Whither Thou Goest I Will Go by Elspeth Young

Whither Thou Goest I Will Go


{ Ruth }
Al Young Studios cannot make or sell any prints of this work at this time. Read more...

And Ruth said, Entreat 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: where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

Ruth 1:16

The story behind Whither Thou Goest I Will Go

The theme of this painting is the devotion and the faith-filled resolve required of the marriage covenant.  And while Ruth is the Biblical character portrayed, the costuming (a traditional head wrap and tunic with embroidered qebba), intricately braided hairstyle, and other elements of the painting are ubiquitous enough to ancient Mideastern cultures to inspire thoughts of countless faithful, covenant-keeping women, ranging from the wives of the patriarchs in the Old Testament to the devout women of the New Testament.

Symbolism in Whither Thou Goest I Will Go

The distant scene behind the figure is the Biblical region of Moab known as the Arnon, a valley dividing Israelite lands from the kingdom of the Moabites.  Symbolically, it reminds the viewer of the bleak and lonely experience of mortality.  The scenery also bespeaks the journey of devotion required in keeping sacred covenants, and the light represents the promise and presence of the Lord-throughout that journey—to help us find the path of obedience, sustain us along the way, and carry us when there is no path.
© By Intellectual Reserve, Inc. You may not print, copy, or reproduce this artwork or make derivative works from it without the prior written consent of the copyright holder. Al Young Studios cannot make or sell any prints of this artwork at this time. Read more...



From the Newsroom


Whither Thou Goest I Will Go (Ruth)

By Elspeth C. Young

content for this page is being prepared and will be added as soon as possible
2021 November 05... Read more »

Tags: Whither Thou Goest I Will Go, 2021, Oil paintings and prints, Temple artworks


Elspeth C. Young completes new oil painting - "Whither Thou Goest I Will Go"

By Al R. Young Whither Thou Goest I Will Go is the newest oil painting to be added to the line of original artworks from Al Young Studios.

Click here to see a larger image of the new painting, read the artist's commentary, and look at the selection of prints--if any are available.... Read more »

Tags: Whither Thou Goest I Will Go, 2013, Elspeth C. Young, Legacy, News, Oil paintings and prints, Women of the Bible Art Collection