### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew name **Rûwth**, represented by `{{H7327}}`, is understood to mean **friend**. It appears **12 times** across **12 unique verses** in the Bible. **Rûwth** is introduced as a Moabitess `{{H4125}}` who marries into an Israelite family that sojourned in Moab `{{H4124}}` for about ten years `{{H8141}}` [[Ruth 1:4]]. After the death of her husband, Mahlon `{{H4248}}`, she becomes a pivotal figure in a narrative of loyalty, faith, and redemption.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The story of **Rûwth** `{{H7327}}` is one of profound commitment. When her mother-in-law Naomi `{{H5281}}` decides to return to Bethlehem `{{H1035}}`, Ruth `{{H7327}}` refuses to leave her, famously declaring, "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" [[Ruth 1:16]]. This loyalty is described as cleaving `{{H1692}}` to Naomi, in contrast to Orpah `{{H6204}}` who returned to her people [[Ruth 1:14]]. Upon arriving in Bethlehem, Ruth `{{H7327}}` seeks to provide for them by gleaning `{{H3950}}` in the fields, where she finds grace `{{H2580}}` in the eyes of Boaz `{{H1162}}` [[Ruth 2:2]]. Her journey culminates when Boaz `{{H1162}}` acts as a near kinsman, purchasing `{{H7069}}` her to be his wife `{{H802}}` and raising up the name of the dead on his inheritance [[Ruth 4:10]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words are central to understanding the narrative surrounding **Rûwth** `{{H7327}}`:
* `{{H1162}}` **Bôʻaz** (Boaz): The ancestor of David, Boaz is a mighty man of wealth [[Ruth 2:1]] who shows kindness to Ruth. He ultimately fulfills the role of a kinsman-redeemer by taking Ruth as his wife [[Ruth 4:13]].
* `{{H4125}}` **Môwʼâbîy** (Moabitess): This term, frequently attached to Ruth's name, emphasizes her foreign origins ([[Ruth 2:2]], [[Ruth 4:5]]). It highlights that her inclusion into Israel's heritage is an act of divine grace and personal faith.
* `{{H1350}}` **gâʼal** (to redeem, near kinsman): This concept is the legal and theological foundation for the story's resolution. Ruth appeals to Boaz as a "near kinsman" [[Ruth 3:9]], and he acts accordingly to redeem the property and legacy of her deceased husband [[Ruth 4:10]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of **Rûwth**'s `{{H7327}}` story is immense, illustrating several key principles:
* **Covenant Faithfulness:** Ruth's unwavering loyalty to Naomi and her declaration to adopt Naomi's God `{{H430}}` as her own [[Ruth 1:16]] serves as a powerful example of steadfast, covenant-keeping love that goes beyond familial or national ties.
* **Redemption in Practice:** The narrative provides a real-world application of the law of the kinsman-redeemer `{{H1350}}`. Boaz's actions to purchase `{{H7069}}` the land and take Ruth as his wife `{{H802}}` not only preserve a family line but also foreshadow a greater spiritual redemption [[Ruth 4:10]].
* **God's Providence and Grace:** Despite being a foreigner from Moab `{{H4124}}`, a nation often at odds with Israel, Ruth is brought under the "wings" of the God of Israel `{{H3671}}` [[Ruth 2:12]]. The LORD `{{H3068}}` personally intervenes by giving her conception `{{H2032}}`, placing her directly in the ancestral line of David [[Ruth 4:13]].
### Summary
In summary, **Rûwth** `{{H7327}}` is far more than a historical figure; she embodies the concept of "friend" through her profound loyalty. Her story demonstrates that faith and faithfulness are valued by God regardless of one's origin. Through her steadfast commitment to Naomi and her trust in the God of Israel, a Moabitess `{{H4125}}` is woven into the fabric of redemptive history, becoming the wife of Boaz `{{H1162}}` and an ancestor in one of the most significant lineages in scripture.
TRV