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The Book of Ruth

Redemption · Loyalty · Harvest · Providence

"Where You Go, I Will Go"

"And Ruth said, Do not entreat me to leave you, to turn back from following you. For where you go, I will go. And where you stay, I will stay. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God."
— Ruth 1:16 (KJ3)
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The Story of Ruth

Four chapters. One foreign widow. A kinsman-redeemer. The lineage of the Messiah.

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Tragedy & Loyalty

Chapter One

Ruth 1

Famine drives Elimelech's family from Bethlehem ("House of Bread") to Moab. After the death of husband and both sons, Naomi returns "empty." But Ruth clings to her mother-in-law with unforgettable words of devotion, choosing Naomi's God as her own.

"Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May Jehovah do to me, and more so, if anything but death part you and me." — Ruth 1:17 (KJ3)
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Divine Providence

Chapter Two

Ruth 2

Ruth "happens" upon the field of Boaz—a wealthy kinsman of Elimelech. The lord of the harvest shows extraordinary kindness to the foreign gleaner, providing protection, provision, and prophetic blessing. God's sovereign hand guides every "coincidence."

"Jehovah shall repay your work, and your reward shall be complete from Jehovah the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge." — Ruth 2:12 (KJ3)
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The Threshing Floor

Chapter Three

Ruth 3

Following Naomi's bold plan, Ruth approaches Boaz at midnight on the threshing floor, requesting that he "spread his skirt" over her—a marriage proposal invoking his role as kinsman-redeemer. Boaz honors her virtue and commits to redeem, though a nearer kinsman has first rights.

"I am your handmaid Ruth, and you shall spread your skirt over your handmaid, for you are a kinsman redeemer." — Ruth 3:9 (KJ3)
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Redemption Complete

Chapter Four

Ruth 4

At the city gate before ten elders, the nearer kinsman refuses redemption lest he "mar his inheritance." Boaz redeems both the land and Ruth. Their son Obed becomes grandfather to David, placing Ruth—a Moabite convert—in the direct lineage of the Messiah.

"This is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David." — Ruth 4:17 (KJ3)
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The Kinsman-Redeemer

Understanding the go'el unlocks Ruth's deepest meaning—and its connection to Christ.

גֹּאֵל

Go'el

From the Hebrew root גאל (ga'al) meaning "to redeem, act as kinsman"

The go'el was a near kinsman with both the right and the responsibility to act on behalf of a relative in distress. Under Levitical law, the kinsman-redeemer could buy back land sold due to poverty, redeem a relative sold into slavery, or marry a childless widow to preserve the family name and inheritance. Boaz fulfills this role completely—providing a stunning picture of Christ, our ultimate Redeemer.
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Must Be a Kinsman
Only a blood relative could serve as go'el. Boaz was "of the family of Elimelech" (2:1). Christ became our kinsman through incarnation (Heb 2:14-17).
2
Must Be Able
The redeemer needed resources to pay the price. Boaz was "a mighty man of wealth" (2:1). Christ had the infinite worth to pay for sin.
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Must Be Willing
The closer kinsman refused: "I am not able... that I not mar my own inheritance" (4:6). Boaz was eager. Christ willingly laid down His life (John 10:18).
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Must Be Free
A slave could not redeem another. The redeemer must be free from obligation himself. Christ was without sin, thus free to redeem (Heb 7:26-27).

The Redemption Request

"I am your handmaid Ruth, and you shall spread your skirt over your handmaid, for you are a kinsman redeemer."

The phrase "spread your skirt" (כָּנָף — kanaph, "wing/corner") echoes Boaz's earlier blessing that Ruth came "under whose wings you have come to take refuge" (2:12). She now asks him to be the answer to his own prayer!

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Boaz as Type of Christ

Boaz foreshadows the Greater Redeemer who would come from his lineage.

🌾 Boaz in Ruth ✝️ Jesus Christ
From Bethlehem Ruth 1:1, 2:4 Born in Bethlehem Matthew 2:1
Lord of the harvest Ruth 2:4 Lord of the harvest Matthew 9:38
Kinsman with right to redeem Ruth 2:20 Made like His brethren Hebrews 2:17
Wealthy & able to pay Ruth 2:1 Paid with precious blood 1 Peter 1:18-19
Willing when another refused Ruth 4:6, 4:9 Willing to save John 10:18
Married a Gentile bride Ruth 4:13 Takes the Church as bride Ephesians 5:25-27
Gives Ruth rest Ruth 3:1 "I will give you rest" Matthew 11:28
Spreads his covering over her Ruth 3:9 Covers us with His righteousness Isaiah 61:10
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The Davidic Lineage

Ruth ends with a genealogy connecting a Moabite widow to King David—and ultimately to Jesus Christ.

Perez (פֶּרֶץ)
Son of Judah & Tamar
Hezron → Ram → Amminadab → Nahshon
Generations in Egypt & Wilderness
Salmon
Married Rahab the harlot (Matt 1:5)
Boaz + Ruth → Obed
"Father of Jesse" (Ruth 4:17)
Jesse
"A shoot from the stump of Jesse" (Isa 11:1)
David 👑
King of Israel
... Solomon ... Josiah ...
Through the kings of Judah
✝️ Jesus Christ
Son of David (Matt 1:1)

Grace to the Outsider

Tamar
A Canaanite who posed as a prostitute (Gen 38), yet ancestor of Messiah.
Rahab
A Canaanite harlot (Josh 2), saved by faith, mother of Boaz.
Ruth
A Moabitess—excluded from the congregation (Deut 23:3)—yet included by grace.
Bathsheba
"Wife of Uriah" (Matt 1:6)—reminder of sin, yet mother of Solomon.

These four women in Matthew's genealogy demonstrate that the Messiah came not for the righteous, but for sinners. Grace reaches the outsider.

The Genealogy

17 And the neighboring women gave him a name, saying, This is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David. (Ruth 4:17)
18-20 And these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez fathered Hezron; and Hezron fathered Ram; and Ram fathered Amminadab; and Amminadab fathered Nahshon; and Nahshon fathered Salmon;
21 and Salmon fathered Boaz; and Boaz fathered Obed;
22 and Obed fathered Jesse; and Jesse fathered David. (Ruth 4:18-22)
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Character Profiles

Meet the people whose lives interweave in this narrative of redemption.

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Ruth

"Friend" or "Companion" (רוּת)

🏠 Moabitess—from a nation hostile to Israel
💍 Widowed young, chose loyalty over security
🙏 Convert: "Your God shall be my God"
💪 "A woman of virtue" (3:11 — אֵשֶׁת חַיִל)
"Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried." Ruth 1:16-17
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Naomi

"Pleasant" → "Mara" (Bitter)

💔 Lost husband and both sons in Moab
🏃‍♀️ Returns to Bethlehem "empty" (1:21)
🧠 Wise counselor—guides Ruth to Boaz
👶 Becomes nurse to Obed—restored!
"I went out full, and Jehovah has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since Jehovah has set His eye against me?" Ruth 1:21
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Boaz

"In him is strength" (בֹּעַז)

💰 "A mighty man of wealth" (2:1)
🌾 Landowner in Bethlehem, lord of harvest
⚖️ Kinsman-redeemer (go'el) who fulfills duty
✝️ Type of Christ—willing, able, qualified
"Jehovah shall repay your work, and your reward shall be complete from Jehovah the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge." Ruth 2:12
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Orpah

"Back of the neck" (עָרְפָּה)

💍 Moabitess, married Chilion
😢 Wept and kissed Naomi (1:14)
🔙 Returned to Moab, "to her people and her gods"
⚠️ Contrast to Ruth's persevering faith
"Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her." Ruth 1:14

Minor Characters

Elimelech
"My God is King"—Naomi's husband who fled to Moab. Died there (1:3).
Mahlon & Chilion
"Sickly" & "Pining"—Sons who married Moabite women. Both died (1:5).
The Nearer Kinsman
Unnamed ("Such a one"—4:1). Refused redemption (4:8).
Obed
"Servant"—Son of Boaz and Ruth. "A restorer of life" to Naomi (4:15).
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The Book of Ruth — KJ3

Read the complete text in the King James 3 translation.

Ruth Chapter 1

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Test Your Knowledge

Review what you've learned about the Book of Ruth.

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