Ruth 1:12 (WEB)

Passage

Go back, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say, ‘I have hope,’ if I should even have a husband tonight, and should also bear sons;

Nearby Context

Ruth 1:10 They said to her, “No, but we will return with you to your people.”

Ruth 1:11 Naomi said, “Go back, my daughters. Why do you want to go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?

Ruth 1:12 Go back, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say, ‘I have hope,’ if I should even have a husband tonight, and should also bear sons;

Ruth 1:13 would you then wait until they were grown? Would you then refrain from having husbands? No, my daughters, for it grieves me seriously for your sakes, for Yahweh’s hand has gone out against me.”

Ruth 1:14 They lifted up their voices, and wept again; then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth joined with her.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "back", "daughters", "husband", "should", "hope", and "even". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "back" and "daughters", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 11's "Naomi said Go back my daughters Why..." into verse 13's "would you then wait until they were...", so "back" and "daughters" 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 "back" and "daughters" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.