KJV ORIGINAL
And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
And they cried out loud and wept again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth held on tightly to her.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
This verse shows two different responses to grief and loss - Orpah chose to return home while Ruth chose to stay with Naomi despite the hardship.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs during a time of famine when Naomi and her two Moabite daughters-in-law had all lost their husbands. Naomi was urging both young women to return to their families in Moab rather than follow her back to Bethlehem where they would be foreigners with no support system. In ancient times, widows had very few options for survival and often depended on male relatives.
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.
Share or Save