Ruth 1:6
What does Ruth 1:6 mean?
A plain-English look at Ruth 1:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ruth 1:6 means
Hearing in Moab that Jehovah has visited His people by giving them bread, Naomi rises to return to Judah with her daughters-in-law. The phrase “visited His people” presents the famine’s end as God’s gracious intervention, not mere weather change. Naomi’s move is more than relocation; it is a response to news of God’s faithfulness toward His covenant people. Returning home holds both promise and pain—provision awaits, yet memories of loss will be vivid. Still, this is a step toward life, taken in the wake of divine kindness. Even in grief, Naomi acts on what she hears of Jehovah’s mercy to His people.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Then 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Then 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 the Lord had visited his people in giving them bread.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Then 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949So she and her daughters-in-law got ready to go back from the country of Moab, for news had come to her in the country of Moab that the Lord, in mercy for his people, had given them food.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And she riseth, she and her daughters-in-law, and turneth back from the fields of Moab, for she hath heard in the fields of Moab that God hath looked after His people, --to give to them bread.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And she arose to go from the land of Moab to her own country, with both her daughters in law: for she had heard that the Lord had looked upon his people, and had given them food.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And she arose, she and her daughters-in-law, and returned from the fields of Moab; for she had heard in the fields of Moab how that Jehovah had visited his people to give them bread.
Context
This verse follows the triple bereavement of verse 5 and marks a turning point from passive suffering to active response. It introduces God’s providential care explicitly for the first time in the chapter. Verses 7–13 will narrate the journey’s beginning and Naomi’s counsel to her daughters-in-law, testing loyalties and clarifying futures.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Exodus 16:4
Then said Jehovah unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or not.
- Proverbs 30:8
Remove far from me falsehood and lies; Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is needful for me:
- Genesis 21:1
And Jehovah visited Sarah as he had said, and Jehovah did unto Sarah as he had spoken.
- Luke 19:44
and shall dash thee to the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
- Genesis 28:20
And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,
- Psalms 104:14
He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, And herb for the service of man; That he may bring forth food out of the earth,
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