Ruth 1:21
What does Ruth 1:21 mean?
A plain-English look at Ruth 1:21 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ruth 1:21 means
Naomi recalls leaving “full” and returning “empty,” attributing her reversal to Jehovah’s action: He has brought her back, testified against her, and afflicted her. She reads her story as under divine judgment or discipline, though the narrator does not assign specific guilt. Naomi’s words are honest and heavy; they frame her experience as a courtroom where God’s testimony has gone against her. Yet even in her lament, she acknowledges that Jehovah has brought her home. That small admission carries a seed of hope: the God who afflicts has also guided her steps back to the place where help may yet find her.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000I went out full, and Jehovah hath brought me home again empty; why call ye me Naomi, seeing Jehovah hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?
KJV
King James Version · 1611I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901I went out full, and Jehovah hath brought me home again empty; why call ye me Naomi, seeing Jehovah hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949I went out full, and the Lord has sent me back again with nothing; why do you give me the name Naomi, seeing that the Lord has given witness against me, and the Ruler of all has sent sorrow on me?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862I went out full, and empty hath Jehovah brought me back, why do ye call me Naomi, and Jehovah hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath done evil to me?'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752I went out full and the Lord hath brought me back empty. Why then do you call me Noemi, whom the Lord hath humbled, and the Almighty hath afflicted?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890I went out full, and Jehovah has brought me home again empty. Why do ye call me Naomi, seeing Jehovah has brought me low, and the Almighty has afflicted me?
Context
This elaborates Naomi’s “Mara” lament from verse 20, giving theological depth to her grief. It prepares for verse 22’s closing note, where the timing of their arrival hints at provision ahead. Naomi’s emptiness will soon be set against harvest and kindness, themes that begin to answer her lament in the chapters to come.
v.20And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara; for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.
v.21This passage
v.22So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, who returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Beth-lehem in the beginning of barley harvest.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Samuel 2:7
Jehovah maketh poor, and maketh rich: He bringeth low, he also lifteth up.
- Job 1:21
and he said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: Jehovah gave, and Jehovah hath taken away; blessed be the name of Jehovah.
- Job 16:8
And thou hast laid fast hold on me, which is a witness against me: And my leanness riseth up against me, It testifieth to my face.
- Job 13:26
For thou writest bitter things against me, And makest me to inherit the iniquities of my youth:
- Job 10:17
Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, And increasest thine indignation upon me: Changes and warfare are with me.
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