Ruth (Ruth; Matthew 1:5)

The Moabitess & Great-Grandmother of David

A Moabite widow who bound herself to her mother-in-law Naomi and to Naomi's God, gleaned in the barley fields of Bethlehem, and through her marriage to Boaz became the great-grandmother of King David.

Set “in the days when the judges judged” (Ruth 1:1), the book of Ruth follows one family from famine to fullness. Naomi of Bethlehem, widowed and bereaved of both her sons in Moab, sets out for home with nothing; her daughter-in-law Ruth refuses to leave her: “whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God” (Ruth 1:16).

In the fields of Boaz, a kinsman of Naomi's husband, Ruth's faithfulness meets his generosity. At the city gate Boaz redeems the family's land and takes Ruth as his wife, and their son Obed becomes the grandfather of David (Ruth 4:17). Matthew names Ruth in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5).

Strengths

• Loyalty
• Faith
• Kindness
• Humility
• Diligence
• Courage

Themes

• Loyal Love
• Redemption
• Providence
• The Foreigner Welcomed
• Emptiness to Fullness
• The Line of David

Famine & Loss in Moab (Ruth 1:1–5)

Elimelech's family leaves Bethlehem for Moab; his sons marry Orpah and Ruth; after about ten years Naomi is left without husband or sons.

Ruth Clings to Naomi (Ruth 1:6–18)

Urged to go home, Orpah kisses Naomi and returns, but Ruth holds fast and binds herself to Naomi, her people, and her God.

Ruth Clings to Naomi

Naomi hears that the LORD has given his people bread and starts back to Judah. On the road she urges both daughters-in-law to return to their mothers' houses and find rest with new husbands. Orpah kisses her and goes back; “Ruth clave unto her” (Ruth 1:14).

“Entreat me not to leave thee, and 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: Jehovah do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me.” (Ruth 1:16–17)

Seeing that Ruth is “stedfastly minded to go with her” (Ruth 1:18), Naomi says no more.

Return to Bethlehem (Ruth 1:19–22)

The two widows reach Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest; Naomi asks to be called Mara, for she went out full and came home empty.

Gleaning in the Field of Boaz (Ruth 2)

Ruth happens to glean in the field of Boaz, who welcomes her, protects her, and leaves extra grain for her to gather.

Gleaning in the Field of Boaz

The Law left the gleanings of the harvest for the poor and the sojourner (Leviticus 19:9–10). Ruth goes out to glean, and “her hap was to light on the portion of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech” (Ruth 2:3).

Boaz tells her to stay in his field, charges his young men not to touch her, and tells them to pull out grain from the bundles for her. When she asks why a foreigner should find such favor, he answers that he has heard all she has done for Naomi:

“Jehovah recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of Jehovah, the God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to take refuge.” (Ruth 2:12)

When Ruth tells Naomi whose field it was, Naomi blesses him: Boaz is one of their near kinsmen.

At the Threshing Floor (Ruth 3)

Following Naomi's counsel, Ruth asks Boaz to act as near kinsman; he promises to do so if a nearer kinsman will not.

At the Threshing Floor

Naomi seeks rest for Ruth and sends her to the threshing floor where Boaz is winnowing barley. At midnight Boaz wakes to find her at his feet:

“I am Ruth thy handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thy handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.” (Ruth 3:9)

Boaz blesses her for this kindness and promises to act, “for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a worthy woman” (Ruth 3:11). But there is a kinsman nearer than he, who must be asked first. He sends her home before dawn with six measures of barley.

Redemption at the Gate (Ruth 4:1–12)

Before ten elders the nearer kinsman declines; Boaz buys all that was Elimelech's and takes Ruth to be his wife.

Redemption at the Gate

Boaz sits at the city gate, calls over the nearer kinsman, and gathers ten elders as witnesses. The kinsman will buy Naomi's field — until he learns that Ruth comes with it, to raise up the name of the dead. Fearing to mar his own inheritance, he draws off his shoe, the custom that confirmed such transfers in Israel.

“Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren” (Ruth 4:10)

The Law provided for a near kinsman to redeem what a poor relative had sold (Leviticus 25:25) and for a brother to raise up a name for the dead (Deuteronomy 25:5–10); Boaz's act at the gate echoes both.

Obed, Grandfather of David (Ruth 4:13–22)

The LORD gives Ruth a son; the women rejoice with Naomi, and Obed becomes the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Obed, Grandfather of David

The women of Bethlehem, who once heard Naomi call herself empty, now bless the LORD who has not left her without a near kinsman. Of Ruth they say she is “better to thee than seven sons” (Ruth 4:15).

“and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.” (Ruth 4:17)

The book closes with a genealogy from Perez to David, and Matthew's genealogy of Jesus names her: “Boaz begat Obed of Ruth” (Matthew 1:5).

Naomi (Ruth 1:16–17; Ruth 3:1–5; Ruth 4:14–17)

Her mother-in-law, whom she would not forsake; Naomi in turn counseled her and nursed her son.

Boaz (Ruth 2:1; Ruth 3:9–13; Ruth 4:9–13)

A mighty man of wealth of Elimelech's family, who showed her kindness, redeemed the family land, and married her.

Mahlon (Ruth 1:2–5; Ruth 4:10)

Her first husband, Naomi's son, who died in Moab.

Orpah (Ruth 1:4; Ruth 1:14–15)

Her sister-in-law, who went back to her own people and her god.

Elimelech (Ruth 1:1–3)

Her father-in-law, the man of Bethlehem-judah who took his family to Moab in the famine and died there.

The nearer kinsman (Ruth 3:12–13; Ruth 4:1–8)

The unnamed relative who had first right to redeem, and who gave it up lest he mar his own inheritance.

Obed (Ruth 4:13–17)

Her son by Boaz, the father of Jesse.

David (Ruth 4:17; Ruth 4:22)

Her great-grandson, the king of Israel.

The LORD (Ruth 2:12; Ruth 4:13)

The God of Israel, under whose wings she came to take refuge, and who gave her conception.

Major sections

• Ruth 1–4

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