Ruth 1:11
What does Ruth 1:11 mean?
A plain-English look at Ruth 1:11 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ruth 1:11 means
Naomi urges them to turn back, asking if she has sons in her womb to become their husbands. She speaks from the custom whereby a family line could be continued through a near relative marrying a childless widow. Naomi, however, has no such sons and no realistic path to provide them. Her rhetorical question is not coldness but honesty about her inability to secure their future within Israelite norms. This verse shows Naomi thinking practically and sacrificially, trying to release her daughters-in-law from obligations that could trap them in poverty and loneliness.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
KJV
King James Version · 1611And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But Naomi said, Go back, my daughters; why will you come with me? Have I more sons in my body, to become your husbands?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And Naomi saith, `Turn back, my daughters; why do ye go with me? are there yet to me sons in my bowels that they have been to you for husbands?
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But she answered them: Return, my daughters: why come ye with me? have I any more sons in my womb, that you may hope for husbands of me?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And Naomi said, Return, my daughters: why will ye go with me? Are there yet sons in my womb, that they could be your husbands?
Context
This comes as the first part of Naomi’s argument (verses 11–13) against the daughters’ initial resolve in verse 10. By invoking family continuation customs, Naomi frames the problem in concrete, social terms. Verses 12–13 will intensify the logic—age, timing, and grief—pressing the case that the kindest, most sensible course is for them to return home.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Deuteronomy 25:5
If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no son, the wife of the dead shall not be married without unto a stranger: her husband’s brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother unto her.
- Genesis 38:11
Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter-in-law, Remain a widow in thy father’s house, till Shelah my son be grown up; for he said, Lest he also die, like his brethren. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house.
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