The biblical book of Ruth centers on a small cast whose choices shape a enduring narrative of loyalty, provision, and lineage. The principal figures are Ruth, a Moabite widow who chooses to follow her Israelite mother-in-law Naomi; Boaz, a wealthy Bethlehemite landowner who redeems Ruth’s family line; Naomi, Ruth’s widowed mother-in-law whose loss prompts migration and return; and Elimelech, Naomi’s husband whose death moves the family to Moab. Supporting roles include Orpah, Ruth’s sister-in-law; Obed, Boaz’s son and Ruth’s grandson; and the unnamed close kinsman-redeemer who declines redemption. Below is a detailed breakdown of who stars in Ruth and Boaz, their narrative function, and how these roles anchor the book’s themes.
