Ruth (biblical figure)
Encyclopedia
Ruth is the main character in the Book of Ruth
in the Hebrew Bible
.
itess, who married Mahlon, the son of Elimelech and Naomi
, but Elimelech and his two sons died. When Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem, Ruth went with her, and although Orpah
, Naomi's other daughter-in-law went back home, said
Ruth went to glean in the fields, where she met Boaz
. At the instigation of Naomi she seduces Boaz by night; Boaz indicates his desire to marry her, and calls Ruth a "woman of noble character". After overcoming the obstacle of having a relative with a prior claim, Boaz married Ruth, and they have a son, named Obed. The genealogy in the final chapter of the book explains how Ruth became the great-grandmother of David
. She is also thus the ancestor of Joseph
(husband of Mary and would-be father of Jesus), and is one of the five women mentioned in the genealogy
of Matthew
1 (The others are Tamar, Rahab, Bathsheeba, and Mary).
Barry Webb argues that in the book, Ruth plays a key role in Naomi's rehabilitation. Yitzhak Berger suggests that Naomi's plan was that Ruth seduce
Boaz, just as Tamar and the daughters of Lot all seduced "an older family member in order to become the mother of his offspring." At the crucial moment, however, "Ruth abandons the attempt at seduction and instead requests a permanent, legal union with Boaz."
who understood Jewish principles and took them to heart. Ruth is also held in esteem by converts to Judaism. Ruth is also considered the foremother of the Jewish Messiah
and the great grandmother of David.
, betrothed to Joseph of the lineage of David. Thus in Christian lineage, Ruth is a foremother of Jesus.
Ruth is commemorated as a matriarch in the Calendar of Saints
of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
on July 16.
actress Elana Eden
in 20th Century Fox
's The Story of Ruth
(1960).
.
Book of Ruth
The Book of Ruth is one of the books of the Hebrew Bible, Tanakh, or Old Testament. In the Jewish canon the Book of Ruth is included in the third division, or the Writings . In the Christian canon the Book of Ruth is placed between Judges and 1 Samuel...
in the Hebrew Bible
Hebrew Bible
The Hebrew Bible is a term used by biblical scholars outside of Judaism to refer to the Tanakh , a canonical collection of Jewish texts, and the common textual antecedent of the several canonical editions of the Christian Old Testament...
.
Biblical narrative
Ruth was a MoabMoab
Moab is the historical name for a mountainous strip of land in Jordan. The land lies alongside much of the eastern shore of the Dead Sea. The existence of the Kingdom of Moab is attested to by numerous archeological findings, most notably the Mesha Stele, which describes the Moabite victory over...
itess, who married Mahlon, the son of Elimelech and Naomi
Naomi (Bible)
Naomi is Ruth's mother-in-law in the Old Testament Book of Ruth...
, but Elimelech and his two sons died. When Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem, Ruth went with her, and although Orpah
Orpah
Orpah is a woman mentioned in the Book of Ruth in the Hebrew Bible. She was from Moab and was the daughter-in-law of Naomi and wife of Chilion. After the death of her husband, Orpah and her sister-in-law Ruth wished to go to Judea with Naomi. However, Naomi persuaded Orpah to return to her people...
, Naomi's other daughter-in-law went back home, said
Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. (Ruth 1:16-17, KJV)
Ruth went to glean in the fields, where she met Boaz
Boaz
Boaz is a major figure in The Book of Ruth in the Bible. The term is found 24 times in the Scriptures, being two in Greek ....
. At the instigation of Naomi she seduces Boaz by night; Boaz indicates his desire to marry her, and calls Ruth a "woman of noble character". After overcoming the obstacle of having a relative with a prior claim, Boaz married Ruth, and they have a son, named Obed. The genealogy in the final chapter of the book explains how Ruth became the great-grandmother of David
David
David was the second king of the united Kingdom of Israel according to the Hebrew Bible and, according to the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, an ancestor of Jesus Christ through both Saint Joseph and Mary...
. She is also thus the ancestor of Joseph
Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph is a figure in the Gospels, the husband of the Virgin Mary and the earthly father of Jesus Christ ....
(husband of Mary and would-be father of Jesus), and is one of the five women mentioned in the genealogy
Genealogy of Jesus
The genealogy of Jesus is described in two passages of the Gospels: Luke 3:23–38 and Matthew 1:1–17.* Matthew's genealogy commences with Abraham and then from King David's son Solomon follows the legal line of the kings through Jeconiah, the king whose descendants were cursed, to Joseph, legal...
of Matthew
Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel According to Matthew is one of the four canonical gospels, one of the three synoptic gospels, and the first book of the New Testament. It tells of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth...
1 (The others are Tamar, Rahab, Bathsheeba, and Mary).
Character
Katherine D. Sakenfeld argues that Ruth is a model of loving-kindness (hesed): she acts in ways that promote the well-being of others. In Ruth 1:8-18, she demonstrated hesed by not going back to Moab but accompanying her mother-in-law to a foreign land. She chose to glean, despite the danger she faced in the field (Ruth 2:15) and the lower social status of the job. Finally, Ruth agrees with Naomi’s plan to marry Boaz, even though she was free of family obligations, once again demonstrating her loyalty and obedience (Ruth 3:10).Barry Webb argues that in the book, Ruth plays a key role in Naomi's rehabilitation. Yitzhak Berger suggests that Naomi's plan was that Ruth seduce
Seduction
In social science, seduction is the process of deliberately enticing a person to engage. The word seduction stems from Latin and means literally "to lead astray". As a result, the term may have a positive or negative connotation...
Boaz, just as Tamar and the daughters of Lot all seduced "an older family member in order to become the mother of his offspring." At the crucial moment, however, "Ruth abandons the attempt at seduction and instead requests a permanent, legal union with Boaz."
Jewish perspective
The figure of Ruth is celebrated as a convert to JudaismConversion to Judaism
Conversion to Judaism is a formal act undertaken by a non-Jewish person who wishes to be recognised as a full member of the Jewish community. A Jewish conversion is both a religious act and an expression of association with the Jewish people...
who understood Jewish principles and took them to heart. Ruth is also held in esteem by converts to Judaism. Ruth is also considered the foremother of the Jewish Messiah
Messiah
A messiah is a redeemer figure expected or foretold in one form or another by a religion. Slightly more widely, a messiah is any redeemer figure. Messianic beliefs or theories generally relate to eschatological improvement of the state of humanity or the world, in other words the World to...
and the great grandmother of David.
Christian perspective
The connection between Ruth and David is very important because Jesus was born of MaryMary (mother of Jesus)
Mary , commonly referred to as "Saint Mary", "Mother Mary", the "Virgin Mary", the "Blessed Virgin Mary", or "Mary, Mother of God", was a Jewish woman of Nazareth in Galilee...
, betrothed to Joseph of the lineage of David. Thus in Christian lineage, Ruth is a foremother of Jesus.
Ruth is commemorated as a matriarch in the Calendar of Saints
Calendar of Saints (Lutheran)
The Lutheran Calendar of Saints is a listing which details the primary annual festivals and events that are celebrated liturgically by some Lutheran Churches in the United States. The calendars of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod are from the...
of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod is a traditional, confessional Lutheran denomination in the United States. With 2.3 million members, it is both the eighth largest Protestant denomination and the second-largest Lutheran body in the U.S. after the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The Synod...
on July 16.
In popular culture
Ruth is portrayed by JewishJews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
actress Elana Eden
Elana Eden
Elana Eden is a Jewish-Israeli actress best known for her film debut and title role in The Story of Ruth .Born Elana Lani Cooper in Bat Yam, Israel; to a Polish landscape gardener, Eden originally auditioned for a part in The Diary of Anne Frank...
in 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
's The Story of Ruth
The Story of Ruth
The Story of Ruth is a 1960 American biblical drama film directed by Henry Koster, based on the Biblical account of Ruth. The title role is portrayed by Jewish actress Elana Eden, with Stuart Whitman as Boaz, Peggy Wood as Naomi, and Tom Tryon as Mahlon....
(1960).
Other perspectives
Ruth is one of the Five Heroines of the Order of the Eastern StarOrder of the Eastern Star
The Order of the Eastern Star is a fraternal organization that both men and women can join. It was established in 1850 by Rob Morris, a lawyer and educator from Boston, Massachusetts, who had been an official with the Freemasons. It is based on teachings from the Bible, but is open to people of all...
.