Ruth and Naomi
A young Moabite widow refuses to leave her mother-in-law, speaking beautiful words of loyalty and following Naomi to Bethlehem.
Ruth 1:1-22
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The Story
In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. A man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife Naomi and two sons, went to live in the country of Moab.
The man's name was Elimelech. His sons married Moabite women—one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After about ten years, Elimelech and both sons died, leaving Naomi alone with her two daughters-in-law.
When Naomi heard that the Lord had provided food for His people in Judah, she prepared to return home. As she started on the road back, she urged her daughters-in-law, 'Go back, each of you, to your mother's home. May the Lord show you kindness, as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and to me.'
She kissed them goodbye, and they wept aloud. 'We will go back with you to your people,' they said.
But Naomi insisted. 'Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons who could become your husbands? I am too old to have another husband. Even if I had one tonight and bore sons, would you wait until they grew up?'
She continued, 'No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the Lord's hand has turned against me!'
At this they wept aloud again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.
'Look,' Naomi said, 'your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.'
But Ruth replied, 'Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.'
When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.
So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem. The whole town was stirred because of them. 'Can this be Naomi?' the women exclaimed.
'Don't call me Naomi,' she told them. 'Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty.'
So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth, her Moabite daughter-in-law. They arrived in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning.
Ruth Stays with Naomi
Kids Version
Naomi was so sad. First her husband died. Then her two sons died. She was left all alone in a foreign country with only her two daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah.
Naomi decided to go back to her home in Israel. 'You girls should go back to your families,' she told them. 'Find new husbands. I have nothing to give you.'
Orpah cried and hugged Naomi goodbye. Then she left.
But Ruth wouldn't let go. She held onto Naomi tight.
'Go on!' Naomi said. 'Your sister-in-law is leaving. Go with her!'
Ruth said the most beautiful words: 'Don't make me leave you! Where you go, I will go. Where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people. Your God will be my God. Where you die, I will die too. Only death will separate us!'
Naomi saw that Ruth really meant it. She stopped trying to send her away.
So the two women walked all the way to Bethlehem. When they arrived, everyone in town was excited. 'Is that Naomi?'
Naomi was still sad. 'Don't call me Naomi anymore,' she said. 'Call me Mara, which means bitter. I left this place full and happy. I'm coming back empty and sad.'
But Naomi wasn't really empty. She had Ruth! Ruth had chosen to follow Naomi's God and be part of Naomi's family.
Ruth was loyal and loving. She didn't know what would happen, but she trusted God. And God had wonderful plans for Ruth—plans that would bless the whole world!
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Scripture — Ruth 1:1-22 (KJV)
1Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. ruled: Heb. judged
2And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah . And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there. continued: Heb. were
3And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.
4And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.
5And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.
6Then 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.
7Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.
8And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.
9The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.
10And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.
11And 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?
12Turn 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; should have: or were with an husband
13Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me. tarry: Heb. hope it grieveth: Heb. I have much bitterness
14And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
15And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.
16And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Intreat: or, Be not against me
17Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
18When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her. was: Heb. strengthened herself
19So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?
20And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. Naomi: that is, Pleasant Mara: that is, Bitter
21I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?
22So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.
Memory Verse
“Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. ruled: Heb. judged”
— Ruth 1:1 (KJV)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “Ruth and Naomi” in the Bible?
A young Moabite widow refuses to leave her mother-in-law, speaking beautiful words of loyalty and following Naomi to Bethlehem. This story is found in Ruth 1:1-22.
Where is “Ruth and Naomi” found in the Bible?
“Ruth and Naomi” is found in Ruth 1:1-22, in the book of Ruth.
What can children learn from “Ruth and Naomi”?
This story teaches children about Loyalty, Faithfulness, Choosing God, Family. Naomi lost her husband and sons. She told her daughters-in-law to go home, but Ruth wouldn't leave her. 'Where you go, I will go. Your God will be my God.' Ruth's love and loyalty are beautiful.