Ruth 1:5
What does Ruth 1:5 mean?
A plain-English look at Ruth 1:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ruth 1:5 means
Tragedy deepens as Mahlon and Chilion both die, leaving Naomi bereft of husband and sons. The verse compresses immense sorrow into a single statement. Naomi is now isolated in a foreign land with no male protectors, a situation that would imperil her livelihood and future. The repetition of loss—first a husband, then both sons—paints Naomi’s life as emptied of her nearest supports. This is not an indictment of Naomi but an honest acknowledgment of suffering under God’s sovereign hand, a theme Naomi herself will voice later. The narrative invites us to sit with the weight of her emptiness before any hint of resolution appears.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And Mahlon and Chilion died both of them; and the woman was left of her two children and of her husband.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And Mahlon and Chilion died both of them; and the woman was left of her two children and of her husband.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And Mahlon and Chilion came to their end; and the woman was without her two sons and her husband.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And they die also, both of them--Mahlon and Chilion--and the woman is left of her two children and of her husband.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And they both died, to wit, Mahalon and Chelion: and the woman was left alone, having lost both her sons and her husband.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And Mahlon and Chilion died also, both of them; and the woman was left of her two children and of her husband.
Context
Coming after ten years and the marriages in verse 4, this verse removes Naomi’s remaining human safety nets. It sets up the crucial decision in verse 6 to return to Judah. The starkness of the loss explains Naomi’s later bitterness (verses 20–21) and makes Ruth’s steadfast devotion (verses 16–17) shine more brightly by contrast.
v.4And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelt there about ten years.
v.5This passage
v.6Then she arose with her daughters-in-law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that Jehovah had visited his people in giving them bread.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Luke 7:12
Now when he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, there was carried out one that was dead, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.
- Matthew 22:25
Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first married and deceased, and having no seed left his wife unto his brother;
- Isaiah 49:21
Then shalt thou say in thy heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have been bereaved of my children, and am solitary, an exile, and wandering to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where were they?
- Jeremiah 2:19
Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and a bitter, that thou hast forsaken Jehovah thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts.
- Deuteronomy 32:39
See now that I, even I, am he, And there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal; And there is none that can deliver out of my hand.
- Psalms 89:30
If his children forsake my law, And walk not in mine ordinances;
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