Who Wrote This Book? 

The author of Ruth is unknown.

Date of Writing:

The book was probably written during the time of David (4:17-22).

Ruth is a beautiful love story. The young woman Ruth is a moving example of loyalty, service, and obedience that our daughters may emulate. No more exalted statement of loyalty has ever been made than the stirring request of Ruth to her mother-in-law Naomi (1:16-17).

Theme and Purpose of the Story of Ruth: 

The theme of Ruth is the Lord's provident protection of the faithful (2:12). The book touchingly portrays His care for a widow and her Gentile daughter-in-law. Because of the faithfulness of a destitute young widow, the Lord brought them out of deep tragedy and sorrow to joy, prosperity, and honor.

Even amidst the gloom, decadence, and passion that so largely dominated the times, this beautiful love story shows that faith, love, loyalty, and self-sacrifice were also present. (L.A. Mott, Jr., Joshua, Judges & Ruth. 29)

Purpose of Ruth

Ruth is one of two women after whom a book is named and she is the only woman in the Bible specifically said to be virtuous. Not only that, but she isn’t even a Jew. She’s a Moabitess.

The purpose of Ruth is to show God's concern for the Gentiles. It traces the lineage of David back to a Moabite (Gentile) woman who chose to worship God (4:18-22). In doing so, it also traces the lineage of Christ to the same woman as a foreshadowing of the salvation to Jew and Gentile alike in Christ (Matthew 1:1-6; Luke 3:23,31-32).

Key Verses:

Ruth 1:16-17

But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me."

Ruth: 3:11

And now, my daughter, don't be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character. (NIV)