Ruth 1:4 (ASV)

Passage

And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelt there about ten years.

Nearby Context

Ruth 1:2 And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem-judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.

Ruth 1:3 And Elimelech, Naomi`s husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons.

Ruth 1:4 And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelt there about ten years.

Ruth 1:5 And Mahlon and Chilion died both of them; and the woman was left of her two children and of her husband.

Ruth 1:6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that Jehovah had visited his people in giving them bread.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "took", "wives", "women", "moab", "name", "orpah", and "other". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "took" and "wives", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 3's "And Elimelech Naomi s husband died and..." into verse 5's "And Mahlon and Chilion died both of...", so "took" and "wives" belong inside that flow. In Ruth context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "took" and "wives" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.