Less-known Women of the Bible

Orpah

(Hebrew: , meaning “neck” or “gazelle”)

Moabite, sister-in-law of Ruth and daughter-in-law of Naomi. After the two sisters-in-law lost their husbands, Ruth followed Naomi to Judah, and Orpah stayed behind in Moab, after being convinced by Naomi to do so (Ruth 1). Orpah went “back to her people and to her gods” (verse 15). Women always come to turning points, forks in the road that have different destinations. Orpah did what was logical. She stayed home, in the country she knew and with gods she understood. She did so because Naomi encouraged her. If we blame Orpah for this decision, we must also blame Naomi. It is sometimes better to do what is not logical, and go against the advice of others.