Ruth
A Moabite widow whose loyalty to her mother-in-law Naomi leads her to Bethlehem, where she marries Boaz and becomes an ancestor of David.
At a glance
- Name
- Ruth
- Type
- Person
- Period
- Old Testament
- Appears in
- The book of Ruth
- First appearance
- Ruth 1
- Known for
- The Moabite whose loyalty made her an ancestor of David
Who is Ruth?
Ruth is a Moabite woman who has married into an Israelite family living in Moab during a famine. When her husband and father-in-law die, she is left a widow alongside her mother-in-law, Naomi.
When Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem, Ruth refuses to leave her, pledging that 'wherever you go, I will go... your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.' In Bethlehem, Ruth gleans in the fields of a relative named Boaz, who notices her and shows her kindness.
Following Naomi's guidance, Ruth appeals to Boaz as a kinsman-redeemer. Boaz marries her, and their son Obed becomes the grandfather of David, placing Ruth, a foreigner, in the ancestry of Israel's greatest king.
Ruth in the Bible
Ruth's loyalty to Naomi
Widowed in Moab, Ruth refuses to leave Naomi and returns with her to Bethlehem.
Read Ruth 1 →Gleaning in Boaz's field
Ruth gathers grain in the field of Boaz, a relative of Naomi, who shows her favor.
Read Ruth 2 →Boaz redeems Ruth
Boaz marries Ruth, and their son Obed becomes the grandfather of David.
Read Ruth 4 →People connected with Ruth
- ancestor of David Ruth is the great-grandmother of David through her son Obed.
Key passages featuring Ruth
These are key passages, not a complete list of every appearance.