Ruth Pursuit Analysis

It’s time for the next segment of translating Ruth. This time, we’ll start with “Scene 2”: Ruth 1:7-10.

YOUR QUEST

  1. Read Ruth 1:7-10 in the Hebrew text and underline any words or forms do you not recognize
    • For the first time, try doing this without any study aids
    • Then as needed, look up the words you don’t recognize
  2. Using what you have learned about syntax/phrase constructions and context, provide your own interpretative translation
    • You may wish to compose a structural outline of “mini-scenes” identified by conjunctive or disjunctive clauses, quotations, or other constructions
  3. Compare your version with translations such as JPS, KJV, ESV, NASB, NIV, or NLT.
    • At what points do you agree and disagree with translation decisions made by these publications?

Ruth 1:7-10

Click to hear Ruth 1 read by Abraham Shmuelof:

‫ 7 וַתֵּצֵ֗א מִן־הַמָּקוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָיְתָה־שָׁ֔מָּה וּשְׁתֵּ֥י כַלֹּתֶ֖יהָ עִמָּ֑הּ וַתֵּלַ֣כְנָה בַדֶּ֔רֶךְ לָשׁ֖וּב אֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ יְהוּדָֽה׃ ‬

‫ 8 וַתֹּ֤אמֶר נָעֳמִי֙ לִשְׁתֵּ֣י כַלֹּתֶ֔יהָ לֵ֣כְנָה שֹּׁ֔בְנָה אִשָּׁ֖ה לְבֵ֣ית אִמָּ֑הּ *יעשה **יַ֣עַשׂ יְהוָ֤ה עִמָּכֶם֙ חֶ֔סֶד כַּאֲשֶׁ֧ר עֲשִׂיתֶ֛ם עִם־הַמֵּתִ֖ים וְעִמָּדִֽי׃ ‬

‫ 9 יִתֵּ֤ן יְהוָה֙ לָכֶ֔ם וּמְצֶ֣אןָ מְנוּחָ֔ה אִשָּׁ֖ה בֵּ֣ית אִישָׁ֑הּ וַתִּשַּׁ֣ק לָהֶ֔ן וַתִּשֶּׂ֥אנָה קוֹלָ֖ן וַתִּבְכֶּֽינָה׃ ‬

‫ 10 וַתֹּאמַ֖רְנָה־לָּ֑הּ כִּי־אִתָּ֥ךְ נָשׁ֖וּב לְעַמֵּֽךְ׃ ‬