Book of Ruth
A Moabite woman's loyalty leads to the lineage of King David.
The Book of Ruth (Hebrew: מְגִלַּת רוּת, romanized: Mĕgillat Rût, lit. 'Scroll of Ruth') is a book of the Hebrew Bible, part of the third division known as the Writings (Ketuvim). It narrates the story of Ruth, a Moabite woman, who follows her Judean mother-in-law Naomi to Bethlehem after the deaths of their husbands, and through her loyalty becomes the great-grandmother of King David. The book is traditionally chanted during the Jewish pilgrimage festival of Shavuot and is regarded in Judaism as a paradigmatic account of conversion.
- language
- Biblical Hebrew
- division
- Writings (Ketuvim)
- traditional_author
- Prophet Samuel (11th century BCE, disputed)
- chapters
- 4
- key_figures
- Ruth, Naomi, Boaz, Obed
- significance
- Ancestry of King David; model for Jewish conversion
Lore & Background
To support herself and Naomi, Ruth gleans in the fields of Boaz, a wealthy relative of Naomi's husband. Boaz shows her kindness because of her loyalty. Following Naomi's plan, Ruth goes to the threshing floor at night and asks Boaz to act as a redeeming kinsman. Boaz agrees but notes a closer relative has first claim. At the city gate, Boaz meets this unnamed relative, who relinquishes his right of redemption. Boaz marries Ruth, and they have a son named Obed, who becomes the grandfather of King David. The book concludes with a genealogical appendix tracing David's lineage from Perez through Obed.
Reader's Guide
The Book of Ruth holds significance in Judaism as a paradigmatic story of conversion, with rabbinic sources deriving several laws of Jewish conversion from Ruth's declaration. It is traditionally chanted during Shavuot. Scholars debate its genre, viewing it as either historical fiction or a historical narrative in short story form. The book's emphasis on an inclusive attitude toward foreigners suggests a Persian-period origin (c. The genealogy concluding the book is believed by many scholars to be a post-exilic Priestly addition, integrating the story into Israel's history from Genesis to Kings. The book illustrates the complexity of levirate marriage practices and the role of the 'kinsman-redeemer' (goel) in preserving family inheritance.
Did You Know?
- The Book of Ruth is one of the Five Megillot and appears between Song of Songs and Lamentations in common printed Hebrew Bibles.
- A large letter נ (majuscula) appears in the first word of Ruth 3:13, noted by the smaller Masora as from Oriental or Babylonian textualists.
- The whole book of Ruth is missing from the extant Codex Sinaiticus, a 4th-century Septuagint manuscript.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ruth in the Book of Ruth?
Ruth is a Moabite widow who, after losing her husband and father-in-law, refuses to leave her Judean mother-in-law Naomi. She follows Naomi back to Bethlehem, where her loyalty eventually leads to a marriage with the landowner Boaz.
What is the plot of the Book of Ruth?
Set during the era of the Judges, the four-chapter narrative follows a Moabite woman's journey of devotion, gleaning in the fields, and a betrothal with Boaz. The story ultimately places Ruth in the direct ancestral line of King David.
How does the Book of Ruth end?
The book closes with the birth of Ruth and Boaz's son, Obed, whom the women of Bethlehem declare will restore Naomi's vitality. The final verse traces the genealogy from Obed up to Jesse, David's father.
Why is the Book of Ruth considered important?
It shows how a foreign woman's faithfulness becomes woven into the Davidic royal lineage, illustrating that God's covenant is not limited by ethnicity. In Jewish tradition it is chanted during Shavuot and is read as a model of conversion and communal welcome.
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