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Ruth 1

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Ruth 1 Overview

During the days of the judges, famine drives Elimelech, Naomi, and their sons from Bethlehem to Moab. Elimelech dies, the sons marry Ruth and Orpah, and then both sons die, leaving Naomi with her daughters-in-law. When Naomi hears that the LORD has visited Judah with food, she returns home. Orpah remains in Moab, but Ruth binds herself to Naomi, Naomi’s people, and Naomi’s God. They arrive in Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.

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Before you read Ruth 1

Coming from

Judges 21 ended a book of national disorder with the statement that every man did what was right in his own eyes.

In this chapter

Ruth narrows the focus from national collapse to one bereaved household and introduces a Moabite woman whose loyalty will become central to God’s providential work.

Leads into

Chapter 2 sends Ruth to glean for food, where she 'hap' to come to the field of Boaz, a wealthy relative of Elimelech who protects and favors her.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Ruth is explicitly set during the judges period, but its tone differs sharply from Judges 17–21. The famine, migration, widowhood, and childlessness create a chain of losses that makes Naomi feel emptied by the LORD. Ruth’s confession in verses 16–17 is far more than affection for Naomi: she embraces Naomi’s people and God and commits herself even unto death. The return at barley harvest quietly introduces the possibility of provision before Naomi can see how the story will unfold.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Truth 1

Deep loss can shape a believer’s perception so strongly that Naomi describes herself as empty even while Ruth faithfully stands beside her.

Truth 2

Ruth’s loyalty crosses national and family boundaries as she chooses Naomi’s people and the LORD as her God.

Truth 3

The LORD’s providence begins turning the story before the characters understand its outcome: food has returned to Bethlehem, and harvest has begun.

Truth 4

Faithful commitment may require leaving behind familiar land, family ties, and former identity without knowing the earthly outcome in advance.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Connection 1

Judges 21 supplies the immediate canonical backdrop, while Ruth 1:1 explicitly locates the story during that era.

Connection 2

Deuteronomy 23:3–6 gives important background concerning Moab’s troubled relationship with Israel, making Ruth’s later incorporation into Israel’s story especially striking.

Connection 3

Matthew 1:5 names Ruth in the genealogy of Jesus Christ, showing the long-range significance of a story that begins with famine and bereavement.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep this clear 1

Do not reduce Ruth 1:16–17 to a wedding slogan; in context it is Ruth’s covenant-like pledge of loyalty to her widowed mother-in-law, her people, and her God.

Keep this clear 2

Naomi’s statements that the LORD has dealt bitterly with her express her real grief and interpretation of events; the book’s later chapters will show providence she cannot yet see.

Keep this clear 3

The Moabite setting should not be erased. Ruth’s foreign identity is repeatedly emphasized and is part of the theological force of the book.

Read Ruth 1 watching for…

The repeated losses that leave Naomi and Ruth vulnerable.

Why Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem.

The difference between Orpah’s and Ruth’s responses.

The exact commitments Ruth makes in her famous speech.

The timing of their arrival at the beginning of barley harvest.

Chapter outline4 sections

1-5Elimelech’s family goes to Moab, and Naomi loses her husband and sons 6-14Naomi decides to return, and Orpah turns back 15-18Ruth chooses to remain with Naomi and her people 19-22Naomi and Ruth arrive in Bethlehem at barley harvest

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.

And 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.

And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.

And 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.

And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.

Then 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.

Wherefore 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.

And 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.

The 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.

And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.

And 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?

Turn 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;

Would 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.

And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.

And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.

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.

When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.

So 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?

And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.

I 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?

So 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.

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Ruth 1:4

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