Ruth 1:14

14 Again they wept aloud. Then 'Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye. But Rut stuck with her.

Ruth 1:14 Meaning and Commentary

Ruth 1:14

And they lifted up their voice, and wept again
Not being able to bear the thought of parting, or that they must be obliged to it:

and Orpah kissed her mother in law;
gave her the parting kiss, as the Jews ^F5 call it; and which was used by other people ^F6; but not without affection to her, and took her leave of her, as her kiss testified, since it must be so; and being moved by her reasons, and having a greater inclination to her own country than Ruth had; of the kiss at parting, see ( Genesis 31:28 ) ( 1 Kings 19:20 )

but Ruth clave unto her;
hung about her, would not part from her, but cleaved unto her in body and mind; forsaking her own people, and her father's house; neither the thought of them, nor of her native country, nor of not having an husband, or any likelihood of it, nor of poverty and distress, had any manner of influence upon her, but determined she was to go and abide with her.

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FOOTNOTES:

F5 Bereshit Rabba, sect. 70. fol. 62. 4. Shemot, sect. 5. fol. 94. 4.
F6 "----discedens oscula nulla dedi". Ovid. ep. 3. ver. 14.

Ruth 1:14 In-Context

12 Go back, my daughters; go your way; for I'm too old to have a husband. Even if I were to say, 'I still have hope'; even if I had a husband tonight and bore sons;

13 would you wait for them until they grew up? Would you refuse to marry, just for them? No, my daughters. On your behalf I feel very bitter that the hand of ADONAI has gone out against me."

14 Again they wept aloud. Then 'Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye. But Rut stuck with her.

15 She said, "Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her god; go back, after your sister-in-law."

16 But Rut said, "Don't press me to leave you and stop following you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God will be my God.