Who was Ruth in the Bible?
Lived before Israel had a king
Ruth was a Moabite woman who married Mahlon, the son of Elimelech and Naomi, who had moved to Moab from Bethlehem due to a famine (Rut.1.1-4). Ruth appears in 12 verses of the Bible.
What does the Bible say about Ruth?
Ruth was a Moabite woman who married Mahlon, the son of Elimelech and Naomi, who had moved to Moab from Bethlehem due to a famine (Rut.1.1-4). After the deaths of Elimelech, Mahlon, and Chilion (Naomi's other son), Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem (Rut.1.6-7). Ruth, despite Naomi's urging to return to her own people, insisted on staying with her mother-in-law, demonstrating remarkable loyalty and faith in the God of Israel (Rut.1.14-18). In Bethlehem, Ruth worked in the fields, gleaning grain to support herself and Naomi (Rut.2.2-3). She caught the attention of Boaz, a wealthy relative of Elimelech (Rut.2.8-16). Following Naomi's advice, Ruth approached Boaz at the threshing floor, asking him to fulfill the role of a kinsman-redeemer (Rut.3.1-9). Boaz, impressed by Ruth's character and loyalty, agreed to marry her after a closer relative declined to do so (Rut.4.1-12). Ruth and Boaz had a son named Obed, who became the grandfather of King David (Rut.4.13-17). As an ancestor of David, Ruth is also mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus Christ (Mat.1.5). Her story exemplifies God's grace, providential care, and the inclusion of Gentiles in His plan of redemption.
Definition text: STEPBible · Tyndale House Cambridge. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Lightly edited for length and formatting.
Compiled by Protos: the verse list on this page. Where one name belongs to more than one person or place, each of them gets a separate entry.
Where does Ruth appear in the Bible?
Ruth is referenced in 12 verses. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.
- Ruth 1:4
- Ruth 1:14
- Ruth 1:16
- Ruth 1:22
- Ruth 2:2
- Ruth 2:8
- Ruth 2:21
- Ruth 2:22
- Ruth 3:9
- Ruth 4:5
- Ruth 4:10
- Ruth 4:13
What else appears in these passages?
These turn up in the same passages as Ruth.
Common questions
How many times does the Bible mention Ruth?
Ruth appears in 12 verses, all of them in Ruth.
Which books of the Bible mention Ruth?
Just one: Ruth.
Where can I read every verse about Ruth?
This page lists 12 of them. Protos carries all 12, and opens this entry on the verse you are reading rather than in a separate tab.
