New International VersionWhere you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”
New Living TranslationWherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!”
English Standard VersionWhere you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”
Berean Standard BibleWhere you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me, and ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”
King James BibleWhere thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
New King James VersionWhere you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.”
New American Standard BibleWhere you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD do so to me, and worse, if anything but death separates me from you.”
NASB 1995“Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the LORD do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me.”
NASB 1977“Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the LORD do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me.”
Legacy Standard BibleWhere you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may Yahweh do to me, and more, if anything but death separates you and me.”
Amplified BibleWhere you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD do the same to me [as He has done to you], and more also, if anything but death separates me from you.”
Christian Standard BibleWhere you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me, and do so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.
Holman Christian Standard BibleWhere you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May Yahweh punish me, and do so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.
American Standard Versionwhere thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: Jehovah do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me.
Contemporary English VersionI will die where you die and be buried beside you. May the LORD punish me if we are ever separated, even by death!"
English Revised Versionwhere thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationWherever you die, I will die, and I will be buried there with you. May the LORD strike me down if anything but death separates you and me!"
Good News TranslationWherever you die, I will die, and that is where I will be buried. May the LORD's worst punishment come upon me if I let anything but death separate me from you!"
International Standard VersionWhere you die, I'll die and be buried. May the LORD do this to me—and more—if anything except death comes between you and me."
NET BibleWherever you die, I will die--and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me severely if I do not keep my promise! Only death will be able to separate me from you!"
New Heart English Biblewhere you die, will I die, and there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, if anything but death part you and me."
Webster's Bible TranslationWhere thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if aught but death shall part thee and me. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleWhere you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me, and ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”
World English BibleWhere you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May Yahweh do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionWhere you die I die, and there I am buried; thus does YHWH to me, and thus He adds—for death itself parts between me and you.”
Young's Literal Translation Where thou diest I die, and there I am buried; thus doth Jehovah to me, and thus doth He add -- for death itself doth part between me and thee.'
Smith's Literal TranslationWhere thou shalt die, I will die, and there will I be buried: thus will Jehovah do to me, and thus will he add, for death shall separate between me and between thee. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThe land that shall receive thee dying, in the same will I die: and there will I be buried. The Lord do so and so to me, and add more also, if aught but death part me and thee.
Catholic Public Domain VersionWhichever land will receive you dying, in the same I will die, and there I will have the place of my burial. May God cause these things to happen to me, and add more also, if anything except death alone should separate you and I.”
New American BibleWhere you die I will die, and there be buried. May the LORD do thus to me, and more, if even death separates me from you!”
New Revised Standard VersionWhere you die, I will die— there will I be buried. May the LORD do thus and so to me, and more as well, if even death parts me from you!” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleWhere you die, I will die, and there will I be buried; may the LORD do so to me, and more also, if even death can separate me from you.
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedAnd the place where you will die, I shall die also, and I shall be buried. Thus shall God do to me and thus he will add to me, unless death alone will ever separate me and you!” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried; the LORD do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me.'
Brenton Septuagint TranslationAnd wherever thou diest, I will die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if I leave thee, for death only shall divide between me and thee.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Ruth's Loyalty to Naomi… 16But Ruth replied: “Do not urge me to leave you or to turn from following you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. 17Whereyou die,I will die,and thereI will be buried.May the LORDpunishme,and ever soseverely,ifanything but deathseparatesyouand me.”18When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped trying to persuade her.…
Cross References 1 Samuel 20:13-17But if my father intends to bring evil on you, then may the LORD punish me, and ever so severely, if I do not tell you and send you on your way in safety. May the LORD be with you, just as He has been with my father. / And as long as I live, treat me with the LORD’s loving devotion, that I may not die, / and do not ever cut off your loving devotion from my household—not even when the LORD cuts off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.” ...
2 Samuel 15:21But Ittai answered the king, “As surely as the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be!”
Genesis 31:50If you mistreat my daughters or take other wives, although no one is with us, remember that God is a witness between you and me.”
1 Kings 2:23Then King Solomon swore by the LORD: “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if Adonijah has not made this request at the expense of his life.
2 Kings 2:2and Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel.” But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.
Matthew 19:6So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”
Romans 8:38-39For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, / neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. / It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs. / Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth. ...
John 13:1It was now just before the Passover Feast, and Jesus knew that His hour had come to leave this world and return to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the very end.
John 15:13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
Philippians 1:7It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partners in grace with me.
Philippians 1:20I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
2 Timothy 4:6-8For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. / I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. / From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but to all who crave His appearing.
Genesis 24:3and I will have you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I am dwelling,
Genesis 47:29-31When the time drew near for Israel to die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise to show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt, / but when I lie down with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me with them.” Joseph answered, “I will do as you have requested.” / “Swear to me,” Jacob said. So Joseph swore to him, and Israel bowed in worship at the head of his bed.
Treasury of Scripture Where you die, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part you and me. the lord 1 Samuel 3:17 And he said, Whatis the thing thatthe LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hideit not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hideany thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee. 1 Samuel 25:22 So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all thatpertain to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall. 2 Samuel 3:9,35 So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him; … but death Acts 11:23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. Jump to Previous AddAughtBuriedDealDeathDieDiestItselfLastOughtPartPartsResting-PlaceSeparatesSeverelyWhereverWorseJump to Next AddAughtBuriedDealDeathDieDiestItselfLastOughtPartPartsResting-PlaceSeparatesSeverelyWhereverWorseRuth 1 1.Elimelech, driven by famine into Moab, dies there4.Mahlon and Chilion, having married wives of Moab, die also6.Naomi, returning homeward8.dissuades her two daughters-in-law from going with her14.Orpah leaves her, but Ruth with great constancy accompanies her19.The two come to Bethlehem, where they are gladly receivedWhere you die, I will die, and there I will be buried.This phrase reflects Ruth's deep commitment and loyalty to Naomi, transcending cultural and familial ties. In the ancient Near Eastern context, burial in one's homeland was significant, symbolizing belonging and identity. Ruth's willingness to be buried in a foreign land underscores her complete devotion. This mirrors the covenantal loyalty seen in other biblical figures, such as Jonathan's commitment to David ( 1 Samuel 18:3). It also foreshadows the New Testament call to discipleship, where followers of Christ are called to leave behind their former lives ( Luke 9:23). May the LORD punish me, and ever so severely,
Ruth invokes the name of the LORD, using a solemn oath formula common in ancient Israel. This reflects her acceptance of the God of Israel, aligning herself with Naomi's faith. The invocation of divine punishment for breaking the vow highlights the seriousness of her commitment. This type of oath is seen elsewhere in Scripture, such as in1 Samuel 3:17, where Eli demands the truth from Samuel. It emphasizes the gravity and sincerity of the promise being made. if anything but death separates you and me.”
Ruth's declaration is reminiscent of the marriage covenant, where only death is to part the couple (Romans 7:2). This reflects the depth of her loyalty and love, akin to the steadfast love (hesed) that God shows to His people. The phrase also prefigures the New Testament teaching on the permanence of God's love, as seen inRomans 8:38-39, where nothing can separate believers from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Ruth's commitment is a type of Christ's unwavering dedication to His Church, illustrating the sacrificial and enduring nature of divine love. Persons / Places / Events 1. RuthA Moabite woman, widow of Mahlon, who demonstrates loyalty and faithfulness to her mother-in-law, Naomi. Her commitment to Naomi and to God is a central theme in the Book of Ruth. 2. NaomiAn Israelite woman from Bethlehem, who, after the death of her husband and sons, decides to return to her homeland. Naomi's relationship with Ruth is a key element of the account. 3. MoabThe land where Ruth originates. Moabites were often seen as outsiders by the Israelites, which makes Ruth's integration into Israelite society significant. 4. BethlehemThe town in Judah to which Naomi and Ruth return. It is significant as the future birthplace of King David and Jesus Christ. 5. The VowRuth's declaration of loyalty to Naomi, which includes the verse in question, Ruth 1:17, where she commits herself to Naomi's people and God. Teaching Points Commitment and LoyaltyRuth 1:17 exemplifies the depth of commitment and loyalty that believers are called to have, not only in human relationships but also in their relationship with God. Faith in ActionRuth's decision to follow Naomi and adopt her people and God demonstrates faith in action. It challenges believers to consider how they live out their faith in practical ways. God's Sovereignty and InclusionRuth's inclusion in the lineage of David and Jesus shows God's sovereign plan and His willingness to include those from outside Israel in His redemptive work. The Power of VowsThe seriousness of vows and commitments made before God is underscored. Believers are encouraged to be mindful of the promises they make. Cultural and Spiritual IntegrationRuth's account encourages believers to embrace and integrate into the community of faith, regardless of their background, trusting in God's provision and plan. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Ruth 1:17?
2.How does Ruth 1:17 demonstrate commitment in relationships and faithfulness to God?
3.What can we learn from Ruth's vow about loyalty and devotion?
4.How does Ruth 1:17 connect to Jesus' teachings on love and sacrifice?
5.In what ways can Ruth's example inspire our own faith journey today?
6.How can Ruth's declaration in Ruth 1:17 guide our commitments to others?
7.What does Ruth 1:17 reveal about the nature of loyalty and commitment in relationships?
8.How does Ruth 1:17 reflect the cultural and historical context of ancient Israel?
9.What theological implications does Ruth 1:17 have regarding God's covenant with His people?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Ruth 1?
11.What defines the concept of eternal death?
12.2 Samuel 4:8-11 - How can David both punish the men for killing Ishbosheth and still claim God's hand in his rise to power without contradiction?
13.In 2 Samuel 21:5-6, why does David permit the execution of Saul's descendants if Deuteronomy 24:16 forbids punishing children for a parent's wrongdoing?
14.Why did Ruth stay with Naomi while Orpah left?What Does Ruth 1:17 Mean Where you die, I will die• Ruth pledges to share Naomi’s destiny, not merely accompany her for a season. • Her words echo the covenant idea ofGenesis 2:24, where two lives are joined in a new, inseparable bond. • Like Abraham inGenesis 12:1–4, Ruth willingly leaves her own land and future security, trusting God’s promise through Naomi’s people (cf.Matthew 10:37-39). • The commitment is present-tense and personal—she is not negotiating terms but declaring final loyalty.
and there I will be buried• Burial signifies permanent identification with Naomi’s people and God’s covenant community (Genesis 23:19; 50:25). • Ruth is renouncing Moabite heritage, choosing Israel’s God and hope, even in death. •Hebrews 11:13 speaks of saints who “died in faith,” looking forward to God’s promise; Ruth aligns herself with that same faith lineage. • This clause turns a temporary journey into a lifelong, even post-life, union.
May the LORD punish me, and ever so severely• Ruth calls upon the personal name of Israel’s covenant God, Yahweh, emphasizing genuine faith rather than polite agreement (1 Kings 8:57). • Invoking a self-curse shows the gravity of her vow; see similar formulas in1 Samuel 3:17; 14:44. • It reveals a reverent fear of God’s just discipline (Proverbs 9:10;Hebrews 10:31) and underlines that her promise is not casual sentiment.
if anything but death separates you and me• Ruth binds herself until death, fashioning a commitment as strong as marriage (Mark 10:9). • The only permitted severance is physical death, mirroring the unbreakable love described inRomans 8:38-39, though on the human plane. • This devotion foreshadows Christ’s own pledge never to leave or forsake His people (Hebrews 13:5). • Naomi receives not only a daughter-in-law but a steadfast companion ordained by God for redemption’s unfolding plan (Ruth 4:14-15).
summaryRuth 1:17 is more than poetic loyalty; it is a covenantal vow illustrating total surrender to God’s plan, lifelong faithfulness, and self-sacrificing love. Ruth abandons her past, embraces God’s people, stakes her future—and even her burial site—on the God of Israel, and seals it with a solemn oath. Her words call believers today to the same wholehearted devotion to the Lord and His family, confident that such commitment is both right and richly rewarded. (17) The Lord do so to me.--Ruth clinches her resolutions with a solemn oath, in which, if we are to take the words literally, she swears by the name of the God of Israel. With this Naomi yields; after so solemn a protest she can urge no more. Verse 17. - Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried. She wished to be naturalized for life in Naomi's fatherland. Nor did she wish her remains to be conveyed back for burial to the land of her nativity. So may Yahveh do to me, and still more, but death only shall part me and thee. She appeals to the God of the Israelites, the one universal God. She puts herself on oath, and invokes his severest penal displeasure if she should suffer anything less uncontrollable than death to part her from her mother-in-law. "So may Yahveh do to me." It was thus that the Hebrews made their most awful appeals to Yahveh. They signified their willingness to suffer some dire calamity if they should either do the evil deed repudiated or fail to do the good deed promised. So stands in misty indefiniteness; not, as Fuller supposes, by way of "leaving it to the discretion of God Almighty to choose that arrow out of his quiver which he shall think it most fit to shoot," but as a kind of euphemism, or cloudy veil, two-thirds concealing, and one-third revealing, whatever horrid infliction could by dramatic sign be represented or hinted. And still more - a thoroughly Semitic idiom, and so may he add ( to do) There was first of all a full imprecation, and then an additional 'bittock,' to lend intensity to the asseveration. " But death only shall sever between me and thee!" Ruth's language is broken. Two formulas of imprecation are flung together. One, if complete, would have been to this effect: "So may Yahveh do to me, and so may he add to do, if ( אִם) aught but death sever between me and thee!" The other, if complete, would have run thus: " I swear by Yahveh 'that' ( כִּי) death, death only, shall part thee and me. In the original the word death has the article, death emphatically. It is as if she had said death, the great divider. The full idea is in substance death alone. This divider alone, says Ruth, " shall sever between me and thee;" literally, " between me and between thee," a Hebrew idiom, repeating for emphasis' sake the two-sided relationship, but taking the repetition in reverse order, between me ( and thee) and between thee ( and me).
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew Whereבַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר(ba·’ă·šer)Preposition-b | Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834:Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order thatyou die,תָּמ֙וּתִי֙(tā·mū·ṯî)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singular
Strong's 4191:To die, to killI will die,אָמ֔וּת(’ā·mūṯ)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 4191:To die, to killand thereוְשָׁ֖ם(wə·šām)Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 8033:There, then, thitherI will be buried.אֶקָּבֵ֑ר(’eq·qā·ḇêr)Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 6912:To interMay the LORDיְהוָ֥ה(Yah·weh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068:LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israelpunishכֹּה֩(kōh)Adverb
Strong's 3541:Like this, thus, here, nowme,יַעֲשֶׂ֨ה(ya·‘ă·śeh)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213:To do, makeand ever soוְכֹ֣ה(wə·ḵōh)Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 3541:Like this, thus, here, nowseverely,יֹסִ֔יף(yō·sîp̄)Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3254:To add, augmentifכִּ֣י(kî)Conjunction
Strong's 3588:A relative conjunctionanything but deathהַמָּ֔וֶת(ham·mā·weṯ)Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4194:Death, the dead, their place, state, pestilence, ruinseparatesיַפְרִ֖יד(yap̄·rîḏ)Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6504:To break through, spread, separateyouבֵּינִ֥י(bê·nî)Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 996:An interval, space betweenand me.”וּבֵינֵֽךְ׃(ū·ḇê·nêḵ)Conjunctive waw | Preposition | second person feminine singular
Strong's 996:An interval, space between
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OT History: Ruth 1:17 Where you die will I die (Ru Rut.) |
