Ruth's Loyalty and Love
A Moabite widow refuses to abandon her mother-in-law, follows her to Israel, and through faith and faithfulness becomes an ancestor of King David and Jesus.
Ruth 1:1-22, Ruth 2:1-23, Ruth 3:1-18, Ruth 4:1-22
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The Story
During the time of the judges, a famine struck Israel. A man named Elimelech took his wife Naomi and their two sons from Bethlehem to live in Moab. There the sons married Moabite women—Orpah and Ruth. But tragedy followed: Elimelech died, and within ten years, both sons died too, leaving three widows with no means of support.
When Naomi heard the famine had ended in Israel, she decided to return home. 'Go back to your mothers,' she told her daughters-in-law. 'May the Lord show you kindness.' Orpah kissed her goodbye through tears and left.
But Ruth clung to Naomi. 'Don't urge me to leave you,' she said. 'Where you go, I will go. Where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried.'
So they traveled to Bethlehem together, arriving at the beginning of barley harvest. To provide food, Ruth went to glean—gathering leftover grain behind the harvesters, as was permitted for the poor.
She happened to glean in a field belonging to Boaz, a wealthy relative of Elimelech. Boaz noticed her and asked about her. Moved by her loyalty to Naomi, he showed her exceptional kindness. 'Stay in my fields,' he said. 'I've told the men not to touch you. When you're thirsty, drink from our water jars.'
'Why are you so kind to me, a foreigner?' Ruth asked.
'I've heard about everything you've done for your mother-in-law,' Boaz replied. 'May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully.'
Ruth gleaned in Boaz's fields throughout the harvest. Then Naomi devised a plan. Boaz was a kinsman-redeemer—one who could marry Ruth and preserve the family line. Following Naomi's instructions, Ruth went to the threshing floor and lay at Boaz's feet while he slept.
When Boaz awoke, Ruth said, 'Spread the corner of your garment over me, for you are a kinsman-redeemer.'
Boaz was honored by her request but explained there was a closer relative with first rights. The next day, he met with this man at the city gate. When the relative declined his right to redeem, Boaz announced before the elders, 'I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess as my wife, to maintain the name of the dead.'
Ruth and Boaz married, and God blessed them with a son named Obed. Naomi, once empty and bitter, now held a grandson in her arms. The women of Bethlehem celebrated: 'Naomi has a son!'
Obed became the father of Jesse, and Jesse became the father of David—the great king of Israel. And through David's line would come Jesus, the Messiah. A foreign widow's faithful love had woven her into the very ancestry of the Savior.
Ruth Stays with Naomi
Kids Version
Naomi was very sad. Her husband and both her sons had died. She was all alone in a foreign country called Moab. She decided to go back to her home in Israel.
Naomi had two daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth. 'You should stay here in Moab,' Naomi told them. 'Find new husbands.'
Orpah was sad, but she stayed. But Ruth said, 'No! I'm coming with you! Where you go, I'll go. Your people will be my people. Your God will be my God!'
Ruth loved Naomi SO much. She didn't want her to be alone.
So they traveled to Bethlehem together. But they were very poor. Ruth went to a field to pick up leftover grain so they could make bread.
The field belonged to a kind man named Boaz. He saw Ruth working so hard. 'Who is that?' he asked.
'That's Ruth. She takes care of her mother-in-law Naomi.'
Boaz was impressed! He told Ruth, 'Stay in my field. You'll be safe here. Take all the grain you need.'
Ruth was so thankful! She worked hard every day, and Boaz was always kind to her. He even made sure extra grain was left for her to find.
Boaz started to love Ruth. They got married! They had a baby boy named Obed. Now Naomi wasn't sad anymore—she had a grandson to hold!
And guess what? Baby Obed grew up to be the grandfather of King David! And many, many years later, Jesus was born from their family.
Ruth's love and loyalty blessed her whole family—and the whole world!
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Scripture — Ruth 1:1-22 (KJV)
1Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. ruled: Heb. judged
2And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah . And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there. continued: Heb. were
3And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.
4And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.
5And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.
6Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread.
7Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.
8And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.
9The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.
10And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.
11And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
12Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; should have: or were with an husband
13Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me. tarry: Heb. hope it grieveth: Heb. I have much bitterness
14And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
15And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.
16And Ruth 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: Intreat: or, Be not against me
17Where 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.
18When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her. was: Heb. strengthened herself
19So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?
20And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. Naomi: that is, Pleasant Mara: that is, Bitter
21I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?
22So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.
Memory Verse
“Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. ruled: Heb. judged”
— Ruth 1:1 (KJV)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “Ruth's Loyalty and Love” in the Bible?
A Moabite widow refuses to abandon her mother-in-law, follows her to Israel, and through faith and faithfulness becomes an ancestor of King David and Jesus. This story is found in Ruth 1:1-22, Ruth 2:1-23, Ruth 3:1-18, Ruth 4:1-22.
Where is “Ruth's Loyalty and Love” found in the Bible?
“Ruth's Loyalty and Love” is found in Ruth 1:1-22, Ruth 2:1-23, Ruth 3:1-18, Ruth 4:1-22, in the book of Ruth.
What can children learn from “Ruth's Loyalty and Love”?
This story teaches children about Loyalty, Redemption, Providence, Love, Faith. Ruth loved her mother-in-law Naomi so much that she went with her to a new country and a new God. Ruth worked hard, was kind, and God blessed her with a wonderful new family.