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Ruth
Moabite Ancestor of Christ · Judges · c. 1100 BC
Ruth in the Field of Boaz — Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld
Summary
Ruth was a Moabite widow who chose to follow her mother-in-law Naomi back to Israel. Her loyalty and faith led to marriage with Boaz and placement in the lineage of Christ.
- Among the passages here, Ruth is first named in Ruth 1:4: “who took Moabite women as their wives, one named Orpah and the other named…”
- The record places Ruth in Judges.
- 23 verses name Ruth, in 2 books.
- 5 moments stand in order on this page, each with its verse.
On this page
Start here
But Ruth replied: “Do not urge me to leave you or to turn from following you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.
Ruth 1:16→- 5 key events in order
- 23 verses name Ruth, across 2 books
In Scripture
- Verses
- 23
- Books
- 2
Ruth
- Role
- Moabite Ancestor of Christ
- Era
- Judges
- Dates
- c. 1100 BC
- Tribe
- Moab (then Israel)
- Father
- Unknown Moabite
- Mother
- Unknown
- Spouse
- Mahlon, then Boaz
- Children
- Obed
The life in order
from the events the row records, with the first and last verse that names the person among the passages this page stands on
1Where the passages this page records open
2What the record holds, in its own order
- Chose to follow NaomiRuth 1:16-18But Ruth replied: “Do not urge me to leave you or to turn from following you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.
- Gleaned in Boaz's fieldRuth 2:1-23Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side, a prominent man of noble character from the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.
- Approached BoazRuth 3:1-18One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek a resting place for you, that it may be well with you?
- Married BoazRuth 4:13So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And when he had relations with her, the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.
- Bore ObedRuth 4:13-17So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And when he had relations with her, the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.
Biography
Ruth was a Moabite widow who chose to follow her Israelite mother-in-law Naomi back to Bethlehem. Her declaration of loyalty—"Where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God"—remains one of Scripture's most beautiful expressions of covenant commitment. In Bethlehem, Ruth gleaned in the fields of Boaz, a wealthy relative of Naomi's deceased husband. Boaz noticed her, protected her, and provided generously for her. Following Naomi's advice, Ruth approached Boaz at the threshing floor, asking him to act as kinsman-redeemer. Boaz married Ruth after the nearer kinsman declined his right. Their son Obed became the grandfather of King David, placing this Gentile convert in the lineage of Christ. Ruth's story demonstrates that God's grace extends to all nations and that faith, not ethnicity, determines belonging to God's people.
But Ruth replied: “Do not urge me to leave you or to turn from following you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.
Ruth's declaration of loyalty
More key verses
Text: Berean Standard Bible.
May the LORD repay your work, and may you receive a rich reward from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have taken refuge.”
What they got right, and what they got wrong
Strengths
Covenant loyalty, hard work, humility, faith in God of Israel
Lessons
Loyalty and faithfulness are rewarded. God's family includes all who come by faith. Outsiders can become insiders through faith. Humble service leads to honor.
Spiritual significance
Ruth demonstrates that faith transcends national boundaries. Her inclusion in Christ's genealogy shows God's heart for all nations.
How Ruth points to Jesus
Boaz redeeming Ruth pictures Christ redeeming His bride, the Church. The kinsman-redeemer concept finds its fulfillment in Christ.
Ruth in Scripture
Open a book to read its mentions here. Text: Berean Standard Bible. Names repeat in Scripture, so some of these verses may speak of another person called Ruth. The two marks are drawn from the chapters this page's own references stand in.
Old TestamentNew Testamentsegment width = share of mentions
Old Testament1 book · 22 mentions
Ruth22 mentions
- Ruth 1:4who took Moabite women as their wives, one named Orpah and the other named Ruth. And after they had lived in Moab about ten years,
- Ruth 1:14Again they wept aloud, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.
- Ruth 1:16But Ruth replied: “Do not urge me to leave you or to turn from following you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.
- Ruth 1:18When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped trying to persuade her.
- Ruth 1:19So Naomi and Ruth traveled until they came to Bethlehem. When they entered Bethlehem, the whole city was stirred because of them, and the women of the city exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?”
17 further mentions in Ruth, read them in the book.
New Testament1 book · 1 mention
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