Ruth, Moabitess woman, lineage of David, kinsman-redeemer (goel), Boaz, gleaning, covenant mercy (hesed), redemption narrative, book of Ruth, genealogy Messiah.
THEOLOGICAL ANALYSIS
1. QUESTION
Who was Ruth, according to the textual evidence provided?
2. PRIMARY TEXTUAL EVIDENCE
The retrieved texts identify Ruth through several explicit descriptors:
National/Ethnic Identity:
"Ruth the Moabitess" (Ruth 1:22, 2:2, 2:21, 4:5, 4:10 KJV)
Familial Relationships:
"Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law" (Ruth 1:22 KJV)
"Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon" (Ruth 4:10 KJV)
"Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead" (Ruth 4:5 KJV)
Her Self-Identification:
"I am Ruth thine handmaid" (Ruth 3:9 KJV)
Her Marriage to Boaz:
"So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son" (Ruth 4:13 KJV)
Genealogical Significance:
"There 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 KJV)
Context of Her Arrival:
"So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Beth-lehem in the beginning of barley harvest" (Ruth 1:22 KJV)
3. LINGUISTIC/HISTORICAL DATA
The text repeatedly designates Ruth as "the Moabitess" (five occurrences in the provided texts), emphasizing her foreign origin from Moab. She was previously married to Mahlon, one of Naomi's sons (Ruth 4:10; cf. Ruth 1:2 which names Mahlon as Elimelech and Naomi's son).
4. SCHOLARLY POSITIONS
The provided texts do not contain scholarly commentary; they present only the biblical narrative itself.
5. SOURCES
- Ruth 1:2, 1:22, 2:1, 2:2, 2:3, 2:8, 2:19, 2:20, 2:21, 3:9, 4:5, 4:10, 4:13, 4:17 (KJV)
- 1 Chronicles 2:48 (KJV) — Note: This verse concerns Maachah and Caleb; it contains no information about Ruth.
6. CONSENSUS INDICATOR
CLEAR — The textual evidence unambiguously identifies Ruth as a Moabite woman, daughter-in-law of Naomi, former wife of Mahlon, who became the wife of Boaz and the great-grandmother of King David.
Ruth 2:2 (KJV) — score 0.616
And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.
Ruth 1:22 (KJV) — score 0.584
So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Beth-lehem in the beginning of barley harvest.
Ruth 4:10 (KJV) — score 0.583
Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.
Ruth 3:9 (KJV) — score 0.569
And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.
Ruth 2:1 (KJV) — score 0.564
And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.
Ruth 2:21 (KJV) — score 0.547
And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.
Ruth 4:13 (KJV) — score 0.546
¶ So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son.
Ruth 2:20 (KJV) — score 0.526
And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.
Ruth 2:19 (KJV) — score 0.526
And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz.
Ruth 4:5 (KJV) — score 0.516
Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.
Ruth 2:8 (KJV) — score 0.516
Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens:
Ruth 4:17 (KJV) — score 0.508
And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Ruth 2:3 (KJV) — score 0.502
And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.
Ruth 1:2 (KJV) — score 0.500
And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Beth-lehem-judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.
1 Chronicles 2:48 (KJV) — score 0.495
Maachah, Caleb's concubine, bare Sheber, and Tirhanah.