Ruth 1:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Douay-RheimsHebrew (Masoretic text)

If you would wait till they were grown up, and come to man's estate, you would be old women before you marry. Do not so, my daughters, I beseech you: for I am grieved the more for your distress, and the hand of the Lord is gone out against me.
Douay-Rheims

הֲלָהֵ֣ן ׀ תְּשַׂבֵּ֗רְנָה עַ֚ד אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִגְדָּ֔לוּ הֲלָהֵן֙ תֵּֽעָגֵ֔נָה לְבִלְתִּ֖י הֱי֣וֹת לְאִ֑ישׁ אַ֣ל בְּנֹתַ֗י כִּֽי־מַר־לִ֤י מְאֹד֙ מִכֶּ֔ם כִּֽי־יָצְאָ֥ה בִ֖י יַד־יְהוָֽה׃
Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

Theodoret of Cyrus

5th centuryChurch Father

Noemmin expresses her inability to wait in her womb for you to wed those I have borne, nor can I find the strength to marry at my advanced age as I wait for you to unite with me, or for my children to be born, or for them to grow, for the wrath of God has fallen upon me. Thus, while the tale of Ruth ought to have been inscribed for the glory of the Lord, this narrative alone is more than sufficient for those who can appreciate such accounts; it illustrates the profound sorrows and remarkable endurance of Noemmin.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.