Ruth (Rooth; Heb., probably “satiation”)

A Moabite who married Mahlon of the Judahite family of Elimelech. Widowed and childless, she abandoned her family, country, and religion to accompany her mother-in-law, Naomi, to Bethlehem. Her radical actions continued as she secured food for herself and Naomi and summoned the relative Boaz to be their redeemer. Boaz married her. She bore a son who became the grandfather of David. The women of Bethlehem exalted Ruth as the loving daughter-in-law who meant more to Naomi than seven sons, the ideal number (Ruth 4:15). Her name appears later in the Matthean genealogy of Jesus (Matt 1:5).