And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
On the road from Moab toward Bethlehem after famine and the deaths of Elimelech and his sons left Naomi to return to her kinsmen, both daughters-in-law lifted up their voice and wept again, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law in farewell and turned back to her own people and gods while Ruth clung to Naomi and refused to leave. The kiss and the cleaving stand in contrast, the one an affectionate but parting outward affection and the other a firm and loyal devotion rooted in strength of purpose. Ruth's cleaving was a principled choice made after counting the cost and with no hope of earthly reward, to leave home and kindred and former gods to serve Naomi's God, going where she went and lodging where she lodged and taking her people and her God for her own even unto death. Her loyalty gave Naomi hope in sorrow and brought lasting honor, for she was received into the chief family in Israel and became the wife of one of Naomi's kinsmen and the mother of Obed the grandfather of David, entering the line through which Jesus came, while Orpah's name is mentioned no more. The verse thus divides all between the many with the spirit of Orpah who are convinced of duty yet let friends and the world turn them back, and the few with the spirit of Ruth who forsake the world to stay with Christ wheresoever He leads for life or for death, and only steadfast hearts like hers will be accepted in His sight.
Setting and Parting
The parting took place on the road from Moab toward Bethlehem near the close of the time of the judges, after famine had driven Elimelech and Naomi from Bethlehem to dwell in Moab east of the Jordan, where their sons married the Moabitish women Orpah and Ruth, and then Elimelech and his sons died, leaving Naomi to return to her former home where she still had kinsmen. Both daughters-in-law had at first offered to go with her, and friends had accompanied them on the way. Naomi used every argument to dissuade them and set the consequences before them lest they act from impulse and afterward regret it, urging them to go back to their own kindred in Moab as every way to their earthly advantage.
At this point both lifted up their voice and wept again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law in farewell and turned back to her own people and to her people's gods in Moab, while Ruth clung to Naomi without reserve and refused to leave, steadfastly minded to go with her to Bethlehem and share whatever the future brought. Ruth's remaining meant sharing Naomi's home, worship, and fate in going with her when she returned to Bethlehem after the deaths of her husband and sons.
The kiss and the cleaving stand in contrast as outward affection set against continuing attachment. Orpah's kiss was affectionate but limited and parting, ending in departure and return to Moab. Ruth's cleaving was firm, loyal devotion rooted in deep devotion and strength of purpose, a remaining with Naomi after counting the cost and a willingness to leave native land, home, relatives, and former gods for the land of God's people.
Steadfast Loyalty and Lesson
Ruth’s clinging was a principled decision made after counting the cost, not from hope of earthly advantage, with heart and conscience behind it. She chose to leave home and kindred and former gods to serve Naomi’s God, pledging to go where Naomi went and lodge where she lodged, to take her people for her people and her God for her God, to die where she died and be buried there, with an oath that only death would part them, even to death. Her loyalty was steadfast and rooted in deep devotion and strength of purpose, a firm attachment that would not leave even when urged to turn back. The choice meant sharing Naomi’s home and worship and fate without reserve and accepting whatever the future brought.
Both women had gained a knowledge of the true God through Naomi’s example and teaching among idolaters, so the parting illustrates love and duty. The account beginning here brings into view the private life of a devoted family in troublous times and shows the result of abiding faith in God and a consistent life. Ruth’s remaining became an example of perseverance through hardship, and the journey together leads from sorrow toward the light of God’s care.
That choice gave Naomi a last ray of hope, because she still had kinsmen at Bethlehem. Ruth was honored in the chief family in Israel and her life honored far beyond her own time and place, with her history preserved in the Bible as a precious legacy and her name in the Lamb’s book of life. She later married one of Naomi’s kinsmen and became the mother of Obed, grandfather of David, entering the family line through which Jesus came as descendant of Abraham. Orpah’s name is mentioned no more, and her connection with the people of God ceased forever.
The verse divides all into the few with the spirit of Ruth and the many with the spirit of Orpah, illustrating the difference between those who leave Christ and those who remain with Him. Orpah pictures those who hear the word and are convinced of duty yet allow the society of friends and the enticements of the world to overrule and determine their course. Ruth’s clinging is a perfect parallel to the true Christian who forsakes the world to stay with Christ wheresoever He leads and whatsoever He commands, for life or for death. Steadfast hearts do not turn back from God when tested, and the great day will reveal that only those whose hearts are steadfast are accepted in His sight.
On the road from Moab toward Bethlehem after famine and the deaths of Elimelech and his sons left Naomi to return to her kinsmen, both daughters-in-law lifted up their voice and wept again, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law in farewell and turned back to her own people and gods while Ruth clung to Naomi and refused to leave.
The kiss and the cleaving stand in contrast, the one an affectionate but parting outward affection and the other a firm and loyal devotion rooted in strength of purpose.
Ruth's cleaving was a principled choice made after counting the cost and with no hope of earthly reward, to leave home and kindred and former gods to serve Naomi's God, going where she went and lodging where she lodged and taking her people and her God for her own even unto death.
Her loyalty gave Naomi hope in sorrow and brought lasting honor, for she was received into the chief family in Israel and became the wife of one of Naomi's kinsmen and the mother of Obed the grandfather of David, entering the line through which Jesus came, while Orpah's name is mentioned no more.
The verse thus divides all between the many with the spirit of Orpah who are convinced of duty yet let friends and the world turn them back, and the few with the spirit of Ruth who forsake the world to stay with Christ wheresoever He leads for life or for death, and only steadfast hearts like hers will be accepted in His sight.
Setting and Parting
The parting took place on the road from Moab toward Bethlehem near the close of the time of the judges, after famine had driven Elimelech and Naomi from Bethlehem to dwell in Moab east of the Jordan, where their sons married the Moabitish women Orpah and Ruth, and then Elimelech and his sons died, leaving Naomi to return to her former home where she still had kinsmen. Both daughters-in-law had at first offered to go with her, and friends had accompanied them on the way. Naomi used every argument to dissuade them and set the consequences before them lest they act from impulse and afterward regret it, urging them to go back to their own kindred in Moab as every way to their earthly advantage.
At this point both lifted up their voice and wept again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law in farewell and turned back to her own people and to her people's gods in Moab, while Ruth clung to Naomi without reserve and refused to leave, steadfastly minded to go with her to Bethlehem and share whatever the future brought. Ruth's remaining meant sharing Naomi's home, worship, and fate in going with her when she returned to Bethlehem after the deaths of her husband and sons.
The kiss and the cleaving stand in contrast as outward affection set against continuing attachment. Orpah's kiss was affectionate but limited and parting, ending in departure and return to Moab. Ruth's cleaving was firm, loyal devotion rooted in deep devotion and strength of purpose, a remaining with Naomi after counting the cost and a willingness to leave native land, home, relatives, and former gods for the land of God's people.
Steadfast Loyalty and Lesson
Ruth’s clinging was a principled decision made after counting the cost, not from hope of earthly advantage, with heart and conscience behind it. She chose to leave home and kindred and former gods to serve Naomi’s God, pledging to go where Naomi went and lodge where she lodged, to take her people for her people and her God for her God, to die where she died and be buried there, with an oath that only death would part them, even to death. Her loyalty was steadfast and rooted in deep devotion and strength of purpose, a firm attachment that would not leave even when urged to turn back. The choice meant sharing Naomi’s home and worship and fate without reserve and accepting whatever the future brought.
Both women had gained a knowledge of the true God through Naomi’s example and teaching among idolaters, so the parting illustrates love and duty. The account beginning here brings into view the private life of a devoted family in troublous times and shows the result of abiding faith in God and a consistent life. Ruth’s remaining became an example of perseverance through hardship, and the journey together leads from sorrow toward the light of God’s care.
That choice gave Naomi a last ray of hope, because she still had kinsmen at Bethlehem. Ruth was honored in the chief family in Israel and her life honored far beyond her own time and place, with her history preserved in the Bible as a precious legacy and her name in the Lamb’s book of life. She later married one of Naomi’s kinsmen and became the mother of Obed, grandfather of David, entering the family line through which Jesus came as descendant of Abraham. Orpah’s name is mentioned no more, and her connection with the people of God ceased forever.
The verse divides all into the few with the spirit of Ruth and the many with the spirit of Orpah, illustrating the difference between those who leave Christ and those who remain with Him. Orpah pictures those who hear the word and are convinced of duty yet allow the society of friends and the enticements of the world to overrule and determine their course. Ruth’s clinging is a perfect parallel to the true Christian who forsakes the world to stay with Christ wheresoever He leads and whatsoever He commands, for life or for death. Steadfast hearts do not turn back from God when tested, and the great day will reveal that only those whose hearts are steadfast are accepted in His sight.