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People of the Bible
Who Was Ruth?
In short
Ruth was a widow from Moab whose loyalty to her mother-in-law Naomi, and to Naomi's God, led her far from home. 'For whither thou goest, I will go' she said.
God honored her faithfulness: Ruth married Boaz and became the great-grandmother of King David, and part of the family line of Jesus.
“And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for 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 · King James Version (public domain)
Ruth at a glance
| Name | Ruth |
|---|---|
| Where to read about them | Ruth |
| Key passage on this page | Ruth 1:16 |
| Passages linked to that verse | 10 |
| Translation on this page | King James Version (public domain) |
Read it in context
Read it beside its neighbours. These are the passages readers most often set next to this one.
- 2 Samuel 15:21
- Ruth 2:11-12
- 2 Kings 2:2-6
- Psalms 45:10
- Matthew 8:19
- John 13:37
- 1 Thessalonians 1:9
- Isaiah 14:1
- Acts 21:13
- 2 Corinthians 6:16-18
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY.
Questions people ask
Where can I read about Ruth in the Bible?
Ruth appears in Ruth. Start with the key passage on this page, then read the whole chapter around it.
What other passages sit beside Ruth 1:16?
Readers most often set it next to 2 Samuel 15:21, Ruth 2:11-12, 2 Kings 2:2-6, Psalms 45:10.
Why does Ruth matter to Christians today?
Because the story of Ruth is told to point to Christ and to teach us to love one another. Read it as part of the one story of Scripture, not as a stand-alone biography.
Pray this
Lord Christ, you love the people of Ruth more than we can. We bring you Ruth, Ruth. Make us people who love one another there. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Live this
Where to begin this week.
- Read the key passage, Ruth 1:16, aloud once today.
- Write one sentence about what Ruth's story says about God, not only about Ruth.
- Tell one person what you noticed, and ask what Bible story has stayed with them.
Where this fits in the walk with Christ
Christ meets people in a place, and then walks on with them. Here are doors that walk on.
Read the story of Ruth
You can read the story of Ruth in Ruth on The Living Bread, free, with audio, and with Simon to answer your questions along the way.
