Ruth 1:15
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Naomi points to Orpah's return and urges Ruth to follow her back to her people and gods.
What Does Ruth 1:15 Mean?
Naomi makes one last appeal. She points to Orpah, already on her way home to her people and unto her gods, and urges Ruth to do the same. It is an honest test: to return to Moab is to return not only to family and security but to its idols, away from the God of Israel. Naomi lays the full cost of staying out in the open.
This is the hinge of Ruth's decision. Naomi names what following her truly means, a parting from the gods of Moab and a casting of one's lot with the Lord. She does not coax Ruth with promises; she gives her every reason to leave. Real faith is forged at exactly such crossroads, where the easier road home is fully visible and freely offered. By setting the choice so plainly, Naomi unknowingly opens the way for Ruth to make one of the great confessions of devotion in all of Scripture.