Graphics

Ruth

Vital statistics

Cast of Characters

Elimelech (“God is my King”), a Hebrew from Bethlehem

Naomi (“pleasant” or “my joy”), his wife

Mahlon (“sickly”), their older son

Chilion (“wasting away”), their younger son

Orpah (“neck”), a woman of Moab and the wife of one of the sons

Ruth (“friendship”), a woman of Moab and the wife of the other son

Boaz (“strength”), a male relative of Elimelech

Another male relative of Elimelech

Ten elders of the city

Reapers, servants, et al.

Personality Profile: Personality Profile: Ruth

Name may mean: “Friendship” or “refreshment.”

Home: Born in Moab, but relocated with her mother-in-law Naomi (see Ruth 1:2) to Bethlehem in Judah after the death of her husband.

Family: Was the wife and widow of Mahlon (Ruth 4:10); remarried Boaz by an extension of levirate marriage; gave birth to a son, Obed, who figuratively was called the son of Naomi (4:13–17); was an ancestor of David and Jesus Christ (Matt. 1:5, 16).

Occupation: Originally a homemaker, later a maidservant of Boaz (Ruth 3:9), and finally a homemaker again.

Best known today for: Insisting that her mother-in-law Naomi allow her to come to Bethlehem, in order that Naomi’s people, the Israelites, could become Ruth’s people, and Naomi’s God Ruth’s God (1:16–17).

Word in life study Bible . 1997, c1996 (electronic ed.) (Rt 1.2). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

The Blueprint

1. Ruth remains loyal to Naomi (1:1-22)

2. Ruth gleans in Boaz's field (2:1-23)

3. Ruth and Boaz are married (4:1-22)

When we first meet Ruth, she is a destitute widow. We follow her as she joins God's people, gleans in the grainfields, and risks her honor at the threshing floor of Boaz, in the end, we see Ruth becoming the wife of Boaz.