Ruth is the protagonist of the book of Ruth. Though a Moabite foreigner, she followed her beloved Israelite mother-in-law Naomi to Bethlehem after their husbands died. She committed herself to Naomi and to her God and to the nation of Israel. She marries her late husband's next of kin, and their child was an ancestor of King David.
Notable Sources
All Sources
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Studying for ConversionCOMMENTARY
Studying for Conversion
COMMENTARY
Following the death of her husband, Ruth the Moabite joins the people of Israel and returns to Bethlehem with her mother-in-law, Naomi. In his commentary, Rashi (11th century, France) quotes a rabbinic teaching depicting Naomi preparing Ruth for her conversion.
What’s in a Name?CHASIDUT
What’s in a Name?
CHASIDUT
Names have long been thought to have special significance in the Jewish tradition. In this collection of teachings from Rebbe Nachman of Breslov (19th century, Ukraine), the author shares an interpretation of Ruth’s name based on a talmudic tradition.
King David’s AncestryCOMMENTARY
King David’s Ancestry
COMMENTARY
Sometimes the most important message of a story appears at the very end. In his commentary on the first verse of the Book of Ruth, Ibn Ezra (12th century, Spain) references King David, who enters the story only in the final verses.
MessiahTALMUD
Messiah
TALMUD
In Jewish thought, the line of King David is the source of the Messiah. Ruth is King David’s great-grandmother and is therefore linked to the Messiah, but the Talmud notes that these are not the only significant figures who descended from Ruth.
Ammon and MoabTANAKH
Ammon and Moab
TANAKH
Ruth is a Moabite, a fact that is emphasized throughout the story. The origin story for the nation of Moab, a perpetual enemy of the people of Israel, is told in the Book of Genesis.
Moab and the Jewish PeopleTANAKH
Moab and the Jewish People
TANAKH
Jewish legal texts struggle to understand how it is that King David is descended from a Moabite woman. This verse in Deuteronomy seems to imply that Moabites cannot be a part of the Jewish people, and many different interpretations are offered to explain the apparent contradiction.
Ruth and TamarMIDRASH
Ruth and Tamar
MIDRASH
Ruth marries into the tribe of Judah, and becomes an ancestor to King David and to the messianic line. This collection of biblical interpretations draws a connection between Ruth’s story and another biblical story of a woman whose descendants are destined for greatness.
Demonstrating LoyaltyMIDRASH
Demonstrating Loyalty
MIDRASH
When Ruth and her sister-in-law, Orpah, find themselves widowed, Orpah leaves to go back to her family while Ruth stays. According to this 6th-century compilation of interpretations of the Book of Ruth, the names of these women contain hints as to how loyal they are to their mother-in-law.
A Passion for JudaismMIDRASH
A Passion for Judaism
MIDRASH
The rabbinic tradition sees Ruth as a character who is passionate about Judaism and eager to join the Jewish people. This 6th-century compilation of interpretations of the Book of Ruth fills in the gaps in Ruth’s conversation with Naomi and demonstrates her dedication to her newfound faith.