Bible Characters
Ruth the Moabite: From a Symbol of Kindness to the Mother of David's Line (+Quiz)
Loyalty to Naomi, the field of Boaz, and a line that gave rise to David.
Ruth the Moabite is the symbol of loving-kindness and loyalty in the Bible - a foreigner who chose the people of Israel and their God, and merited to become the great-grandmother of King David. The Book of Ruth, read on Shavuot, is one of the most beloved in Bible quizzes.
▶ Play now: the Ruth quiz — 50 questions per level
Naomi and Moab
In the days of the famine, the family of Elimelech and Naomi went down from Bethlehem to Moab. There their sons married Ruth and Orpah. When the father and the sons died, three widows remained - and Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem.
"Your People Shall Be My People"
Orpah returned to Moab, but Ruth clung to Naomi with one of the most beautiful declarations in the Bible: "Wherever you go, I will go... your people shall be my people, and your God my God." This is a declaration of loyalty and of joining the people of Israel.
Gleaning in Boaz's Field
To provide for Naomi, Ruth went to glean ears of grain in the field, and by chance came to the field of Boaz, a relative of Elimelech's family. Boaz heard of her kindness to her mother-in-law and protected her: "May the Lord reward your deed."
The Redemption
On Naomi's advice, Ruth turned to Boaz as a redeemer. Boaz redeemed the estate of Elimelech and took Ruth as his wife - an act of kindness that binds together family, inheritance, and memory.
Mother of Royalty
From Ruth and Boaz was born Obed, father of Jesse, father of King David. Thus the Moabite convert became the mother of the royal line of David - and from her, according to tradition, the Messiah will come.
The Scroll of Kindness
The entire Book of Ruth is a hymn to loving-kindness - between one person and another, and between a person and their God. It contains no open miracles, only goodness of heart - and that is what gives rise to royalty. That is why it is read on the festival of Shavuot, the festival of receiving the Torah.
Play the Ruth quiz
Bible Quiz now has a dedicated Ruth quiz — real questions from the bank across five difficulty levels, 50 questions per level, from the easy questions up to the "Super-Rabbi" level with exact verses and numbers. You can also reach it from the character area or the game screen, via the "by hero" button.
FAQ
What did Ruth say to Naomi?
"Wherever you go, I will go... your people shall be my people, and your God my God" - a declaration of loyalty and of joining the people of Israel.
In whose field did Ruth glean?
In the field of Boaz, a relative of Elimelech's family, who later took her as his wife.
Who are the descendants of Ruth?
Obed, Jesse, and King David - she is the great-grandmother of David.
When is the Book of Ruth read?
On the festival of Shavuot - as a story of loving-kindness and of joining the people of Israel.