Ruth and Naomi: The Bible on Lesbians
Ruth and Naomi, Orpah departing, 1902
by Philip Hermogenes Calderon (1833-1898)
“Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; where you lodge I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die — there will I be buried. May the Lord do thus and so to me, and more as well, if even death parts me from you!” - Ruth 1:16-17
In the Bible, Ruth and Orpah were married to Naomi’s sons. All their husbands died for different reasons, leaving them to fend for themselves - at a time when it was unthinkable for a woman to survive without a man. Orpah went back to her family, as it’s the most sensible thing to do, but Ruth insisted on staying with Naomi, not minding the hardships they would endure together. Interestingly, the quote above, uttered by a woman for another woman, has always been a popular marriage vow.
The book The Children Are Free: Reexamining the Biblical Evidence on Same-sex Relationships suggests that what Ruth and Naomi had was actually a lesbian relationship. The Bible uses the same word - “dabaq” (Genesis 2:24, Ruth 1:14) - to describe Ruth’s feelings for Naomi, a feeling spouses are supposed to feel toward each other.
Here then is the story the Bible tells: Ruth felt toward Naomi as Adam felt toward Eve; she gave up everything so she could be with Naomi; she put her own life at risk, so she could spend it caring for Naomi; and, even after she married a man, her most important relationship remained the one she shared with Naomi. These actions and emotions are difficult, almost impossible, to explain as mere friendship. If we set aside our preconceptions of what is possible in the Bible, the book of Ruth reads like the story of two women in love.
I was raised as a Catholic, but I do not feel any need to validate myself by what’s written in the Bible. However, I have seen many friends whose relationships have been ruined because of religious teachings. And, in that sense, I see the importance of re-examining the text from a different perspective. It’s fair to ask, would jesus discriminate?
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2 Users Commented In " Ruth and Naomi: The Bible on Lesbians "
You are very confused -
You have been given over to a depraved mind
Read the book of Romans
and check your Hebrew skills
the true and deep love of a younger woman for her mother figure does not have to be sexual in nature–not even if the younger woman is, say, as old as 30 (old enough to truly know herself). continue to read the story–ruth marries Boaz and their union eventually preserves the Messianic line. I don’t have an issue with lesbians or women who choose to express themselves sexually with other women. But i do object to seeing every deeply committed relationship between women as inherently lesbian. i don’t think this story implies that. what it does imply more strongly is a bond of filial love as a daughter for her mother. read the WHOLE story.
