"Whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God."
Biblical Name · Hebrew Origin
Ruth Meaning in the Bible
Ruth
girl
Ruth means "Friend; Companion", a girl's name of Hebrew origin. Ruth appears in the King James Bible, and Ruth 1:16 is the passage most often tied to it. Ruth's name — meaning 'friend' — captures her defining quality: loyal, self-sacrificing love. Her story teaches us that faithfulness to God and to the people He places in our lives opens doors to unexpected blessings and eternal significance.
Is Ruth in the Bible?
Yes — Ruth appears in the King James Bible; the passages below give the context.
Pronunciation:/ROOTH/
What does Ruth mean?
Ruth is a girl name of Hebrew origin meaning "Friend; Companion". Ruth means "friend" or "companion" in Hebrew, and her story is one of the most beautiful narratives of loyalty, love, and redemption in all of Scripture.
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Editor’s reflection
'Friend' or 'companion' — a Moabite widow who became King David's great-grandmother.
Ruth (רוּת) is usually connected to re'ut, 'friendship, companionship,' though some derive it from a root meaning 'to satisfy' or 'refreshment.' Either way the name and the book agree: this is a story about covenant loyalty — chesed — between people who owe each other nothing.
Her declaration to Naomi is among the most quoted passages at weddings, which is mildly ironic given it is spoken by one widow to another on a road out of Moab: '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). It is an oath of religious conversion as much as family loyalty.
The book pays close attention to law. Ruth gleans in Boaz's field under the provision of Leviticus 19:9–10, which required landowners to leave the field edges and dropped grain for the poor and the stranger. The entire plot runs on two pieces of Torah welfare legislation — gleaning rights and kinsman redemption — working exactly as intended.
Ruth is one of five women named in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5), and the only one identified in the Old Testament as a Moabite, a people Deuteronomy 23:3 barred from the assembly. The name was a Puritan favourite, peaked in the 1890s–1930s, and is now firmly back in vintage revival territory — one syllable, no nicknames, nothing to explain.
“The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.”
Why parents choose Ruth today
- •One of only two Bible books named for a woman
- •A foreigner welcomed into the ancestral line of David and Christ
- •Single syllable, zero ambiguity, strong vintage credentials
- •Meaning 'friend' — a covenant-loyalty name rather than a virtue label
What does Ruth mean in the Bible?
Ruth means "Friend; Companion" and is a name of Hebrew origin. Below is what Scripture and Christian tradition attach to that meaning.
Ruth means "friend" or "companion" in Hebrew, and her story is one of the most beautiful narratives of loyalty, love, and redemption in all of Scripture. Though she was a Moabite — a foreigner — her devotion to her mother-in-law Naomi and to the God of Israel earned her a place in the lineage of Christ.
Ruth's declaration to Naomi is one of the most beloved passages in the Bible: "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). This commitment transcended family obligation and became a covenant of faith.
Through God's providence, Ruth met and married Boaz, a kinsman-redeemer, and became the great-grandmother of King David. Her inclusion in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5) demonstrates God's grace in welcoming all people into His family.
Where does Ruth appear in the Bible (KJV)?
Ruth is connected to 2 key passages in the King James Bible, beginning with Ruth 1:16. Each verse is quoted in full below.
"The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust."
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What are the variants and nicknames of Ruth?
Ruth has 1 recorded variant, short form, and translation across languages and biblical traditions.
Variants & related forms
Ruthie
Who was Ruth in the Bible?
Ruth is most closely associated with the Bible character of the same name. Their story is the reason the name carries the weight it does.
Read About Ruth in the BibleWhich books of the Bible mention Ruth?
Ruth is mentioned across 2 books of the Bible. Follow any book below to read it in the KJV.
What is the spiritual meaning of Ruth?
Ruth's name — meaning 'friend' — captures her defining quality: loyal, self-sacrificing love. Her story teaches us that faithfulness to God and to the people He places in our lives opens doors to unexpected blessings and eternal significance.
Related Promises of God
Promises connected to the meaning of the name Ruth:
God Promises to Be Faithful
Bible promises about God's unwavering faithfulness in every situation.
God Promises Contentment Through Him
Bible promises about finding true satisfaction and contentment in God.
God Promises to Answer Prayer
Bible promises that God hears and answers the prayers of His people.
Related Reading
Continue your study with related content from across our library:
Character
Luke in the Bible
The Beloved Physician
Devotional
Hebrews 13:8 — Meaning & Devotional
God's Faithfulness
Character
Silas in the Bible
Paul's Faithful Companion
Word Meaning
Truth (אֶמֶת (Emet) / ἀλήθεια (Alētheia))
That which is reliable, faithful, and conforms to reality — ultimately God Himself
Commentary
Hebrews 13:8 Commentary
In-depth study • The Unchanging Christ
Commentary
Hebrews 13:5 Commentary
In-depth study • Contentment & God's Presence
What names are related to Ruth?
Names like Ruth
Other Hebrew biblical names that share the spirit of "Friend; Companion" — discovered by matching meaning category and origin.
Eliana
"My God has answered"
girl
Jonathan
"The LORD has given"
boy
Abijah
"My father is the LORD; The LORD is my father"
unisex
Obed
"Servant; Worshipper"
boy
Carmi
"My vineyard; Vinedresser; Fruitful"
boy
Eliab
"My God is father; God is my father"
boy
Zilpah
"Dripping; Fragrant drop; Myrrh"
girl
Abraham
"Father of many nations"
boy
Names that pair well with Ruth
Sibling sets, middle-name combinations, and complementary pairings chosen for matching origin, meaning, and similar syllable weight.
Share the meaning of Ruth
Download a printable name card with the KJV verse and meaning — perfect for Pinterest, Instagram, or a baptism keepsake.
Ruth name meaning: frequently asked questions
Deuteronomy 23:3 excluded Moabites from the congregation of the LORD, and Moab's origins in Genesis 19 are shameful. Ruth's inclusion — as a convert, a great-grandmother of David, and a name in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus — is therefore a deliberate demonstration that covenant loyalty, not ancestry, defines belonging among God's people.
Yes — Ruth appears in the King James Bible; the passages below give the context.
Ruth means "Friend; Companion." It is a Hebrew name. The King James Bible uses it, so the meaning is carried by a real person in Scripture.
Common questions about the name Ruth
Can I download a free King James Bible PDF to study the name Ruth?
Yes. The complete King James Bible is available as a free PDF download — all 66 books, 1,189 chapters, ready to read offline or print. No sign-up required.
Where can I read the full biblical context for Ruth?
You can read every verse where Ruth appears in the King James Bible by downloading the free KJV PDF or reading online. The download page also includes a bookmarked Book of Psalms KJV PDF for easy reference.