Ruth 1:1

Good News Translation (US Version)

Long ago, in the days before Israel had a king, there was a famine in the land. So a man named Elimelech, who belonged to the clan of Ephrath and who lived in Bethlehem in Judah, went with his wife Naomi and their two sons Mahlon and Chilion to live for a while in the country of Moab. While they were living there,

Cross References

Genesis 12:10

But there was a famine in Canaan, and it was so bad that Abram went farther south to Egypt, to live there for a while.

Genesis 26:1

There was another famine in the land besides the earlier one during the time of Abraham. Isaac went to Abimelech, king of the Philistines, at Gerar.

Ezekiel 14:13

“Mortal man,” he said, “if a country sins and is unfaithful to me, I will reach out and destroy its supply of food. I will send a famine and kill people and animals alike.

Judges 17:8

He left Bethlehem to find another place to live. While he was traveling, he came to Micah's house in the hill country of Ephraim.

Leviticus 26:19

I will break your stubborn pride; there will be no rain, and your land will be dry and as hard as iron.

Genesis 43:1

The famine in Canaan got worse,

Amos 4:6

“I was the one who brought famine to all your cities, yet you did not come back to me.

Psalm 105:16

The Lord sent famine to their country and took away all their food.

Deuteronomy 28:38

“You will plant plenty of seed, but reap only a small harvest, because the locusts will eat your crops.

Ezekiel 14:21

This is what the Sovereign Lord is saying: “I will send my four worst punishments on Jerusalem—war, famine, wild animals, and disease—to destroy people and animals alike.

Jeremiah 14:1

The Lord said to me concerning the drought,

Psalm 107:34

He made rich soil become a salty wasteland because of the wickedness of those who lived there.

1 Kings 18:2

So Elijah started out. The famine in Samaria was at its worst,

Judges 12:8

After Jephthah, Ibzan from Bethlehem led Israel.

2 Samuel 21:1

During David's reign there was a severe famine which lasted for three full years. So David consulted the Lord about it, and the Lord said, “Saul and his family are guilty of murder; he put the people of Gibeon to death.” (

Judges 17:7

At that same time there was a young Levite who had been living in the town of Bethlehem in Judah.

Micah 5:2

The Lord says, “Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are one of the smallest towns in Judah, but out of you I will bring a ruler for Israel, whose family line goes back to ancient times.”

1 Chronicles 2:51

his second son Salma founded Bethlehem, and his third son Hareph founded Bethgader.

1 Chronicles 2:54

Salma, the founder of Bethlehem, was the ancestor of the people of Netophath, of Atroth Beth Joab, and of the Zorites, who were one of the two clans in Manahath. (