What Does Ruth 1:14 Mean in the King James?
And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Ruth’s “clave” is the Hebrew joining-word also used for cleaving to a spouse and to God, so her response to grief is a bond that holds.
THE MEANING
The verse places a farewell kiss beside Ruth’s act of clinging: grief holds both a parting and a bond that remains. Ruth’s closeness to Naomi is named as a joining that continues through separation.
THE ROOT
דָּבְקָה
daveqah
GROWS FROM
דבק
d-b-q
To cling, adhere closely, or remain joined.
“clave” in this verse is daveqah. The Hebrew word carries the sense of sticking close and holding together. This same verb describes a husband cleaving to his wife and Israel cleaving to God, placing Ruth’s bond with Naomi in the language of enduring attachment.
ALSO GROWS
davaq: To cling, cleave, or adhere.
דָּבַק
This verbal form names the act itself; it is also used when the verse describes cleaving to God.
daveq: Clinging, closely attached.
דָּבֵק
This form describes the state of being joined, showing the closeness implicit in Ruth’s action.
THE PATTERN
A bond becomes visible through remaining joined across a moment of separation.
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?THE THREAD
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.The same Hebrew verb, דבק, names the joining in both verses. Ruth’s bond with Naomi is described with the same language of holding someone close.
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