Definition: And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Ruth 1:15. It’s a really important passage about loyalty and devotion. Here's the explanation in simpler terms: Basically, Ruth is telling her husband that she’s leaving him and their family to go back to her own people and worship their gods. Let’s unpack it a little more carefully: “And she said…” : This tells us the situation is happening now . Ruth is expressing her feelings. “…Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods.” : This is the core of the verse. "Thy sister in law" refers to a woman who’s married to someone else – someone from Ruth's husband's family. “Gone back” means she’s leaving that relationship. “Into her people” means she’s going back home to her own tribe or community. “And unto her gods” means she’s returning to worship the gods and goddesses of her own people, instead of worshipping the God of Ruth's husband's family. What does this mean in a broader sense? This verse highlights several important ideas: Loyalty & Duty: Ruth is showing incredible loyalty to her husband and his family. She’s choosing to stay with her own people, even though it means leaving him. Faith & Commitment: It speaks to a deep faith and commitment to following God's will, even when it means defying tradition or societal expectations. Respect for Family: It also shows respect for the family of her husband’s partner – they are part of her community and should be honored. In short, Ruth is making a significant decision to prioritize her own beliefs and loyalty over the comfort of her current situation. --- Would you like me to: Explain another verse? Discuss the context of this passage (when it was written and why)?