Hey sis! Welcome to the Ruth Companion Library, your companion resource designed to help you study the book of Ruth in context and discover God's providence, redemption, and steadfast love through one of the most beautiful stories in Scripture. Whether you're using the Bible Study Corner™ Guided Bible Companion, studying on your own, or teaching others, you'll find tools here to help you dig deeper into God's Word with confidence.
This page is filled with carefully selected resources to help you understand not only what Ruth says, but why it matters. As you follow the journey of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz, you'll discover how God works faithfully behind the scenes- even through grief, loss, and ordinary moments- to accomplish His extraordinary purposes. You'll learn about the role of the kinsman-redeemer, the significance of gleaning, and the beautiful picture of redemption woven throughout this short book. Most importantly, you'll see how every chapter points forward to Jesus Christ- our perfect Kinsman-Redeemer, who willingly purchased our redemption and brought us into His family by grace.
My prayer is that these resources encourage you to slow down, open your Bible, and trust God's faithfulness even when you can't see what He is doing. Ruth isn't simply a love story between Boaz and Ruth; it's the story of a sovereign God who lovingly redeems the broken, faithfully keeps His promises, and quietly weaves His plan of redemption into the lives of ordinary people.
If you haven't already purchased the printable Bible Study Corner™ Guided Bible Companion, you can do so by clicking the link below. They're not required to use these resources, but they're filled with thoughtfully organized study tools, historical background, key themes, and beautiful pages that save you time and make a wonderful addition to your Bible study.
But First... Pray
Prayer Before Studying Ruth
Heavenly Father,
As I open the book of Ruth, I ask You to open my heart and my mind to Your truth. Thank You for preserving Your Word so that I can know You more deeply and understand Your character.
As I read, help me see more than a beautiful story of loyalty and love. Show me Your faithfulness, Your providence, and the quiet ways You work behind the scenes to accomplish Your perfect plans. Teach me to trust You even when I cannot see what You are doing, remembering that You are always at work for the good of those who love You.
Reveal the ways this book points to Jesus- our perfect Kinsman-Redeemer, who willingly paid the price to redeem us and bring us into His family. Give me wisdom to understand the Scriptures in their proper context and a humble heart that is willing to be changed by what I learn.
Help me not to rush through these pages, but to slow down, ask good questions, and delight in discovering the richness of Your Word. May this study deepen my faith, strengthen my trust in Your perfect timing, and draw me into a closer relationship with You.
Thank You for Your grace, Your steadfast love, and Your faithfulness that never fails. May everything I learn lead me to worship You more fully and to rest in the confidence that You are always working- even in the ordinary moments of life- to accomplish Your good purposes.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
Start Here
Before diving into Ruth, I encourage you to watch the Bible Project overview of the book. In just a few minutes, you'll gain a big-picture understanding of Ruth- its structure, major themes, historical setting, and its place in God's unfolding plan of redemption. Watching the overview first will help you see that Ruth is much more than a beautiful love story. It is a powerful account of God's providence, covenant faithfulness, and redemption as He works through ordinary people to accomplish His extraordinary purposes. As you work through your Bible Study Corner™ Guided Bible Companion, you'll also begin to recognize how Boaz serves as a picture of Christ, our perfect Kinsman-Redeemer, and how this remarkable story ultimately points to Jesus.
Once you've finished the video, open your Bible and begin reading Ruth. Then come back here to explore the companion resources, maps, timelines, character studies, word studies, and bonus study tools designed to help you dig even deeper into God's Word and discover the beauty of God's redeeming love woven throughout this unforgettable story.
Begin Reading
Now that you've watched the overview, it's time to dive into God's Word. Before exploring the additional resources below, we are going to start reading the book of Ruth in your Bible. Resist the urge to rush ahead or rely only on study notes. Spend time observing the text for yourself, asking questions, and noticing repeated themes like faithfulness, providence, kindness, loyalty, redemption, and God's work through ordinary circumstances.
Start by opening the free commentary linked below, or use a commentary of your choice. As you read, remember that Ruth is more than a beautiful love story. It is a powerful account of God's providence and redeeming grace as He works through loss, obedience, and faithful relationships to accomplish His greater purposes. Most importantly, it points forward to Jesus Christ- our perfect Kinsman-Redeemer, who willingly paid the price to redeem us and bring us into His family.
I personally take notes from the commentary that I feel are important to remember.
Take your time, pray as you read, and allow Scripture to speak before turning to outside resources.
Bible Study Tools
As you continue your study, I encourage you to explore some of the free Bible study tools available through Blue Letter Bible. From original Hebrew and Greek word studies to maps, timelines, outlines, cross references, commentaries, and more, these resources can help you better understand the historical, cultural, and linguistic context of Scripture.
Remember, these tools are designed to support your study- not replace it. Always read the biblical text carefully, and allow Scripture to interpret Scripture. Then use these resources to dig deeper and strengthen your understanding of God's Word.
Click below to explore Blue Letter Bible's free study tools.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ruth
As you study Ruth, you're likely to encounter questions you've never considered before- and that's a good thing! Asking thoughtful questions is an important part of studying God's Word. Below you'll find a collection of carefully selected articles from GotQuestions.org that address some of the most common questions people have about the book of Ruth.
While these articles can be helpful study tools, I encourage you to always compare what you read with Scripture. Let God's Word be your final authority, and use these resources to deepen your understanding as you continue studying the Bible in its proper context. As you explore topics like the kinsman-redeemer, gleaning, levirate marriage, the threshing floor, and God's providence, my prayer is that you'll gain a deeper appreciation for the beautiful picture of redemption that ultimately points to Jesus Christ.
