Questions tagged [ruth]

The book of Ruth tells the story of a Moabite who remains loyal to her Jewish family. Ruth is the grandmother of King David.

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Does the Book of Ruth belong to history (between Judges and Samuel) or sacred literature (between the Song of Songs and Lamentations)?

In Christian bibles the Book of Ruth is placed immediately after the Book of Judges, reflecting the time when the story takes place. In Jewish bibles it is located in the Writings (Ketuvah), among the ...
Dan Fefferman's user avatar
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What are Hebrew & Greek words used in Ruth to describe her status and its meaning?

Ruth is mentioned as a servant, Handmaid, maidservant, slave, foreigner, Moabite. What I would like clarified is: The Hebrew & Greek word that are used for servant, Handmaid, maidservant and ...
another theory's user avatar
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When did the story of Ruth take place?

Did the book of Ruth take place before, during, or after Israel took over Moab?
Harry Boyd's user avatar
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Could Boaz have had a first wife and family?

From Boaz statement to Ruth that she could have gone after young men...I believe it is reasonable to suppose that Boaz was quite a bit older than Ruth. Is it reasonable to suppose that for some ...
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Naomi, who has come back from Moab, IS SELLING? the piece of land that belonged to our relative Elimelek

New International Version, Ruth 4: 3 Then he said to the guardian-redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our relative Elimelek. New King James ...
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Can the field in Ruth 2:3 refer to Elimelech?

In Ruth 2:3 it states חֶלְקַת הַשָּׂדֶה לְבֹעַז אֲשֶׁר מִמִּשְׁפַּחַת אֱלִימֶלֶךְ׃ - it was the piece of land belonging to Boaz, who was of Elimelech’s family (Sefaria trans.) I was curious if ...
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Did Ruth take a break from gleaning in the shelter in Ruth 2:7?

Ruth 2:7 New International Version She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters.’ She came into the field and has remained here from morning till now, except for ...
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Why is the genealogy in Ruth different from Luke?

In Ruth 4:18-22, the genealogy recorded is different from Luke Luke 3:23-38. Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron, 19 Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab, 20 ...
Black Watch's user avatar
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Who took off his sandal in Ruth 4:8?

Ruth 4:8 ESV 8 So when the redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” he drew off his sandal. Ruth 4:8 KJV 8 Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe. Ruth 4:8 ...
collen ndhlovu's user avatar
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Why didn't Boaz acquire Naomi in Ruth 4:9?

Ruth 4:9 NIV 9 Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, “Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelek, Kilion and Mahlon. 10 I have also acquired ...
collen ndhlovu's user avatar
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Is 1 Samuel 22:1-4 record of David asking King of Moab to look after his parents evidence that David had some affinity towards Moabite ethnic group?

I might be indicating the obvious, but I suppose I say this because I myself come from an ethnic group with an Eastern cultural background, therefore, I am somewhat familiar with close affinities ...
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Why does Boaz keep calling Ruth "my daughter"?

Ruth 3 carries obvious sexual undertones. 7 After Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then Ruth went in secretly, ...
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Was Ruth barren like Sarai?

In Genesis 16:1-3 (NASB) we read that after 10 years Sarai have Hagar to Abram Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not borne him a child, but she had (B)an Egyptian slave woman whose name was Hagar. 2 So ...
Tiago Martins Peres's user avatar
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Was it common to have famine?

In Ruth 1:1 (NASB) Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land. And a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to reside in the land of Moab with his wife and ...
Tiago Martins Peres's user avatar
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loose / pluck off his shoe

In Deuteronomy 25:9 (NASB) the loosing of the shoe appears to be a punishment for refusing to give descendents to the deceased brother Then shall his brother's wife come unto him in the presence of ...
Tiago Martins Peres's user avatar
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In Ruth 4:21, should "Obed" be remembered as "the son of Mahlon" (instead of Boaz) - based on Deuteronomy 25:6 and Ruth 4:10?

When reading Ruth 4:10 after knowing the Law of Deuteronomy 25:6, Should Obed be remembered as "the son of Mahlon" in Ruth 4:21 (instead of Boaz) when reciting genealogical records? NIV | ...
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What kind of harm is Naomi concerned about for Ruth?

Following Ruth gleaning the field and being seen favorable in Boaz's eyes, Ruth 2:22 (NIV) says: Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It will be good for you, my daughter, to go with the women ...
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Did the marriage of Boaz + Ruth the Moabite reveal faith in God nullifies Deuteronomy 23:4?

Did God allow the interacial marriage of Boaz (בֹּ֨עַז֙) + Ruth the Moabite (ר֨וּת הַמּֽוֹאֲבִיָּ֜ה) to reveal faith in YHVH (יְהֹוָ֨ה) nullifies Levitical laws like Deuteronomy 23:4?
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When was the Book of Ruth set?

"In the days when the judges ruled,[a] there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab."- Ruth 1:...
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Lineage, Ruth, and Levirite Marriage

In Deut 25:5-6, it starts the lay the foundations of the levirite marriage statute, the purpose of which is to raise up seed in the name of the deceased brother "that his name be not put out of Israel"...
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What does the Gesture of "uncovering feet" and "laying to Boas feet" mean?

In Ruth 3,4 it is written: When he gets ready to go to sleep, take careful notice of the place where he lies down. Then go, uncover his legs, and lie down beside him. He will tell you what you should ...
telion's user avatar
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Why did Boaz only own part of the field?

... and [Ruth] happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz... (Ruth 2:3) Why did Boaz only own part of the field? And was it really just coincidence that Ruth ended up there?
EJoshuaS - Stand with Ukraine's user avatar
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May the Lord reward your work.. Ruth 2:12

Ruth 2:12 (NASB) "May the Lord reward your work, and your wages be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.” What reward did Ruth receive for her ...
Ozzie  Ozzie's user avatar
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Abimelekh (Αβιμελεχ) in the LXX

Repeatedly in Ruth (e.g. 1:2, 1:3, 2:1...) and in I Samuel (21:1, 21:6, 21:8, 22:9), the LXX (in all printed critical versions, although some manuscripts correct this, see here for details) as well as ...
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How do you reconcile Nehemiah 13:1-3 with the fact that King David's great-grandmother was Moabite?

In Nehemiah 13:1–3 the Jews returning to Jerusalem separated themselves from people with mixed decent, including Ammonites and Moabites:  On that day they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing ...
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In Ruth 1:2 what is the meaning of אפרתים (commonly translated "Efrathites")?

In Ruth 1:2, Naomi, Elimelech, Machlon and Kilyon are referred to as אפרתים, or Efrathites. To me, the simplest understanding would be that they come from Efrat (see Genesis 35:19, 1 Samuel 17:12, ...
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Which reading is the original text of Ruth 1:2 (and other similar verses)?

As I noted in Usage of "fields of" vs. "land of" Moab in Ruth, in the first Chapter of Ruth, the term שדי/שדה מואב or "field(s) of Moab" is used to refer to the land of Moab. In ...
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Usage of "fields of" vs. "land of" Moab in Ruth

At the beginning of Ruth (1:1, 1:2, and many others), the place that Elimelech, Naomi and their sons settle in is referred to as שדה/שדי מואב, literally "field(s) of Moab". Why would this usage ...
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Timeline of the story of Ruth

In Ruth 1:1: In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of ...
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Why would marrying Ruth have impaired the Redeemer's inheritance?

Now Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there. And behold, the redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. So Boaz said, “Turn aside, friend; sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down. ...
EJoshuaS - Stand with Ukraine's user avatar
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1 answer
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Why didn't Boaz go home?

In Ruth 3:7-8 (NET) after working the Threshing floor for the day, Boaz eats his meal and falls asleep: When Boaz had finished his meal and was feeling satisfied, he lay down to sleep at the far ...
James Shewey's user avatar
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Why didn't Naomi know Ruth? (Ruth 3:16)

In the well-known story of Ruth, the eponymous character (Ruth!) is daughter-in-law to Naomi. As the story progresses, Naomi comes to believe that Ruth has a chance of finding "security" with Boaz, a ...
Dɑvïd's user avatar
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Why was the "nearer-redeemer" surprised to learn of his obligation to Ruth? [duplicate]

In Ruth 4:4-4:6, the nearer redeemer initially agrees to buy the field being sold by Naomi, but when Boaz tells him that he will be required to take Ruth as his wife, he reneges on this, leaving Boaz ...
Susan's user avatar
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Ruth's Vow to Naomi: Ancient Marriage Vow?

Ruth's vow to Naomi in Ruth 1:16-17 is used in many wedding ceremonies today. Why that is is evident in the text. 16 But Ruth said, "Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following ...
Matthew Miller's user avatar
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To whom was Boaz paying when buying Naomi's land?

Ruth 4:9: Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and ...
Bluesky's user avatar
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How can Ruth "return" to a place she had never been?

As Naomi sets out to go back to her homeland, her daughters-in-law Ruth and Orpah set out with her. They are native Moabites, and it is unlikely that they have ever been to Israel. However, several ...
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When was Ruth written?

The setting of Ruth is in the time of the Judges: Ruth 1:1 During the time of the judges there was a famine in the land of Judah. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah went to live as a resident foreigner ...
Frank Luke's user avatar
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Does the narrator share Naomi's viewpoint in Ruth 1:20-21?

When Naomi returns to her hometown at the beginning of Ruth, she addresses the women: "Don’t call me Naomi," she told them. "Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very ...
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Parallels between Ruth and Elisha?

I'm asking this on behalf of a friend. One of his favorite parts of the bible is that of Elisha, in 2 Kings. But he wanted to get more familiar with the bible as a whole, so in January he started a ...
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1 answer
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"There is a son born to Naomi"? But it's a grandson -- what's up with that?

In chapter 4 of Rut, after Boaz performs levirate marriage with Rut and she bears a son, it says: וַתִּקְרֶאנָה לוֹ הַשְּׁכֵנוֹת שֵׁם לֵאמֹר, יֻלַּד-בֵּן לְנָעֳמִי; וַתִּקְרֶאנָה שְׁמוֹ עוֹבֵד, הוּא ...
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Did Ruth uncover Boaz' feet, or something else?

Naomi advises Ruth as follows, in Ruth 3: One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, I must find a home[a] for you, where you will be well provided for. 2 Now Boaz, with whose ...
Affable Geek's user avatar
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What was Ruth's legal status?

I apologize in advance for the length of the question. The book of Ruth is incredibly romantic and powerful, but I don't understand the legal portion of the drama: Now Boaz had gone up to the gate ...
Jon 'links in bio' Ericson's user avatar