wept aloud. For example:

but they began weeping loudly, 10 and said, ‘No, we shall go back with you…” (New Jerusalem Bible)

(2) All three women wept aloud. For example:

and they all broke down and wept (New Living Translation (2004))

Some versions are ambiguous as to the interpretation that they follow. It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with the majority of versions. Orpah and Ruth were distressed when Naomi kissed them good-bye, so they cried and told Naomi that they wanted to stay with her.

© 2024 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ruth 1:8

Paragraph 1:8–10

1:8a

Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you to your mother’s home: In this clause, Naomi attempted to send her daughters-in-law back to their former homes in Moab.

Here are some ways to indicate the connection of this clause to the previous clause. Any of these options is acceptable:

• Indicate that this clause contrasts the return to Moab in 1:8 with the return to Israel in 1:7. For example:

But on the way, Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back to your mother’s homes (New Living Translation (2004))

• Indicate that this clause talks about the next action in the story. For example:

And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. (New American Standard Bible)
-or-

Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back! Each of you should go back to your mother’s home. (God’s Word)

• Leave implied the connection of this clause to the previous clause. For example:

Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, ‘Go back, each of you to your mother’s house. (New Jerusalem Bible)

Go back: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “Go return.” It is an idiom that gives emphasis to the command to return. Here Naomi strongly urged Ruth and Orpah to return to their homes.

The blessing that Naomi gives in 1:8b indicates that she thought well of them and wanted each of them to have a good life. So translate this idiom in a way that indicates emphasis but not anger or scolding.

Here are some other ways to translate this idiom:

Turn back (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
-or-
Listen to me! Each of you should return (God’s Word)

each of you to your mother’s home: Naomi urged her daughters-in-law to return to the homes they each came from before they married.

each of you: This phrase indicated that Ruth and Orpah had different mothers who lived in different homes.

Here are some ways to translate this phrase:

• Translate the phrase as each of you or something similar. For example:

Go back, each of you to your mother’s house. (New American Bible, Revised Edition)
-or-
Go back, both of you, home to your own mothers. (Revised English Bible)

• Leave this phrase implied. For example:

Go back to your mothers’ homes. (New Living Translation (2004))

your mother’s home: In Hebrew, this description is unusual. Elsewhere in the Old Testament a widow would return to her father’s house. The reference to their mother’s homes may be unnatural in some other languages also. If that is true in your language, consider providing a brief explanation in a footnote.

Here is a footnote example:

Naomi’s words may imply that it is more appropriate for the two widows to go home to their mothers, rather than stay with their mother-in-law. (modified from the NET Bible)

1:8b

May the LORD show you loving devotion, as you have shown to your dead and to me: This clause is a blessing. In this blessing, Naomi indicated her desire that the LORD would be kind to Orpah and Ruth.

loving devotion: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as loving devotion has several aspects of meaning. In this verse it refers particularly to faithfulness, love, and loyalty. This term also occurs in 2:20b and 3:10b.

See Loyalty, kindness, or loyal love in the “Introduction to Ruth” for a further discussion of this key Hebrew word.

as you have shown to your dead and to me: In this part of the blessing, Naomi used a comparison to describe the kindness that she wanted the LORD to show Orpah and Ruth. She compared it to the kindness that Ruth and Orpah had shown to her and to their husbands.

Here are some other ways to translate this comparison:

May the Lord be as kind to you as you were to me and to our loved ones who have died. (God’s Word)
-or-
May the Lord show you the same kind of devotion that you have shown to your deceased husbands and to me! (NET Bible)

your dead: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “the dead.” There are two ways to interpret this phrase:

(1) This phrase refers to Mahlon and Kilion. Both of them were dead. For example:

May the Lord be as kind to you as you have been to me and my sons who are now dead. (New Century Version)

(2) This phrase refers to Elimelech, Mahlon and Kilion. All three of them were dead. For example:

You were kind to my husband and sons, and you have always been kind to me. I pray that the Lord will be just as kind to you (Contemporary English Version)

Many versions are ambiguous as to the interpretation that they follow. For example:

May Yahweh show you faithful love, as you have done to those who have died and to me. (New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you translate this phrase in a way that allows either interpretation to be understood. However, if you need to choose one interpretation to follow, then it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with a majority of versions. The Hebrew text does not indicate that Orpah and Ruth ever had an opportunity to show kindness to Elimelech. He may have died before Orpah and Ruth met Mahlon and Kilion.

This phrase probably refers to acts of kindness that Ruth and Orpah had shown to their husbands while they were still alive.

In some languages, it may be more natural to arrange the clause parts in chronological order. For example:

You were kind to your husbands who have died, and to me. I pray that Yahweh will be kind to you in the same way.

© 2024 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ruth 1:7

1:7a

Accompanied by her two daughters-in-law, she left the place where she had been living: This clause is more literally “and she went out from the place where she had been there and her two daughters-in-law [were] with her.”

The Berean Standard Bible and some other versions have reordered the clause parts. The Hebrew order first indicates Naomi’s action, and then indicates that her daughters-in-law were with her. In some languages, it may be more natural to follow the Hebrew order. For example:

So she departed from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her (New American Standard Bible)

Here are some ways to indicate the connection of this clause to the previous clause. Any of these options is acceptable:

• Indicate that this clause talks about the result/consequence of the news that the LORD had come to the aid of his people. For example:

So she set out from the place where she had been living, she and her two daughters-in-law (New Revised Standard Version)

• Indicate that this clause begins to give the details of Naomi’s return home. For example:

This is how it happened. She departed from the place where she had been living, accompanied by her two daughters-in-law

• Leave implied the connection of this clause to the previous clause. For example:

Accompanied by her two daughters-in-law, she left the place where she had been living (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

The Hebrew verbs that the Berean Standard Bible translates as left and had been living are singular, with Naomi as the subject. However, in some languages it may be more natural to translate these verbs as plural, since the two daughters-in-law were accompanying Naomi. For example:

They started out together to go back (Good News Translation)

Translate these verbs in a natural way in your language when one person is in focus, but more than one person is doing the same action.

the place where she had been living: This phrase refers to Naomi’s home in Moab.

1:7b

and set out on the road leading back to the land of Judah: This clause is more literally “and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.” There are two ways to interpret the referent of the Hebrew word “to return” that the Berean Standard Bible translates as leading back :

(1) It refers to the noun “way.” It was the way/road that would return them to the land of Judah. For example:

and they set out on the road back to the land of Judah (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

(2) It refers to the verb “went.” The reason they went was to return to the land of Judah. For example:

began to leave the place where she had been living to return to the land of Judah (NET Bible)

Some versions are ambiguous as to the interpretation that they follow. It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with the majority of versions.

In this verse part, the Hebrew word “to return” may cause confusion if translated literally. All three women were traveling together. However, only Naomi would actually “return” to Judah, since Orpah and Ruth had not been there before.

In some languages, it may be more natural to translate this verse part differently. For example:

• Use a phrase other than leading back or “return.” For example:

they went on the road that led to Judah

• Translate in a way that the phrase leading back or “return” refers only to Naomi. For example:

They traveled on the road that led back to Naomi’s home in the land of Judah.

© 2024 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ruth 1:6

1:6

Section 1:6–22

Naomi returned to Bethlehem with Ruth

This section talks about the next main event of the story, which is Naomi’s return to Bethlehem, accompanied by her daughter-in-law, Ruth.

Many scholars agree that verses 1:7–21 describe this event in detail, and that verse 1:22 is the closing verse of this section, which summarizes the event.

However, scholars do not agree about the function of verse 1:6. Some scholars believe that verse 1:6 is a summary introduction. It says that Naomi arose (she and her daughters-in-law) and returned from the region of Moab. Thus, this section begins and ends with a summary description of the main event.

Some other scholars do not believe that verse 1:6 is a summary introduction. Rather 1:6 describes the first part of the action. It says that she arose (she and her daughters-in-law) and prepared to return from the region of Moab.

The majority of versions follow the second suggestion. However, the first suggestion follows a pattern that is also in some other Hebrew narratives. An event is introduced by a summary statement, and the verses after it describe that event in detail. See the Note on 1:6b for more information.

Here are some other examples of section headings:

Naomi and Ruth Return to Bethlehem (New International Version)
-or-
Naomi and Ruth Return (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Departure from Moab (God’s Word)

Paragraph 1:6–7

1:6a

When Naomi heard in Moab that the LORD had attended to His people by providing them with food: This verse part gives the reason why Naomi returned to Bethlehem. She heard that the LORD had provided food for his people. The famine had ended, so she no longer needed to remain in Moab.

When Naomi heard: The verse does not indicate when Naomi heard the news from Israel. However, it was some time after her sons died.

Here are some other ways to indicate when Naomi heard the news:

Then Naomi heard (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-

While Naomi was in Moab, she heard (New Century Version)
-or-

Some time later Naomi heard (Good News Translation)

The verse leaves implicit that the news came from Israel. If this information is not clear to your readers, it may be helpful to make it explicit. For example:

When Naomi in Moab heard news from Israel

that the LORD had attended to His people: The Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as attended to is literally “visited.” The word means “pay attention to” or “observe with care.”

Here are some other ways to translate this verse part:

that the LORD had shown his care for his people (Revised English Bible)
-or-
that the LORD had shown concern for his people (NET Bible)
-or-
that the LORD had blessed his people (New Living Translation (2004))

by providing them with food: This line explains the way that the LORD came to the aid of his people. The verse does not say how he provided food. However, this statement implies that the LORD had sent rain to Israel, so that grain and other crops were able to grow again. It may be helpful to your readers to make some of this information explicit. Your translation should not give the impression that the LORD gave them food directly and miraculously.

Here are some ways to make more explicit how the LORD provided food for his people:

reversing the famine by providing abundant crops (NET Bible)
-or-
by giving them good crops again (New Living Translation (2004))

1:6b

she and her daughters-in-law prepared to leave the land of Moab: This verse part is more literally “and she arose she and her daughters-in-law and she returned from the region of Moab.” The Hebrew phrase “she arose…and she returned” is a Hebrew idiom that introduces the event of Naomi’s return that follows in 1:7–21. In Hebrew the verbs “arose” and “returned” are singular, with Naomi as the subject.

There are two possible functions of this idiom:

• The function of the idiom is to introduce the first part of Naomi’s return to Bethlehem from Moab. It refers to her decision or preparation to return. For example:

So she decided to return home from the region of Moab, accompanied by her daughters-in-law (NET Bible)
-or-
So Naomi land her daughters-in-law got ready to leave Moab to return to her homeland. (New Living Translation (2004))

• The function of the idiom is to introduce a summary of Naomi’s return to Bethlehem from Moab. It refers to the entire event. For example:

Then she arose with her daughters-in-law and she returned from the region of Moab.

The Display will follow the first option, since it is followed by a majority of versions. However, both options have merit. You will need to decide which option to follow for your translation. For more information, see the comments for section 1:6–22.

General Comment on 1:6a–b

The Berean Standard Bible and some other versions have reordered the verse parts. In some languages, it may be more natural to follow the Hebrew order, which first gives Naomi’s action, and then the reason for her action. For example:

Naomi prepared to return from Moab with her daughters-in-law, because she had heard in Moab that the LORD had helped his people by giving them food.

© 2024 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ruth 1:5

1:5a

both Mahlon and Chilion also died: This clause tells what happened after the ten years that are described in the previous clause. Both of Naomi’s sons died. The word also refers back to the death of Elimelech. It may give attention to the fact that all of Naomi’s male family members were gone. She not only lost her husband, but also her sons.

Here is another way to translate this verse part:

Then Naomi’s two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, also died.

1:5b

and Naomi: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as and Naomi is literally “and the woman.” The Hebrew phrase does not make explicit Naomi’s name. It is the same pattern as the summary introduction in 1:1, in which Elimelech and his family members are not named. For that reason, 1:5b may be a summary closing to this section. Some versions translate this phrase literally. For example:

so the woman (NET Bible)

Translate this phrase in a natural way in your language.

Here are some ways to indicate the connection of 1:5b to the previous clause. Either of these options is acceptable:

• Indicate that this clause talks about the result of the death of her sons. For example:

so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband (English Standard Version)

• Indicate that this clause talks about the next situation in the story. For example:

and Naomi was left all alone, without husband or sons (Good News Translation)

was left without: The Hebrew expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as left without is literally “and she was left the woman from.” The verb translated as left is the same as in 1:3b. See how you translated it there.

Here are some other ways to translate this expression:

Then Naomi, bereaved of her two sons as well as of her husband. (Revised English Bible)
-or-
and the woman was left with neither (New American Bible, Revised Edition)

Now Naomi had no husband or sons. (Contemporary English Version)

her two sons and without her husband: The sons are mentioned first in this phrase. A reason may be to give attention to Naomi’s loss. However, in some languages, it may be more natural to translate this phrase in a different order, since her husband died first, then her sons. For example:

and Naomi was left all alone, without husband or sons. (Good News Translation)

The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as her two sons is literally “both her children.” The Hebrew word “children” normally refers to young children, not grown sons.

Here are two possible explanations why the Hebrew word for “children” is used here:

• It expresses the deep pain that Naomi felt.

• It forms a pair with Ruth 4:16, which has the same word.

Consider translating this phrase as “both her children” if in your language it is a natural way to refer to grown sons that expresses Naomi’s extreme grief.

© 2024 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ruth 1:4

1:4a

who took Moabite women as their wives: This verse part introduces two Moabite women (women from the country of Moab) as additional characters in the story. Some versions make it clear that the referent is the two sons. For example:

The two sons married Moabite women. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-

Each son married a woman from Moab. (God’s Word)

1:4b

one named Orpah and the other named Ruth: This verse part gives the names of the Moabite women. Scholars do not agree about the meaning of the names Orpah and Ruth. The meanings of the names are probably not important to the story.

It is recommended that you follow the majority of versions that transliterate the names as Orpah and Ruth. In some languages, it may be necessary to indicate which wife married which son. If that is true in your language, then you may indicate that Ruth was the wife of Mahlon and Orpah was the wife of Chilion. See Ruth 4:10.

1:4c

And after they had lived in Moab about ten years: There are two interpretation issues about 1:4c. The first issue is about the referent of this verse part:

(1) This verse part refers to the two sons (or the two sons, their wives, and Naomi). The ten year period refers to the time that the sons (or the two sons, their wives, and Naomi) lived in Moab after they married Orpah and Ruth. For example:

And they continued to live there about ten years. (NET Bible)

(Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, New Living Translation (2004))

(2) This verse part refers to the family of Elimelech. The ten year period refers to the entire time that the family had lived in Moab. For example:

Naomi and her sons had lived in Moab about ten years (New Century Version)

(New Century Version)

Many versions are ambiguous. It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with more versions and commentaries.

A second issue is about the syntax of this verse part:

(1) This verse part is an independent clause. 1:5 starts a new clause. For example:

and they lived there about ten years. 1:5 Then those two—Mahlon and Chilion—also died (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

(2) This verse part begins a clause that continues in 1:5. For example:

About ten years later, 1:5 Mahlon and Chilion also died (Contemporary English Version)

The Display will follow interpretation (1). However, you may also follow interpretation (2). There is no difference in meaning caused by the choice of syntax.

Indicate the connection of this verse part to the surrounding clauses in a natural way in your language.

© 2024 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ruth 1:3

Paragraph 1:3–5

This paragraph gives the details of Naomi’s situation. After Elimelech and his family went to Moab, Naomi’s husband and her two sons died. She became a widow with no male family members to provide for her and protect her. This crisis is the main problem of the story. The rest of the story tells how this crisis is resolved.

1:3a

Then Naomi’s husband Elimelech died: Here are some ways to indicate the connection of this clause to the previous clause. Any of these options is acceptable:

• Indicate that this clause is the next event in the story. The Berean Standard Bible and some other versions translate this function with a word like Then or “And.” Here this word introduces the next event. For example:

Now Naomi’s husband Elimelech died. (God’s Word)
-or-

And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. (King James Version)

• Indicate that this clause talks about an event that occurred at an unspecified time after their arrival in Moab. For example:

Sometime later Naomi’s husband Elimelech died, so she and her two sons were left alone. (NET Bible)
-or-

While they were living there, Elimelech died, and Naomi was left alone with her two sons (Good News Translation)

• Indicate that this clause talks about an event that was not expected. For example:

But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. (English Standard Version)

• Leave the connection to the previous clause implied. For example:

Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left with her two sons. (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

This clause refers to Elimelech as Naomi’s husband. In Hebrew, it is unusual to refer to a man in relation to a woman. However, by referring to Elimelech as Naomi’s husband, the author is giving attention to Naomi as the main character of this part of the story.

It is recommended that you translate this clause in a natural way in your language to indicate that Naomi is now the main character in the story. Here are two examples:

• Translate literally. Keep the reference to Elimelech as Naomi’s husband. For example:

But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died (English Standard Version)

• Translate that Elimelech died. In 1:3b remind the readers that his wife’s (widow’s) name was Naomi by making her name explicit. For example:

Elimelech died, 3b leaving Naomi with only her two sons (Contemporary English Version)

1:3b

and she was left with her two sons: Here are some ways to indicate the connection of this clause to the previous clause. Either of these options is acceptable:

• Indicate that this clause talks about the result of the death of Elimelech. For example:

So she and her two sons were left alone. (NET Bible)

• Indicate that this clause talks about the next situation in the story. For example:

and Naomi was left with her two sons (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

The Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as was left means “left behind.” In this clause, the word refers to Naomi losing her husband. She needed to care for her two sons alone, as a single mother.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Naomi was left a widow with her two sons. (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Naomi no longer had a husband, only her two sons.

© 2024 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ruth 1:2

1:2

This verse gives more details about the characters that were introduced in 1:1.

1:2a

The man’s name was Elimelech: The name Elimelech means either “God is king” or “my God is king.” However, the meaning of the name is probably not important to the story.

It is recommended that you follow the majority of versions that transliterate the name Elimelech. You can add a footnote to explain the meaning of the name if you think it will be helpful to your readers.

Here is a footnote example:

The name “Elimelech” literally means “My God [is] king.” (Modified from the NET Bible)

1:2b

his wife’s name was Naomi: The name Naomi means “pleasant” or “lovely.” In 1:20a, Naomi used a wordplay in which she contrasted the meaning of her name with the Hebrew word mara, which means “bitter.”

It is recommended that you follow the majority of versions that transliterate the name Naomi. Also consider adding a footnote to explain the meaning of the name. The footnote may help your readers recognize the play on words in 1:20a.

Here is a footnote example:

The name Naomi means “pleasant” or “lovely.” Her name is used as a wordplay in 1:20–21. She laments that she is no longer “pleasant” but “bitter” because of the loss of her husband and two sons. (Modified from the NET Bible)

1:2c

and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion: Scholars do not agree about the meaning of the names Mahlon and Chilion. They also do not know which son was older. It is recommended that you follow the majority of versions that transliterate these names.

In some languages, it may be necessary to indicate which son was older. It is reasonable to assume that Mahlon was the older of the two sons, since his name is mentioned first.

1:2d

They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah: This verse part gives more details about the family of Elimelech. They were members of a clan that lived in Bethlehem. Some versions make this information explicit. For example:

They were of the clan of Ephrath from Bethlehem in Judah. (NET Bible)
-or-
who belonged to the clan of Ephrath and who lived in Bethlehem in Judah (Good News Translation)

1:2e

and they entered the land of Moab and settled there: The Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as settled means “remained” or “stayed.”

This clause repeats the information from 1:1d. It does not indicate that they went to Moab a second time. In some languages, the repetition may create confusion or be unnatural. If that is true in your language, here are some other ways to translate this clause:

• Reduce the repetition by using different words in 1:1d and 1:2e. For example:

1d…went with his wife and two sons to live in Moabite territory

2e…came to Moab and settled there (Revised English Bible)

• Leave 1:2e implied. For example:

1d…his wife and two sons, left to live for a while in the country of Moab

2d-e They were from the Ephrathite clan of Bethlehem in Judah.

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