Ruth 1:8

8 Na`omi said to her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each of you to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead, and with me.

Ruth 1:8 Meaning and Commentary

Ruth 1:8

And Naomi said to her two daughters in law
When they were come, as it is very probable, to the utmost limits of the land of Moab, and to the borders of the land of Israel:

go, return each unto her mother's house:
the mother's house is mentioned, and not the father's, not because they had no father living; for it is certain Ruth had a father as well as a mother, ( Ruth 2:11 ) but because mothers are most affectionate to their daughters, and they most conversant together; and because women in those times had apartments to themselves, and who used to take their daughters to them when become widows; though such was the strong love of those young widows to their mother-in-law, that they chose rather to dwell with her, while she lived in Moab, than with their own mothers:

the Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with
me;
that is, with their husbands, who were dead; as the Targum is, that they refused to marry men after their death; or rather it respects their affectionate care of their husbands, and behaviour towards them when living, as well as the respect they showed to their memory, at and since their death; and also their filial duty to her, both before and since; and particularly, as the Targum expresses it, in that they had fed and supported her.

Ruth 1:8 In-Context

6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law, that she might return from the country of Mo'av: for she had heard in the country of Mo'av how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread.

7 She went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Yehudah.

8 Na`omi said to her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each of you to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead, and with me.

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

10 They said to her, No, but we will return with you to your people.