Ruth, the woman from Moab who came to Bethlehem with Naomi

Ruth was a woman from Moab who married Mahlon, Naomi's son. Naomi's family had moved from Bethlehem in Judah because of a famine. After Naomi's husband Elimelech died, their sons Mahlon and Chilion married Moabite women. About ten years into their stay in Moab, both sons also died. Naomi, Ruth and Orpah were left without their husbands.

Hearing that food was again available in Judah, Naomi decided to return home. She urged her daughters-in-law to return to their mothers' homes and hoped they would find security with new husbands. Orpah said goodbye, but Ruth stayed. She said she would go where Naomi went and that Naomi's people and God would become her own. Naomi saw her determination and stopped urging her to leave.

They reached Bethlehem as the barley harvest began. The townspeople recognized Naomi. She asked them to call her Mara, saying she had left full but God had brought her back empty. Ruth asked permission to gather grain left by the harvesters, a practice called gleaning. Naomi agreed. Ruth happened to enter the field of Boaz, a relative of Elimelech.

Boaz asked his overseer who Ruth was. Hearing that she had returned with Naomi and worked steadily since morning, he told her to stay with his women workers. He instructed the men not to trouble her and offered the water they had drawn. When Ruth asked why he was kind to a foreigner, Boaz said he had heard how she cared for Naomi after her own husband's death and left her parents and homeland. He prayed that God would reward her.

At mealtime Boaz gave Ruth roasted grain, and she saved what she could not eat. He told the workers to leave stalks for her deliberately. By evening Ruth had gathered about an ephah of barley, an ancient measure of grain. She took it and the leftover food to Naomi. Naomi explained that Boaz was a family redeemer, a relative who could recover family property and help preserve the family line. Ruth stayed with his workers through the barley and wheat harvests.

Naomi wanted Ruth to have a secure home. On a night when Boaz was working at the threshing floor, where harvested grain was separated and cleaned, she told Ruth to wash, put on oil and clothes, and wait until he had eaten and lain down. Ruth followed her instructions and lay at his uncovered feet. When he woke at midnight, she identified herself and asked him to spread his garment over her because he could take responsibility as a family redeemer.

Boaz praised Ruth for not pursuing younger men and said the town knew she was a worthy woman. But a nearer relative had the first right to act. He promised to take responsibility if that man declined. Ruth left at dawn before people could recognize one another. Boaz gave her six measures of barley so she would not return empty-handed. Naomi told her to wait, saying he would settle the matter that day.

At the town gate, Boaz gathered the nearer relative and ten elders. He first offered the man the right to buy Elimelech's land, then explained that this involved marrying Ruth to preserve her late husband's name with his property. The man declined because he feared harming his own inheritance. Handing over his sandal confirmed the transfer. Boaz publicly declared that he would acquire the family property and marry Ruth.

The people and elders blessed the household. They compared Ruth with Rachel and Leah, ancestors of Israel, and Boaz's household with that of Perez, the son of Judah and Tamar. Boaz married Ruth, and God enabled her to have a son. The women said the child would renew Naomi's life and care for her in old age, and that Ruth, who loved Naomi, was better to her than seven sons. Naomi held and cared for the child, whom the neighbors named Obed.

Obed's son was Jesse, and Jesse's son was David. Ruth ends with the family line from Perez to David, and Matthew 1 also records Ruth as Obed's mother. Neither account describes her later years or her death. Her recorded life follows her journey with Naomi from Moab to Bethlehem, where she becomes Boaz's wife and Obed's mother.