Again they wept aloud, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.
Parallel translations
- WEB They lifted up their voices, and wept again; then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth joined with her.
- KJV And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
- NKJV Then they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.
- NASB And they raised their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.
- NLT And again they wept together, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye. But Ruth clung tightly to Naomi.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
After more weeping, Orpah kisses Naomi goodbye, but Ruth clings to her. The parting reveals the decisive difference between the two women.
Overview
Orpah's choice is reasonable and not condemned; she returns to her people and gods as Naomi advised. Ruth, however, 'clung' to Naomi—a word elsewhere used for covenant devotion and marital union. This contrast frames Ruth's coming confession of faith and marks her as one who forsakes all to join God's people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Prov 18:24A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
- Matt 16:24Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.
- Matt 10:37Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me;
- Matt 19:22When the young man heard this, he went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth.
- John 6:66–69From that time on many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him.
- Heb 10:39But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
- 1 Kgs 19:20So Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, and then I will follow you.” “Go on back,” Elijah replied, “for what have I done to you?”
- Deut 10:20You are to fear the LORD your God and serve Him. Hold fast to Him and take your oaths in His name.
- Isa 14:1For the LORD will have compassion on Jacob; once again He will choose Israel and settle them in their own land. The foreigner will join them and unite with the house of Jacob.
- Prov 17:17A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
- Zech 8:23This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue will tightly grasp the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”
- Gen 31:55Early the next morning, Laban got up and kissed his grandchildren and daughters and blessed them. Then he left to return home.
- Gen 31:28But you did not even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye. Now you have done a foolish thing.
- 2 Tim 4:10because Demas, in his love of this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.
- Acts 17:34But some joined him and believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others who were with them.
- Mark 10:21–22Jesus looked at him, loved him, and said to him, “There is one thing you lack: Go, sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”
- Deut 4:4But you who held fast to the LORD your God are alive to this day, every one of you.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Boaz the kinsman-redeemer who buys back the destitute and takes a bride foreshadows Christ, our Redeemer who pays the price to make a people his own; and from Ruth's line comes David, and David's greater Son.
How Ruth 1:14 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.