Ruth
Category: Loyal love & faith in God beyond her people
Could avoid: Return to Moab like Orpah and seek a new life.
“Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.” (Ruth 1:14)
Cross-Refs: Joshua 24:15; Luke 9:62.
Chose: Stayed with Naomi and embraced Israel’s God.
“Your people will be my people and your God my God.” (Ruth 1:16)
Cross-Refs: Psalm 73:25; Matthew 16:24.
Endured: Poverty, hard labour of gleaning, foreigner’s stigma.
“So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters.” (Ruth 2:3)
Cross-Refs: Deuteronomy 24:19; Hebrews 6:10.
Why: Loved Naomi and trusted in the LORD’s covenant.
“May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” (Ruth 1:17)
Cross-Refs: John 15:13; 1 Corinthians 13:7.
Result: Married Boaz, became great-grandmother of David, part of Christ’s line.
“So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife… they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.” (Ruth 4:13, 17)
Cross-Refs: Matthew 1:5–6; Hebrews 11:1.
Naomi
Category: Endurance in grief & rediscovering hope
Could avoid: Stay in Moab in despair after her loss.
“Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons.” (Ruth 1:3)
Cross-Refs: Job 1:21; Psalm 34:19.
Chose: Returned to Bethlehem despite bitterness.
“So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth.” (Ruth 1:22)
Cross-Refs: Psalm 126:5–6; Isaiah 61:3.
Endured: Deep sorrow, shame, feelings of emptiness.
“Don’t call me Naomi… Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter.” (Ruth 1:20)
Cross-Refs: Job 7:11; Lamentations 3:19–23.
Why: Still believed God’s providence was at work.
“The LORD has brought me back empty.” (Ruth 1:21)
Cross-Refs: Romans 8:28; James 5:11.
Result: Restored joy through Obed’s birth, becoming nurse to her grandson.
“The women said to Naomi: ‘Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer.’” (Ruth 4:14–16)
Cross-Refs: Psalm 30:11; Luke 1:58.
Boaz
Category: Righteous kindness & redemptive obedience
Could avoid: Ignore Ruth as a foreign widow.
“Boaz asked the overseer… ‘Who does that young woman belong to?’” (Ruth 2:5)
Cross-Refs: Deuteronomy 23:3; John 4:9.
Chose: Protected Ruth, showed generosity and favour.
“Stay here with my servant girls… I have told the men not to lay a hand on you.” (Ruth 2:8–9)
Cross-Refs: Galatians 6:10; James 1:27.
Endured: Legal process, cost of redeeming Ruth and her family line.
“I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelek, Kilion and Mahlon.” (Ruth 4:9)
Cross-Refs: Leviticus 25:25; Galatians 4:4–5.
Why: Acted in covenant loyalty (ḥesed).
“The LORD bless you, my daughter… you have not run after the younger men.” (Ruth 3:10)
Cross-Refs: Micah 6:8; Matthew 5:7.
Result: Became kinsman-redeemer; his marriage to Ruth carried forward God’s redemptive plan.
“They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.” (Ruth 4:17)
Cross-Refs: Matthew 1:5–6; Ephesians 1:7.