Ruth 1:17

17 Where you die I'll die. And there my body will be buried. I won't let anything except death separate you from me. If I do, may the LORD punish me greatly."

Ruth 1:17 Meaning and Commentary

Ruth 1:17

Where thou diest will I die, and there will I be buried
She was determined to abide with her unto death, and not only was desirous to die as she did, but where she should die; in the same country, cottage, and bed, and be laid in the same grave, in hope of rising together at the resurrection of the just; having no regard at all to the sepulchres of her fathers, which people in all ages and countries have been fond of being laid in, as an honour and happiness. So with the Greeks and Romans, not only relations, but intimate friends, and such as had a strong affection for each other, were sometimes buried in the same grave, as Crates and Polemon F9, Paris and Oenome F11, and others F12; see ( Galatians 2:20 ) ( Colossians 2:12 ) ( 3:1 ) ,

the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and
me;
this is the form of oath she used for confirmation of what she had said, and to put an end to the debate on this subject; what she imprecates upon herself is not expressed, should she otherwise do than what she swears to; leaving Naomi to supply it in her own mind, and as being what was not fit to be named, and the greatest evil that could be thought to befall a perjured person.


FOOTNOTES:

F9 Lart. in Vita Cratet.
F11 Strabo. Geograph. l. 13. p. 410.
F12 Vid. Kirchman. de Funer. Roman. l. 3. c. 14. p. 433.

Ruth 1:17 In-Context

15 "Look," said Naomi. "Your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her."
16 But Ruth replied, "Don't try to make me leave you and go back. Where you go I'll go. Where you stay I'll stay. Your people will be my people. Your God will be my God.
17 Where you die I'll die. And there my body will be buried. I won't let anything except death separate you from me. If I do, may the LORD punish me greatly."
18 Naomi realized that Ruth had made up her mind to go with her. So she stopped trying to make her go back.
19 The two women continued on their way. At last they arrived in Bethlehem. The whole town was stirred up because of them. The women asked, "Can this possibly be Naomi?"
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