Ruth 1:16 · KJV
Ruth 1:16
Whither Thou Goest, I Will Go
Ruth 1:16 is a vow of devoted loyalty: "whither thou goest, I will go… thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God." Ruth's words to Naomi are among the most beautiful in Scripture.
Ruth 1:16 (KJV)
“And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:”
What Ruth 1:16 means
Widowed and urged to return home, Ruth refuses to leave her mother-in-law Naomi: "Intreat me not to leave thee… for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge." Her loyalty is total.
It rises to a spiritual commitment: "thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God." Though spoken between two women in grief, the vow is so beautiful it is often read at weddings. A favourite verse on loyalty, love, and faithfulness.
Key verse
“And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:”
Ruth 1:16 · KJV — "Whither thou goest, I will go... thy God my God."
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A prayer from Ruth 1:16
Lord, give me a loyal, devoted heart like Ruth's — faithful to the people You place in my life, and committed above all to being Your own. Amen.
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Frequently asked
What does Ruth 1:16 mean?
Ruth 1:16 is a vow of devoted loyalty: "whither thou goest, I will go… thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God." Ruth's words to Naomi are among the most beautiful in Scripture.
What is Ruth 1:16 about?
Widowed and urged to return home, Ruth refuses to leave her mother-in-law Naomi: "Intreat me not to leave thee… for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge." Her loyalty is total.
What is the key verse in Ruth 1:16?
Ruth 1:16 — “And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:”
Is Ruth 1:16 in the King James Version?
Yes. The full text of Ruth 1:16 on this page is the King James Version (KJV), which is in the public domain.