Read the Bible
KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Ruth 1:1–4

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
NOW it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Beth-lehem-judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.
And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Beth-lehem-judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.
And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.
And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.
Share
Email linkOpen a new message in your email app
Read chapterReport issue
More

PASSAGE SELECTION

Build from either side

4 selected · 18 available

Add or remove verses within this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

All 34 ranked passages are available for comparison.

From verse 1

  1. Genesis 12:10Rank 1 from verse 1
    Open

    10¶ And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.

  2. Genesis 26:1Rank 2 from verse 1
    Open

    1AND there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.

  3. Ezekiel 14:13Rank 3 from verse 1
    Open

    13Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it:

  4. 2 Kings 8:1–2Rank 4 from verse 1
    Open

    1THEN spake Elisha unto the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go thou and thine household, and sojourn wheresoever thou canst sojourn: for the Lord hath called for a famine; and it shall also come upon the land seven years.

    2And the woman arose, and did after the saying of the man of God: and she went with her household, and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years.

  5. Deuteronomy 28:38Rank 5 from verse 1
    Open

    38Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but little in; for the locust shall consume it.

  6. Genesis 43:1Rank 6 from verse 1
    Open

    1AND the famine was sore in the land.

  7. Joel 1:16–20Rank 7 from verse 1
    Open

    16Is not the meat cut off before our eyes, yea, joy and gladness from the house of our God?

    17The seed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken down; for the corn is withered.

    18How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate.

    19O Lord, to thee will I cry: for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field.

    20The beasts of the field cry also unto thee: for the rivers of waters are dried up, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness.

  8. Judges 17:8Rank 8 from verse 1
    Open

    8And the man departed out of the city from Beth-lehem-judah to sojourn where he could find a place: and he came to mount Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed.

  9. Leviticus 26:19Rank 9 from verse 1
    Open

    19And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass:

  10. Amos 4:6Rank 10 from verse 1
    Open

    6¶ And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord.

  11. Deuteronomy 28:23–24Rank 11 from verse 1
    Open

    23And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.

    24The Lord shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed.

  12. Joel 1:10–11Rank 12 from verse 1
    Open

    10The field is wasted, the land mourneth; for the corn is wasted: the new wine is dried up, the oil languisheth.

    11Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished.

  13. Judges 2:16–18Rank 13 from verse 1
    Open

    16¶ Nevertheless the Lord raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.

    17And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the Lord; but they did not so.

    18And when the Lord raised them up judges, then the Lord was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the Lord because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.

  14. Psalms 105:16Rank 14 from verse 1
    Open

    16Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.

  15. 1 Kings 17:1–12Rank 15 from verse 1
    Open

    1AND Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

    2And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying,

    3Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

    4And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.

    5So he went and did according unto the word of the Lord: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

    6And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.

    7And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.

    8¶ And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying,

    9Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.

    10So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.

    11And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.

    12And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.

  16. 1 Kings 18:2Rank 16 from verse 1
    Open

    2And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria.

  17. Ezekiel 14:21Rank 17 from verse 1
    Open

    21For thus saith the Lord God; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?

  18. Jeremiah 14:1Rank 18 from verse 1
    Open

    1THE word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth.

  19. Judges 12:8Rank 19 from verse 1
    Open

    8¶ And after him Ibzan of Beth-lehem judged Israel.

  20. Judges 19:1–2Rank 20 from verse 1
    Open

    1AND it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Beth-lehem-judah.

    2And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him unto her father’s house to Beth-lehem-judah, and was there four whole months.

  21. Psalms 107:34Rank 21 from verse 1
    Open

    34A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.

  22. 2 Samuel 21:1Rank 22 from verse 1
    Open

    1THEN there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David inquired of the Lord. And the Lord answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.

From verse 2

  1. Genesis 35:19Rank 1 from verse 2
    Open

    19And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Beth-lehem.

  2. 1 Samuel 17:21Rank 2 from verse 2
    Open

    21For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army.

  3. Micah 5:2Rank 3 from verse 2
    Open

    2But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

  4. 1 Samuel 1:1Rank 4 from verse 2
    Open

    1NOW there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:

From verse 3

  1. Psalms 34:19Rank 1 from verse 3
    Open

    19Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.

  2. 2 Kings 4:1Rank 2 from verse 3
    Open

    1NOW there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.

  3. Hebrews 12:10–11Rank 3 from verse 3
    Open

    10For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

    11Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

  4. Hebrews 12:6Rank 4 from verse 3
    Open

    6For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

From verse 4

  1. Matthew 1:5Rank 1 from verse 4
    Open

    5And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;

  2. Deuteronomy 7:3Rank 2 from verse 4
    Open

    3Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.

  3. 1 Kings 11:1–2Rank 3 from verse 4
    Open

    1BUT king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;

    2Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.

  4. Deuteronomy 23:3Rank 4 from verse 4
    Open

    3An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the Lord for ever:

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Ruth 1:1

COMBINED MEANING

pass

↗

To go by, through, over, or beyond; to happen, cease, or be transferred.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

ruled

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of rule, meaning to govern, lead, direct, control, or exercise authority.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

land

↗

Sense 1: The ground or earth; a country, territory, or region. Sense 2: To set or come on shore.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

certain

↗

1. A particular person, thing, place, time, amount, or number not named or not further specified; also some members or portion of a group. 2. Sure, settled, true, reliable, or known beyond doubt.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

man

↗

1. A human being or person. 2. Mankind collectively. 3. A male person.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

sojourn

↗

To dwell, lodge, or live temporarily in a place as a stranger, traveller, foreigner, guest, or resident without permanent possession.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Ruth 1:2

COMBINED MEANING

name

↗

Sense 1: A word, appellation, or designation by which a person or thing is called or known. Sense 2: The person or persons named or represented. Sense 3: Reputation, character, renown, or remembrance. Sense 4: The authority, behalf, or standing represented by a name. Sense 5: As a verb, to call, designate, or mention by name.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

man

↗

1. A human being or person. 2. Mankind collectively. 3. A male person.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

continued

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of continue, meaning to remain, abide, persist, or endure.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Ruth 1:3

COMBINED MEANING

husband

↗

Sense 1: A married man in relation to his wife. Sense 2: One who manages or cultivates carefully.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

left

↗

Sense 1: Past tense and past participle of leave: departed, abandoned, allowed to remain, or caused to remain. Sense 2: The direction or side opposite the right.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Ruth 1:4

COMBINED MEANING

name

↗

Sense 1: A word, appellation, or designation by which a person or thing is called or known. Sense 2: The person or persons named or represented. Sense 3: Reputation, character, renown, or remembrance. Sense 4: The authority, behalf, or standing represented by a name. Sense 5: As a verb, to call, designate, or mention by name.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

Ruth

↗

Ruth, the Moabitish woman whose history is recorded in the book bearing her name.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

about

↗

1. Around or near in place, position, or movement; on every side, in a circuit, from place to place, or turned from one direction or state toward another. 2. Approximately in number, measure, distance, or time. 3. Concerning, occupied with, or engaged in a matter. 4. On the point of, intending, or attempting an action.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

READ THE PASSAGE

View in context

Suggested context · Ruth 1:1–5

The selected passage is highlighted. Context is a study aid.

1:1NOW it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Beth-lehem-judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.

Selected passage

1:2And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Beth-lehem-judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.

Selected passage

1:3And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.

Selected passage

1:4And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.

Selected passage

1:5And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.

LOCAL PASTOR DIRECTORY

Ask a Pastor Near You

Enter a U.S. ZIP code to find nearby pastors committed to holding fast the faithful word.

Your ZIP is processed in this browser from local data. It is not sent to a ZIP lookup service or to a church. ZIP coordinates from GeoNames, licensed under CC BY 4.0.