What Does Ruth 1:9 Mean in the King James?

The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.

Ruth 1:9 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

Naomi’s word for rest carries the shape of a place where a life can settle.

THE MEANING

The verse speaks to you in the ache of separation: rest takes the concrete shape of each woman finding a place in her husband’s house. The kiss and tears remain beside that wish, holding grief and shelter in the same moment.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The belief that grief must disappear before rest can be hoped for is undone here: the blessing and tears arrive together.

THE ROOT

מְנוּחָה

menuchah

GROWS FROM

נוח

nuach

To settle, come to rest.

⁨מְנוּחָה⁩ (menuchah, “rest” or “resting place”) grows from ⁨נוח⁩ (nuach, “to settle”). The word holds repose and a place of repose together: the hoped-for rest can be inhabited, even while grief remains.

ALSO GROWS

nuach: To rest, settle, come to rest.

נוּחַ

This verbal form is the seed beneath the blessing: rest carries the sense of settling into a condition or place.

manoach: Resting place, place of repose.

מָנוֹחַ

Naomi uses this related word when she seeks rest for Ruth in Ruth 3:1, giving rest the shape of a place where a life can settle.

THE PATTERN

Rest is offered as a settled place where safety and grief can coexist.

And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

Exodus 33:14 · KJVRest is given alongside presence, as a condition a person can enter and inhabit.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28 · KJVThose carrying a burden are offered rest as a gift.

Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?

Ruth 3:1 · KJVRest is sought as a place that can make well-being possible.

THE THREAD

And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

Exodus 33:14 · KJV

The promise “I will give thee rest” uses ⁨נוח⁩ (nuach, “settle, bring to rest”), the root that also forms ⁨מְנוּחָה⁩ (menuchah, “rest” or “resting place”) in Ruth’s blessing. The shared root links a wished-for household refuge with rest given alongside divine presence.

Read the SDV Bible.

Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.

Get Selah Verse

The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.

Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us