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Ruth 1:16

PostPosted: Mon Sep 28, 2015 5:27 pm
by Staropramen
We in CI generally understand Ruth 1:16 to read "thy people shall be my people, and thy judge my judge" rather than "thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God"

Brenton's Septuagint reads;

16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following thee; for whithersoever thou goest, I will go, and wheresoever thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God. 17


shall be is of course added to the text.

Wycliff Bible;

16 And Ruth answered, Be thou not against me, that I forsake thee, and go away; whither ever thou shalt go, I shall go, and where thou shalt dwell, I shall dwell together (with thee); thy people is my people, and thy God is my God; (And Ruth answered, Be thou not against me, that I should desert thee, and go away from thee; wherever thou shalt go, I shall go, and where thou shalt live, I shall live with thee; thy people is my people, and thy God is my God;)


Young's Literal Translation;

16 And Ruth saith, `Urge me not to leave thee -- to turn back from after thee; for whither thou goest I go, and where thou lodgest I lodge; thy people [is] my people, and thy God my God.


Reading the passages in these translations it seems that there's no real issue with "God" instead of "judge". The use of "is" rather than "shall be" indicates present fact not future change. Ruth being an Israelite could make such a statement.

What do you think?

Re: Ruth 1:16

PostPosted: Wed Oct 28, 2015 10:27 am
by wmfinck
Thanks for bringing this to our attention, Staropramen. I incorporated it into the discussion here:
http://christogenea.org/podcasts/ruth-was-israelite-ruth-was-not-moabite-race
Of course, those who disregard the law of God will always look for ways to make God Himself a law-breaker. But if another understanding is plausible, and God is not a law-breaker, then we accept that lest we accuse our God of hypocrisy.

Only men are hypocrites, and not God.