Ruth and Boaz
Ruth gleans in the fields of Boaz, a relative of Naomi's husband. Boaz shows her kindness, and eventually redeems and marries her.
Ruth 2:1-23, Ruth 3:1-18, Ruth 4:1-22
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The Story
Ruth and Naomi had arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest, but they had nothing. Ruth said to Naomi, 'Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.'
As it turned out, she found herself working in a field belonging to Boaz, a relative from Elimelech's clan. Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and noticed Ruth. 'Who does that young woman belong to?' he asked his foreman.
'She is the Moabite who came back with Naomi,' the foreman replied. 'She asked to glean behind the harvesters, and she has worked steadily from morning till now.'
Boaz said to Ruth, 'Stay here with my women workers. Watch the field where the men are harvesting and follow along. I have told the men not to touch you. When you are thirsty, drink from the water jars.'
Ruth bowed down and asked, 'Why have I found such favor in your eyes? I am only a foreigner.'
Boaz replied, 'I've been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know. May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.'
Boaz told his men to let her gather even among the standing sheaves and to deliberately leave stalks for her. That evening, Ruth went home with an ephah of barley—about thirty pounds!
Naomi was amazed. 'Where did you glean today? Blessed be the man who took notice of you!'
'The man's name is Boaz,' Ruth said.
Naomi's face lit up. 'The Lord bless him! That man is our close relative—one of our kinsman-redeemers!'
In Israel, a kinsman-redeemer was a relative who could buy back family land and marry a widow to continue the family line. Naomi saw God's hand at work.
The harvest season passed. Naomi instructed Ruth to go to Boaz on the threshing floor and present herself to him as one seeking redemption. Ruth obeyed. Boaz was deeply moved. 'This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier,' he said. 'You have not run after the younger men. I will do everything you ask.'
There was one problem—a closer relative existed. But when that man declined to redeem Ruth, Boaz stepped forward. In front of the town elders, he declared, 'I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelech. I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite as my wife.'
So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. The Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. The women said to Naomi, 'Praise be to the Lord, who has not left you without a redeemer! Your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.'
They named the baby Obed. He became the father of Jesse, who became the father of David—the future king. Ruth, the Moabite outsider, was now part of the lineage of the Messiah.
Ruth Finds Kindness
Kids Version
Ruth and Naomi were very poor. They needed food!
In those days, poor people could follow behind farm workers and pick up any grain that was dropped. Ruth said, 'Let me go find food for us.'
She ended up in a field that belonged to a man named Boaz. She didn't know it, but Boaz was related to Naomi's family!
Boaz came to check on his workers. He noticed Ruth working hard. 'Who is that woman?' he asked.
'She's the one who came from Moab with Naomi,' a worker said. 'She's been working since morning without stopping!'
Boaz went to Ruth. 'Stay in my fields,' he said kindly. 'Don't go anywhere else. Stay close to my workers. I've told the men not to bother you. When you're thirsty, drink from our water jars.'
Ruth was amazed! 'Why are you being so nice to me? I'm just a foreigner!'
'I've heard about your love for Naomi,' Boaz said. 'You left your homeland to take care of her and follow her God. May God bless you!'
Boaz also told his workers to leave EXTRA grain for Ruth on purpose!
That night, Ruth came home with SO much food. Naomi was shocked! When Ruth told her about Boaz, Naomi got excited. 'He's our relative! God is taking care of us!'
As time went on, Boaz and Ruth got married! They had a baby boy named Obed.
Here's the amazing part: Obed grew up and had a son named Jesse. Jesse had a son named David—the famous king! And many years later, Jesus was born into this same family!
Ruth was a foreigner who lost everything. But because she trusted God and stayed loyal to Naomi, she became part of the most important family in history!
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Scripture — Ruth 2:1-23 (KJV)
1And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz. Boaz: Gr. Booz
2And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.
3And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech. hap: Heb. hap happened
4And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee.
5Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this?
6And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab:
7And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house.
8Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens:
9Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.
10Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?
11And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore .
12The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.
13Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens. Let me: or, I find friendly: Heb. to the heart
14And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left.
15And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not: reproach: Heb. shame her not
16And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.
17So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.
18And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed.
19And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz.
20And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen. one of: or, one that hath right to redeem
21And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.
22And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter in law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field. meet: or, fall upon thee
23So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law.
Memory Verse
“And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz. Boaz: Gr. Booz”
— Ruth 2:1 (KJV)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “Ruth and Boaz” in the Bible?
Ruth gleans in the fields of Boaz, a relative of Naomi's husband. Boaz shows her kindness, and eventually redeems and marries her. This story is found in Ruth 2:1-23, Ruth 3:1-18, Ruth 4:1-22.
Where is “Ruth and Boaz” found in the Bible?
“Ruth and Boaz” is found in Ruth 2:1-23, Ruth 3:1-18, Ruth 4:1-22, in the book of Ruth.
What can children learn from “Ruth and Boaz”?
This story teaches children about Provision, Kindness, Redemption, God's plan. Ruth worked hard gathering leftover grain in a field. The field belonged to a kind man named Boaz. He helped Ruth and Naomi, and eventually he married Ruth! They became part of King David's family.