The Book of Ruth is a short book in the Old Testament that tells a touching story about the life of King David’s great-grandmother. Children will be inspired by Ruth’s loyalty to her mother-in-law, Naomi, and her trust in God.
Who is Ruth in the Bible?Video
This is a video introducing Ruth’s life.
Ruth’s life in the Old Testament
And here’s a biography you can share with your kids.
Ruth was the great-grandmother of King David of Israel and an ancestor of Jesus Christ. Her story is told in the book that bears her name in the Old Testament. Although Ruth was a Moabite and not one of God’s people, she married a man from the tribe of Judah in Israel.
Ruth’s husband dies, leaving her and her mother-in-law, Naomi, alone. Naomi tells Ruth to return to her family, but Ruth refuses to abandon her. “Wherever you go, I’ll go,” she said. “Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” So she and Naomi returned to their home in Bethlehem in Judah.
Ruth met a man named Boaz there. He heard of her loyalty to her stepmother Naomi. he liked her very much. Even though there were other men in Bethlehem who were younger and wealthier, she loved him too. He offered to marry Ruth and oversee the land that her husband and father-in-law had owned before their deaths. They had a son named Obed, who became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of King David.
Ruth’s reflection questions
1. Why did Ruth not return to her home with the people of Moab after her husband died?
2. How can you show loyalty to your parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents?
3. Who in the family can draw near to God as Naomi did to Ruth? How?
Download Ruth Biography Worksheet
Get your copy of the “Life of Ruth” worksheet, including the following reflection questions, here.
Download worksheet
Bonus Video: Ruth’s Song
This is one of my favorite church songs. This book was written by Steve Warner while he was a student at the University of Notre Dame. Here are the songs sung by the Notre Dame Folk Choir:
