Ruth 1:8
And 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.
Ruth 1:8 (KJV)
Context
The book of Ruth takes place during the time of the judges in Israel, a period marked by moral and spiritual decline. Naomi, an Israelite widow, had moved to Moab with her husband and two sons because of a famine. There her sons married Moabite women, Ruth and Orpah. Then all three men died, leaving the three women as widows.
Now Naomi has decided to return to Bethlehem, and she speaks to her two daughters-in-law at the border of Moab. Her words “Go, return each to her mother’s house” reflect the custom of widows going back to their own families for support and the hope of remarriage. Naomi is releasing them from any obligation to stay with her. In that culture, a widow without a son or husband had little security, so returning home was a practical path to care and a new start.
Meaning
Naomi’s blessing “the Lord deal kindly with you” uses a Hebrew word rich in meaning: chesed. This word speaks of steadfast love, loyal kindness, and covenant faithfulness. Naomi acknowledges that Ruth and Orpah have shown this kind of selfless love to their dead husbands and to her. Her prayer is that God would repay them with the same faithful love. The word chesed appears throughout the Old Testament to describe God’s loyal love toward His people, and here Naomi asks that same love to rest on these women.
Naomi’s words also reveal her own grief. She has lost her husband and both sons, yet she thinks first of the welfare of these young women. She does not cling to them for her own comfort. Instead, she sends them away with a blessing, showing genuine concern for their future. Her kindness stands out because she is in deep sorrow, yet she still prays for their good.
Biblical connections
This verse introduces a central theme of the book: God’s chesed working through human loyalty and love. Ruth’s later refusal to leave Naomi (Ruth 1:16-17) directly answers Naomi’s blessing, showing the same loyal love in action. The story demonstrates how God’s providential care often comes through ordinary acts of faithfulness. Naomi’s blessing is not empty; it is a prayer that God will answer as the narrative unfolds. Her words also echo the broader biblical truth that God rewards those who show mercy and love to others.
Application
Grief and loss are real. Naomi’s tragedy reminds us that life can bring unexpected sorrow, and we should be gentle with those who mourn.
Selflessness means putting others first. Even in her pain, Naomi sought the good of Ruth and Orpah, encouraging them to find security and new families.
Kindness and loyalty are precious. Naomi honored the loyalty her daughters-in-law had shown, and we should value and express such love in our relationships.
Trust in God’s kindness. Naomi prayed for God’s chesed to rest on them, and we too can entrust our loved ones to God’s faithful care.
Reflection
Naomi’s blessing teaches us to speak words of grace even when our own hearts are heavy. Her example challenges us to release others freely, to bless them, and to trust that God’s kindness will follow them. In our own seasons of loss, we can pray for God’s steadfast love to surround those we love, just as Naomi did. Her prayer reminds us that God’s care often works through the simple, faithful acts of people who choose to love one another.
