Ruth 1:6 · Bible study
Ruth 1:6 Commentary: Yahweh Visits His People with Bread
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Discover the meaning of 'visited' in Ruth 1:6. This study explores Naomi's return, God's provision of bread, and the catalyst for redemption.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Naomi returns to Judah upon hearing that God has provided food for His people.
- Key words: Paqad (visited) implies deliberate divine intervention; lehem (bread) symbolizes covenant provision.
- Main debate: None significant; minor disagreement over whether Naomi heard via angel (Targum) or common fame (Gill).
- Theological theme: God's covenant faithfulness to His people prompts return and begins the line of redemption.
- Best use: Preaching on God's timing, the power of hearing His works, and the start of the messianic genealogy.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
When Naomi heard in Moab that the LORD had attended to His people by providing them with food, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to leave the land of Moab.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Then she arose with her daughters-in-law, that she might return from the country of Moab; for she had heard in the country of Moab how Yahweh had visited his people in giving them bread.
KJV King James Version 1769
Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the Lord had visited his people in giving them bread.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Then she arose with her daughters-in-law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that Jehovah had visited his people in giving them bread.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And she riseth, she and her daughters-in-law, and turneth back from the fields of Moab, for she hath heard in the fields of Moab that God hath looked after His people, --to give to them bread.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And she arose, she and her daughters-in-law, and returned from the fields of Moab; for she had heard in the fields of Moab how that Jehovah had visited his people to give them bread.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And she arose to go from the land of Moab to her own country, with both her daughters in law: for she had heard that the Lord had looked upon his people, and had given them food.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Entonces se levantó con sus nueras, y volvióse de los campos de Moab: porque oyó en el campo de Moab que Jehová había visitado á su pueblo para darles pan.
Então se levantou com suas noras, e voltou-se dos campos de Moabe: porque ouviu no campo de Moabe que o SENHOR havia visitado a seu povo para dar-lhes pão.
Puis elle se leva, elle et ses belles-filles, afin de quitter le pays de Moab, car elle apprit au pays de Moab que l’ Éternel avait visité son peuple et lui avait donné du pain.
Da machte sie sich auf mit ihren zwei Schwiegertöchtern und zog wieder aus der Moabiter Lande; denn sie hatte erfahren im Moabiterlande, daß der HERR sein Volk hatte heimgesucht und ihnen Brot gegeben.
Toen maakte zij zich op met haar schoondochters, en keerde weder uit de velden van Moab; want zij had gehoord in het land van Moab, dat de HEERE Zijn volk bezocht had, gevende hun brood.
Allora si levò con le sue nuore per tornarsene dalle campagne di Moab perché nelle campagne di Moab avea sentito dire che l’Eterno avea visitato il suo popolo, dandogli del pane.
A wezbrawszy się z synowemi swemi wróciła się z ziemi Moabskiej; bo słyszała w krainie Moabskiej, że był nawiedził Pan lud swój, i dał im chleb.
И встала она со снохами своими и пошла обратно с полей Моавитских, ибо услышала на полях Моавитских, что Бог посетил народ Свой и дал им хлеб.
她 就與兩個兒婦 起身，要從摩押 地 歸回；因為 她在摩押 地 聽見 耶和華 眷顧 自己的百姓，賜 糧食 與他們。
So she and her daughters-in-law got ready to go back from the country of Moab, for news had come to her in the country of Moab that the Lord, in mercy for his people, had given them food.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Ruth 1:6
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that Naomi's decision to return to Judah was triggered by news that Yahweh had “visited” His people. The verb paqad (H6485) carries more than a casual glance; it implies a deliberate, gracious intervention. Keil and Delitzsch describe it as God turning His favour toward them again. The Cambridge Bible notes that the word means “to show a practical interest,” citing parallels in Exodus 3:16 and Luke 1:68. Gill argues that the famine had ceased, likely after ten years, and that Naomi heard by common fame rather than by an angel (as the Targum suggests). Matthew Henry sees this moment as the hinge of the story: God’s kindness in providing bread stirs Naomi to leave Moab. The consensus is clear: God’s provision of bread activates the return journey, setting the stage for redemption.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: God provided food for His people, and this news prompted Naomi to return from Moab to Judah.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of 'visited' (paqad) | All commentators see it as a divine intervention bringing practical benefit (food). | Some traditions emphasize the gracious oversight (Cambridge Bible), while others highlight the judicial context of God 'visiting' both for blessing and judgment; here it is clearly blessing. |
| Means of communication | Naomi heard the news while in Moab. | The Targum says an angel announced it; Gill argues it was common fame (ordinary report). |
| Intention of the daughters-in-law at the start | They arose with Naomi and went part of the way. | Keil and others note that 'return' strictly applies only to Naomi, so the daughters-in-law's intention to go all the way is not clear at this point; they may have only set out to accompany her a short distance. |
| Duration of the famine | It lasted at least ten years (Ruth 1:4). | Gill links it to the Midianite oppression under Gideon (Judges 6); others do not specify the exact period. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The book of Ruth opens during the time of the judges, a period marked by moral and religious decline in Israel. A severe famine drove Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, to move the family from Bethlehem (meaning “house of bread”) to Moab, a neighbouring nation descended from Lot. Moab had a complicated history with Israel, the law excluded Moabites from the assembly (Deuteronomy 23:3), yet the two peoples had ongoing contact, including commerce and intermarriage, as seen here.
Naomi lost her husband and two sons after ten years in Moab (Ruth 1:3, 5). With no male protector or provider, her situation was desperate. The news that Yahweh had “visited” His people by providing bread ends the famine. The verb paqad echoes God’s saving interventions in Exodus (3:16; 4:31), where He “visited” Israel in Egypt and delivered them. Now God visits again, not with plagues or signs, but with grain.
The phrase “in giving them bread” uses an infinitive construct with purpose, showing that the visitation was concretely expressed in food. Bethlehem, the bread-house, is once again a place of sustenance. For Naomi, returning to Judah means returning to the people of God and to the land flowing with (now restored) provision. Her journey is both a physical and a spiritual return.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Ruth 1:6. Lange discusses the grammatical form of “fields” (שְׂדֵי), noting debate over whether it is a plural construct or singular with a different ending. This does not affect the meaning of the verse.
Reception History
From early times, this verse was read within the larger story of God preparing a lineage for David and the Messiah. The Book of Ruth was placed in the Septuagint after Judges, linking it directly to that period. In Jewish tradition, the book is read at Shavuot, connecting the harvest theme of bread to the giving of the Law. The Targum (Aramaic paraphrase) expands the text by attributing the visitation to the prayers of Boaz and the judge Ibzan. The visitation language influenced the Benedictus in Luke 1:68, where Zechariah praises God for visiting and redeeming His people. As Poole later notes, the genealogy of David and Christ is a central purpose of the book. Christians have seen in Naomi’s return the first step toward the inclusion of a Moabitess in the messianic line, a sign of God’s grace reaching beyond Israel.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God’s visitation turns the story. After years of death and emptiness, Yahweh “visits” His people and gives them bread. This is not an abstract blessing but a concrete, life-giving intervention that changes everything.
- Hearing the news produces movement. Naomi “arose” to return. The verb shuv (return) is the dominant word in the chapter. Faith hears, and faith acts.
- The return is not a solitary journey. She goes with her daughters-in-law. Even in her bitterness, Naomi does not walk alone. God plants companionship in the path of obedience.
Five-point outline
- Context of loss: Famine, exile, and death set the stage. Naomi has lost everything except two Moabite daughters-in-law.
- The news that breaks through: Yahweh has visited His people in giving them bread. The word paqad carries covenant weight.
- The decision to arise: She gets up and returns. The posture of the body reflects the movement of the heart.
- The community on the road: Orpah and Ruth accompany her, though their intentions may differ (Keil notes that “return” strictly applies only to Naomi).
- The destination of hope: Bethlehem, house of bread, now lives up to its name again. This road leads to Boaz, to David, and to Christ.
Illustration hooks
- A person who has lost their job and home hears that a company in their hometown is hiring, and begins making plans to return.
- A family estranged from a loved one receives news that the relationship is being healed, and they feel a pull to reach out.
- A community recovering from drought hears that the rains have come and crops are growing again, people start returning to their farms.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why did it take news of bread for Naomi to decide to return? Why not sooner?
- How do we recognize when God is “visiting” our lives in ordinary events like a good harvest?
- When have you heard good news that changed your direction?
Leading a Discussion
This verse shows how a piece of news becomes the hinge of a story. Naomi hears that God has provided bread. It changes everything. As you discuss, consider how God’s visitation, His active, caring intervention, works in our own lives.
Discussion questions
- What does Naomi hear, and what does she do in response? (Observe the verbs: hear, arise, return.)
- Look at the cross-references: Exodus 3:16 and 4:31 use the same verb “visited.” What do those contexts add to your understanding of this word?
- Why is bread so significant in this story? Consider the name Bethlehem and the ten-year famine.
- In what ways does Naomi’s hearing and returning mirror the journey of faith? How is hearing connected to obedience?
- The daughters-in-law set out with her. What does their presence tell us about God’s provision for Naomi beyond food?
- This visitation of God in providing bread points forward to Christ (Luke 1:68). How does the hope of Ruth’s story connect to the gospel?
- Is there an area in your life where you need to hear that God has visited, and then arise and return to Him?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 21:1 | Yahweh visited Sarah as he had said, and Yahweh did to Sarah as he had spoken. |
| Genesis 28:20 | Jacob vowed a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and clothing to put on, |
| Genesis 48:15 | He blessed Joseph, and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has fed me all my life long to this day, |
| Genesis 50:25 | Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” |
| Exodus 3:16 | Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and tell them, ‘Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt. |
| Exodus 4:31 | The people believed, and when they heard that Yahweh had visited the children of Israel, and that he had seen their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped. |
| Exodus 16:4 | Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from the sky for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. |
| Exodus 16:6 | Moses and Aaron said to all the children of Israel, “At evening, you shall know that Yahweh has brought you out from the land of Egypt. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke notes the Targum's explanation that the Lord visited his people because of the righteousness of Ibzan and the supplications of Boaz. He further suggests that Mahlon and Chilion might be the same as Joash and Saraph in 1 Chronicles 4:22, who also married in Moab.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
This commentator explains that when the verse says the Lord visited his people, it signifies a practical, caring intervention rather than a mere inspection. The famine had lasted about ten years, so God's provision of bread was a concrete act of deliverance.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes clarify that when the text says the Lord visited his people, it means he sent them food. The commentator emphasizes that God's visitation is a concrete act of providing for physical needs, which is what prompts Naomi to return.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill emphasizes that Naomi left Moab not only because the famine ended but because she had no desire to remain in an idolatrous land where she had buried her husband and sons. He notes her daughters-in-law only intended to accompany her partway, not to enter Canaan itself.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB highlights that Naomi’s return to Israel was driven not just by news of harvest, but by a deep desire to enjoy the privileges of being among God’s people. She acted immediately on hearing the famine had ended, making clear arrangements with her daughters-in-law.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil and Delitzsch observe that the verb "return" strictly applies only to Naomi, since she was the one going back to Judah. Ruth and Orpah, by contrast, were simply accompanying her there, not returning to a homeland of their own.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange faults Elimelech for abandoning his neighbors in distress and seeking to evade God's chastening through the famine rather than repenting and trusting Him. Unlike Abraham who went where God sent, Elimelech fled to a forbidden enemy land by his own choice
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry highlights that Ruth's famous pledge is not merely natural affection but a deliberate conversion: she abandons her country and her gods, binding herself to the Lord and His people. Naomi's repeated discouragement only makes Ruth's choice more striking, proving that her faith was genuine, not impulsive.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley clarifies that the word "bread" here is a figure of speech referring to food in general. He adds that she remained no longer than absolute need required, leaving as soon as necessity allowed.