Ruth 1:19
What does Ruth 1:19 mean?
A plain-English look at Ruth 1:19 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ruth 1:19 means
Naomi and Ruth journey on until they reach Beth-lehem. Their arrival stirs the whole town; the women ask, “Is this Naomi?” The question carries astonishment and sympathy—Naomi is recognizable, yet deeply changed by sorrow and time. The city’s movement signals that Naomi’s return matters; she is not a stranger. Ruth’s presence is implied but uncelebrated, highlighting her humility and the community’s focus on Naomi’s losses. This public moment sets the stage for Naomi’s honest testimony about God’s dealings with her, which will help us understand the spiritual landscape into which Ruth has entered.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000So they two went until they came to Beth-lehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Beth-lehem, that all the city was moved about them, and the women said, Is this Naomi?
KJV
King James Version · 1611So they two went until they came to Beth–lehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Beth–lehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901So they two went until they came to Beth-lehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Beth-lehem, that all the city was moved about them, and the women said, Is this Naomi?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949So the two of them went on till they came to Beth-lehem. And when they came to Beth-lehem all the town was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and they go both of them till their coming in to Beth-Lehem; and it cometh to pass at their coming in to Beth-Lehem, that all the city is moved at them, and they say, `Is this Naomi?'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752So they went together, and came to Bethlehem. And when they were come into the city, the report was quickly spread among all: and the women said: This is that Noemi.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they came to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and the [women] said, Is this Naomi?
Context
With the decision settled (verse 18), verse 19 completes the journey home and introduces the community’s reaction. The buzz in Bethlehem prepares for Naomi’s bitter renaming in verse 20 and her theology of emptiness in verse 21. It also places Ruth within Israel’s communal life, where harvest rhythms (verse 22) will soon shape their hope.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Lamentations 2:15
All that pass by clap their hands at thee; They hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men called The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth?
- Isaiah 23:7
Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days, whose feet carried her afar off to sojourn?
- Matthew 21:10
And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, Who is this?
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