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Name means
Friend; companion
Role
Moabite widow; great-grandmother of King David
When
The days of the judges

What they did

Left Moab with her mother-in-law Naomi, gleaned in the fields of Boaz and married him as kinsman-redeemer.

Why it matters: the purpose of their role

Her loyal love brought a Gentile into the covenant people and into the royal line of David and of Christ.

And 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: Ruth 1:16 (KJV)

Bible references

And 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: 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)
The 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. Ruth 2:12 (KJV)
So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son. And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him. And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it. And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David. Ruth 4:13-17 (KJV)
And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; Matthew 1:5 (KJV)

Family

Spouse(s)
Mahlon (first), Boaz
Children
Obed
Brothers / sisters
Orpah (sister-in-law)

Daughter-in-law of Naomi and Elimelech; great-grandmother of David (Ruth 4:17).

A fuller character study, with strengths, failures, lessons and a relationship diagram:

Open the character study