Moabite wife of Mahlon who was the son of Elimelech and Naomi. After the death of Mahlon, Ruth married Boaz and so became the mother of Obed and the great-grandmother of David. She is listed in in the family line of Jesus.
About Ruth
A Moabitess and the widow of Mahlon, the son of Naomi and Elimelech, who were Ephrathites from Bethlehem. Naomi and Elimelech moved to Moab due to a famine in Judah. After Elimelech and Naomi's two sons died, Naomi returned to Bethlehem with her daughter-in-law Ruth during the barley harvest (Ruth 1:4–22). While gleaning in the barley fields of Boaz, Ruth found favor in his eyes (Ruth 2:2–22). She later married Boaz. He, as the nearest family member, purchased Naomi's estate to keep it in the family. (Ruth 4:5–13). Ruth is mentioned in Matthew’s family list of Christ as the mother of Obed and the great-grandmother of David (Matthew 1:5).
See also Genealogy of Jesus Christ; Ruth, Book of.
Family Relationships
Key References
Then Naomi’s husband Elimelech died, and she was left with her two sons,
“Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; follow her back home.”
Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi and also from Ruth the Moabitess, you must also acquire the widow of the deceased in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance.”
All Scripture References (13)
Ruth (12)
who took Moabite women as their wives, one named Orpah and the other named Ruth. And after they had lived in Moab about ten years,
Again they wept aloud, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.
But Ruth replied: “Do not urge me to leave you or to turn from following you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.
So Naomi returned from the land of Moab with her daughter-in-law Ruth the Moabitess. And they arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.
And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go into the fields and glean heads of grain after someone in whose sight I may find favor.” “Go ahead, my daughter,” Naomi replied.
Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Do not go and glean in another field, and do not go away from this place, but stay here close to my servant girls.
Then Ruth the Moabitess said, “He also told me, ‘Stay with my young men until they have finished gathering all my harvest.’”
And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law Ruth, “My daughter, it is good for you to work with his young women, so that nothing will happen to you in another field.”
“Who are you?” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your garment over me, for you are a kinsman-redeemer.”
Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi and also from Ruth the Moabitess, you must also acquire the widow of the deceased in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance.”
Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, to raise up the name of the deceased through his inheritance, so that his name will not disappear from among his brothers or from the gate of his home. You are witnesses today.”
So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And when he had relations with her, the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.
Matthew (1)
Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse,