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Ruth 1:2

Ruth 1:1 nasb — Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethl…

NASB

"Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons."

— Ruth 1:1, NASB

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Ruth 1:1 in Other Translations

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Ruth 1 — Context

1

Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons.

2

The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife, Naomi; and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah. Now they entered the land of Moab and remained there.

3

Then Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died; and she was left with her two sons.

4

They took for themselves Moabite women as wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. And they lived there about ten years.

Ruth 1:1 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Ruth 1:1 say?
Ruth 1:1 in the NASB reads: “Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons.”
Where is Ruth 1:1 in the Bible?
Ruth 1:1 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Ruth, chapter 1, verse 1.
Who wrote Ruth?
Ruth is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Samuel). It was written c. 1011–931 BC.
What is the book of Ruth about?
Ruth is the tender story of a Moabite widow who clings to her Israelite mother-in-law and to the LORD, and finds refuge under the wing of a kinsman-redeemer named Boaz. Set in the time of the judges, it ends with the genealogy of King David — and ultimately points toward Christ.
What are the major themes of Ruth?
Ruth explores themes including Loyalty, Redemption, Providence, Kindness, Lineage of David. These themes shape the meaning and context of Ruth 1:1.
What translation should I read Ruth 1:1 in?
Ruth 1:1 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Ruth 1:1?
Ruth 1:1 reads (NASB): “Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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