Bible Study Questions for the book of
Ruth
- Where was Naomi from? How did she wind up in Moab? What happens to her sons and
husband while they are in Moab? What does Naomi tell her daughters in law to do?
What does Orpah do? How does Ruth respond?
- Where do Naomi and Ruth go? What does Naomi change her name to? Why? Why does
the author continuously remind us that Ruth was a Moabite?
- What does it mean to glean? Why does Ruth go to the field to glean? Why is she
looking for a particular person? What is a kinsman redeemer?
- How does Boaz greet the reapers in the field? What does that tell us about faith during
the time of the judges? When Boaz sees Ruth, what does he tell her? Why has Ruth
found such favor in Boaz’s sight?
- Why does Naomi send Ruth to the threshing floor? What is Ruth supposed to do when
Boaz goes to sleep? What will that action communicate? What happens at midnight
when Boaz wakes up?
- Why would Boaz tell Ruth that she had a nearer kinsman redeemer? What does he
promise to do if the closer redeemer will not take her? Where does Ruth spend the rest of
the night? Why does she leave early in the morning? What does Boaz give her before she
leaves?
- Why does the eligible redeemer choose not to buy Naomi’s land? After he offers Boaz
the opportunity to redeem her, how do they make the transaction official?
- Ruth and Boaz marry. They have a son. What do the women say to Naomi when Ruth
after Ruth gives birth? Why would they not say these things to Ruth? What is the boy
1. Why does Naomi tell Ruth to wash and anoint herself before going to the threshing floor?
Why does she tell Ruth to conceal herself until Boaz is done eating and drinking?
2. What instructions does Naomi give Ruth when Boaz lies down? What does this action
symbolize? Why would Ruth be willing to do this despite the risk involved?
3. How is Boaz’s heart when he had eaten and drunk? How does Ruth approach him when
he is at the end of the heap of grain?
4. When Ruth requests that she be redeemed, how does Boaz respond? Boaz is much older
than Ruth, why didn’t she go after a younger man to be her husband? Why is Ruth
worthy in the eyes of the townspeople?
5. Why does Boaz give the right to redeem to another man? What promise does Boaz make
if this other redeemer will not take her? What time does Ruth leave the threshing floor?
Why would Boaz want it hidden that a woman had been on the threshing floor?
6. Where does Boaz meet the potential redeemer? How many elders does Boaz have with
him for the transaction? When the man offers to buy the land, what information is he
given? What does it mean to “perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance”?
7. Why does the man choose not to redeem the land? What is he concerned about? How do
they mark the transaction?
8. Why would the witnesses ask that the LORD make Ruth like Rachel and Leah? What did
those women do?
9. Ruth and Boaz have a son. How do Naomi’s friends react? Why would Naomi become
the child’s nurse? Why would her friends say that “a son has been born to Naomi”?
10. Who is Obed’s grandson? Who does he become?
