What Is the Book of Ruth About?

The Book of Ruth is a beautiful short story set during the dark days of the Judges, when 'every man did that which was right in his own eyes.' Against this bleak backdrop shines the story of Ruth, a Moabite woman who married an Israelite named Mahlon during a famine in Bethlehem. When Mahlon and his brother died, leaving their mother Naomi alone in a foreign land, Ruth made the extraordinary decision to leave her own people, gods, and homeland to accompany Naomi back to Israel. Her famous pledge of loyalty — '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: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried' — has become one of the most beloved passages in Scripture. Back in Bethlehem, Ruth's humility, hard work, and devotion attracted the attention of Boaz, a wealthy relative of Naomi's late husband. Following Naomi's bold instructions, Ruth approached Boaz at the threshing floor, and he responded with honor and protection. As kinsman-redeemer (goel), Boaz married Ruth, and their son Obed became the grandfather of King David. The book concludes with a genealogy showing that this Moabite woman became an ancestor of the Messiah. Ruth's story demonstrates that God's grace extends to all nations, that loyalty and faithfulness are rewarded, and that God works His redemptive purposes through ordinary events and faithful people. It also provides the historical background for David's lineage and beautifully illustrates the concept of the kinsman-redeemer, which points forward to Christ.