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10 “No,” they said. “We want to go with you to your people.”

11 But Naomi replied, “It is better for you to return to your own people. Do I have younger sons who could grow up to be your husbands?[a] 12 No, my daughters, return to your parents’ homes, for I am too old to have a husband. And even if that were possible, and I became pregnant tonight, and bore sons

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Footnotes

  1. Ruth 1:11 Do I have younger sons . . . to be your husbands? This refers to the custom of the day. Levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5-10) was a common practice. The brother of a deceased husband was to marry the widow.

10 and said to her, “We will go back with you to your people.”

11 But Naomi said, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands?(A) 12 Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons—

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