Orpah
Naomi’s other daughter-in-law, who kissed her goodbye and went home, the road Ruth didn’t take.
Old Testament · Time of the judges · Ruth · Also known as Daughter-in-law of Naomi, Woman of Moab
About Orpah
Orpah was a woman of Moab who married one of Naomi’s sons. After Naomi’s husband and both her sons died, the three widows set out for Judah. Naomi urged them to go home: "Go, return each to her mother’s house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me." Both wept and said, "Surely we will return with thee unto thy people." When Naomi pressed again, "Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her." Orpah went back "unto her people, and unto her gods," and is not mentioned again.
Orpah has no words of her own recorded, so this guide speaks about her. Ruth was the wife of Mahlon, so Orpah was presumably married to Chilion. Naomi blesses her, and the story doesn’t blame her: her choice was the sensible one, which makes Ruth’s loyalty stand out.
The story
Women of Moab
Naomi’s sons "took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband."
Ruth 1:1-5
We will return with thee
On the road, Naomi said, "Go, return each to her mother’s house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me." She kissed them, "and they lifted up their voice, and wept. And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people."
Ruth 1:6-10
Orpah kissed her mother in law
Naomi urged them again: she had no more sons to give them. "And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her." Naomi said to Ruth, "Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law."
Ruth 1:11-15
Key moments
- Marries into Naomi’s family: A woman of Moab. (Ruth 1:4)
- Widowed: Mahlon and Chilion both die. (Ruth 1:5)
- Sets out with Naomi: "We will return with thee." (Ruth 1:10)
- Turns back home: "Orpah kissed her mother in law." (Ruth 1:14)
Questions about Orpah
Was Orpah wrong to go back?
The book of Ruth doesn’t blame her. Naomi herself told both women to go home, and blessed them: "the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me." Orpah did what Naomi asked, and what most people would have done. That is the point of the contrast: Ruth’s loyalty was far beyond what anyone expected. Naomi does note that Orpah went back "unto her gods."
Whose wife was Orpah?
Ruth 1 names the two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, and the two wives, Orpah and Ruth, without pairing them. Later Boaz says he has bought "Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon," so Orpah must have been Chilion’s wife.
What happened to Orpah afterwards?
Scripture doesn’t say. Her story ends with a kiss goodbye on the road: "Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her." Some later Jewish traditions told stories about her, but the Bible itself is silent.
Connected people
Read it yourself
Start with Ruth 1:1-15.