Meaning of the Name Ruth: Friend, Companion
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Where the name comes from
Ruth comes from a Hebrew root, re'ut, that means "friend" or "companion". Some readings prefer "vision of beauty". The friendship reading is the one most scholars endorse.
Ruth in the Bible
Ruth is a Moabite widow who chose her Israelite mother-in-law over her own people, and whose descendants include King David and, in time, Jesus of Nazareth. Her line runs through the very heart of Scripture. Her book is one of two in the Bible with a woman's name on the cover.
A blessing for Ruth
Ruth, may your name be true of you: a friend that sticks closer than family. May you have Ruth's loyalty, her humility, and her hidden place in a story that outlasted her.