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by Katie Erickson

This, then, is the family line of Perez:
Perez was the father of Hezron,
Hezron the father of Ram,
Ram the father of Amminadab,
Amminadab the father of Nahshon,
Nahshon the father of Salmon,
Salmon the father of Boaz,
Boaz the father of Obed,
Obed the father of Jesse,
and Jesse the father of David.
- Ruth 4:18-22

The Book of Ruth ends with what might seem, at first glance, an abrupt pivot – a genealogy. After four beautiful chapters of narrative about loyalty, love, providence, and redemption, the story concludes by tracing a line of descendants from Perez, son of Judah, to King David. To modern readers, genealogies can feel anticlimactic, like reading the end credits after a great drama. Yet in the ancient world, genealogies were powerful tools of meaning, identity, and hope. This closing passage of Ruth is no exception. Rather than a mere list of names, it weaves together deep theological threads and offers enduring insights for us today.

The genealogy of Ruth does not appear in isolation. By tracing the line from Perez to David, the author situates Ruth’s story firmly within the grand narrative of Scripture. Perez, the son of Judah and Tamar (Genesis 38), was a significant figure in Israelite tribal history. The tribe of Judah would later be identified as the royal tribe, the tribe from which Israel’s kings, and ultimately the Messiah, would come (Genesis 49:10).

By anchoring Ruth’s story into the line of Judah, the genealogy highlights how God’s providence works not only in personal stories but in national and even global history. Ruth, a Moabite widow, becomes woven into the fabric of Israel’s destiny. Her faithfulness and her inclusion into God’s people have implications far beyond just her life; they help shape the lineage of King David and, by extension, the story of Jesus Christ (see Matthew 1:1-16). This teaches us that no story is isolated. Our lives, like Ruth’s, are connected to larger purposes we cannot always see. Our small acts of faithfulness today may echo far into the future, whether we realize it or not.

The Book of Ruth is filled with themes of redemption. Boaz is portrayed as a guardian-redeemer who rescues Ruth and Naomi from poverty and social marginalization. Yet the final genealogy shows us that this redemption is not just temporal or social; it is generational and eternal.

By fathering Obed, Boaz and Ruth start a family line that restores Naomi’s family line, which seemed on the brink of extinction. Naomi, who had once declared, “The LORD has brought me back empty” (Ruth 1:21), now cradles Obed in her arms as a tangible sign of restored hope. The genealogy magnifies the truth that God redeems what appears lost, revives what seems barren, and writes new futures where none seemed possible.

For us today, this invites us to see how God’s work of redemption operates on multiple levels. It reminds us not to lose hope in the bleak seasons. God’s redemptive power can transform not only individual circumstances but entire family legacies.

Ruth’s Moabite identity is a crucial element of the story. The Moabites were historically enemies toward Israel (Deuteronomy 23:3-6), and yet Ruth’s faith and loyalty to Naomi and to Israel’s God led to her full inclusion into God’s covenant. By marrying Boaz and becoming the great-grandmother of David, Ruth shatters ethnic and cultural barriers.

This genealogy affirms that the Kingdom of God has always had room for outsiders who turn to Him. Ruth is not merely accepted; she is honored as a pivotal figure in Israel’s story. For modern readers, this invites reflection on the radical hospitality of God’s kingdom. The church, as the body of Christ, continues to be a place where those from every tribe, tongue, and nation are grafted into the people of God.

Ending the Book of Ruth with David’s name is no accident. For the original audience, who were likely living during or after David’s reign, this genealogy underscored the legitimacy of David’s royal lineage. It reminded Israel that God had orchestrated events across generations to raise up a king “after His own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14)

From a Christian perspective, the genealogy doesn’t stop with David. Matthew 1 explicitly echoes Ruth 4’s genealogy to show that Jesus Christ, the ultimate Redeemer, descends from this line. Thus, the narrative of Ruth is not just a prequel to David’s reign; it is an overture to the arrival of the Messiah. This teaches us to view history and our own lives through the lens of God’s unfolding kingdom. Even in mundane decisions or challenging circumstances, God is at work, advancing His redemptive purposes that culminate in Christ.

One final note from the genealogy is its testimony to God’s covenantal faithfulness. The ten names listed span several generations, from Perez (in the time of the patriarchs) to David (the era of monarchy). Across centuries, despite human failings, suffering, exile, and wandering, God’s promises endure. For us today, this provides a solid foundation in the midst of life’s uncertainties. God is faithful to His promises, even when timelines stretch longer than we expect. His work spans beyond our lifetimes but always aligns with His perfect will.

Far from being dry historical data, this genealogy is a testimony of grace, hope, and purpose. It invites us to entrust our stories to the God who writes history – a God who, through Ruth and Boaz, gave Israel a king and the world a Savior.

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