What is the book of ruth about?

Shmoop Bible guide: The Book of Ruth summary. Overview and detailed summary of The Book of Ruth by PhD students from Stanford, Harvard, Berkeley. read more

The book tells of Ruth's accepting the God of the Israelites as her God and the Israelite people as her own. In Ruth 1:16-17, Ruth tells Naomi, her Israelite mother-in-law, "Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. read more

Outline of the book of Ruth. 1:1-5: Elimelech and his family go to Moab. 1:6-22: Widowed Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth return to Bethlehem. 2: Ruth wins Boaz’s admiration and protection. 3: Ruth appeals to Boaz to be the kinsman-redeemer. 4: Boaz accepts and marries Ruth; they become the ancestors of David and Jesus Christ. read more

The book of Ruth is one of the most moving accounts in the Bible, a story of love and loyalty that is a stark contrast to today's cynical, throwaway society. This short book, only four chapters, shows how God uses people in amazing ways. read more