Old Testament book

Ruth

Ruth is a small, bright story set in the dark days of the judges. Through the loyal love of a Moabite widow and the redemption of a godly kinsman, God fills empty hands and preserves the line that leads to David, and to Christ.

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Book
8 of 66
Testament
Old Testament
Section
Historical Books
Chapters
4
Author
Unknown (traditionally Samuel)
Written
Approximately 1000 BC

Purpose & theme

Ruth is a small, luminous story of loyal love, redemption, and the quiet providence of God, set “in the days when the judges ruled” (1:1). Against the dark backdrop of Judges, where everyone did what was right in his own eyes, Ruth shows what covenant faithfulness looks like on the ground, in the ordinary choices of a bereaved widow, a foreign daughter-in-law, and a godly landowner. Its heart is chesed, the steadfast, loyal kindness that God shows His people and that His people are called to show one another.

The book moves from emptiness to fullness. Naomi returns to Bethlehem bitter and bereft, having lost her husband and both sons, but through Ruth’s loyalty and Boaz’s redemption she is filled again, cradling a grandson in her arms. And the final verses lift the whole story onto a far larger stage: the child born to Ruth and Boaz is Obed, the grandfather of King David, so this village romance turns out to be a crucial link in the line that leads to the Messiah.

Chapter guide

All 4 chapters. Open any one for the full study.

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4

Study sections

OverviewRead the book’s purpose, its movement from emptiness to fullness, and its line to David.Chapter summariesBrowse a dated one-line summary for every chapter in Ruth.Key peopleMeet the widow, the loyal outsider, and the kinsman-redeemer.ThemesExplore the theological themes that shape the book.Word studiesDig into the key Hebrew words that carry the book’s meaning.Key versesRead the seven verses that capture the heart of Ruth.Maps & timelinesSee the geography of Bethlehem and Moab and the timeline of the story.Study notesReview key concepts, application, and questions for reflection.Related passagesTrace the connections from Ruth across the whole Bible.

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