Ruth 1 · Verse 11

Ruth 1:11

And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
Ruth 1:11, King James Version

Ruth 1:11 in other translations

BSBBut Naomi replied, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb to become your husbands?
WEBNaomi said, “Go back, my daughters. Why do you want to go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
ASVAnd Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
YLTAnd Naomi saith, ‘Turn back, my daughters; why do ye go with me? are there yet to me sons in my bowels that they have been to you for husbands?
DARBYAnd Naomi said, Return, my daughters: why will ye go with me? Are there yet sons in my womb, that they could be your husbands?
BBEBut Naomi said, Go back, my daughters; why will you come with me? Have I more sons in my body, to become your husbands?
WebsterAnd Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? shall I bear more sons, that they may be your husbands?

What does Ruth 1:11 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
11. are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?--This alludes to the ancient custom (Ge 38:26) afterwards expressly sanctioned by the law of Moses (De 25:5), which required a younger son to marry the widow of his deceased brother.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 11 Are there yet any more sons - This was spoken in allusion to the custom, that when a married brother died without leaving posterity, his brother should take his widow; and the children of such a marriage were accounted the children of the deceased brother. There is something very persuasive and affecting in the address of Naomi to her daughters-in-law. Let us observe the particulars: - 1. She intimates that she had no other sons to give them. 2. That she was not with child; so there could be no expectation. 3. That she was too old to have a husband. 4. That though she should marry that night, and have children, yet they could not wait till such sons were marriageable; she therefore begs them to return to their own country where they might be comfortably settled among their own kindred.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ruth 1:6-14

Naomi began to think of returning, after the death of her two sons. When death comes into a family, it ought to reform what is amiss there. Earth is made bitter to us, that heaven may be made dear. Naomi seems to have been a person of faith and piety. She dismissed her daughters-in-law with prayer. It is very proper for friends, when they part, to part with them thus part in love. Did Naomi do well, to discourage…

Read the full comment on Ruth 1:6-14 →

Ruth 1:11 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַתֹּ֤אמֶרva.To.merand she saidH559
נָעֳמִי֙no.'o.MiNaomiH5281
שֹׁ֣בְנָהShoe.nahgo backH7725
בְנֹתַ֔יve.no.TaiO daughters myH1323
לָ֥מָּהLa.mah<to> why?H4100
תֵלַ֖כְנָהte.Lakh.nahwill you goH1980
עִמִּ֑י'i.Miwith meH5973
הַֽעֽוֹד\־ha.'od-¿ stillH5750
לִ֤יli[belong] to <the> me
בָנִים֙va.Nim[do] sonsH1121
בְּֽמֵעַ֔יbe.me.'Aiin inward parts myH4578
וְהָי֥וּve.ha.Yuand they will becomeH1961
לָכֶ֖םla.Khemof you
לַאֲנָשִֽׁים\׃la.'a.na.Shim<into> husbandsH582

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ruth 1:11

  • Deuteronomy 25:5

    If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband’s brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband’s brother unto her.

  • Genesis 38:11

    Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father’s house, till Shelah my son be grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren did. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
are there.This alludes to the custom that when a married brother died, without leaving posterity, his brother should take his widow; and the children of such marriages were accounted those of the deceased brother. This address of Naomi to her daughter-in-law is exceedingly tender, persuasive, and affecting.
that they.
Ge 38:11; De 25:5

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Ruth 1:10

    And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.

  • Ruth 1:11

    And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?

  • Ruth 1:12

    Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;

Read all of Ruth 1

Ruth 1:11 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y Noemi respondió: Volveos, hijas mías: ¿para qué habéis de ir conmigo? ¿tengo yo más hijos en el vientre, que puedan ser vuestros maridos?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Naomi dit: Retournez, mes filles; pourquoi iriez-vous avec moi? Ai-je encore des fils dans mon sein, de sorte qu’ils soient vos maris?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Noomi sprach: Kehret um, meine Töchter! Warum wolltet ihr mit mir gehen? Habe ich noch Söhne in meinem Leibe, daß sie euch zu Männern werden könnten?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quibus illa respondit: Revertimini, filiæ meæ, cur venitis mecum? num ultra habeo filios in utero meo, ut viros ex me sperare possitis?