Ruth: Summary & Overview
Overview
Ruth is a beautiful short story of loyalty, love, and redemption set during the time of Judges. Ruth, a Moabite widow, chooses to stay with her Israelite mother-in-law Naomi and follow her God. Through her faithfulness, she meets Boaz, a kinsman-redeemer who marries her. Ruth becomes the great-grandmother of King David — and an ancestor of Jesus. This story shows that God's love extends to all people.
Key Themes
- •Loyalty and devotion
- •God's providence
- •Redemption through a kinsman
- •God's love for all nations
- •Faithfulness in hardship
Famous Verses
“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
“The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.”
— Ruth 2:12
“I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.”
— Ruth 3:9
“Blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman.”
— Ruth 4:14
“Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.”
— Ruth 1:20-21
Key Facts
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Genre
- Historical Narrative
- Author
- Unknown (possibly Samuel)
- Date Written
- ~1000 BC
- Chapters
- 4
Related Books
Read Ruth in Context
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