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

Ruth Overview