Name Meanings Are Essential to Understanding Ruth
The meanings of Hebrew names can almost tell the whole story by themselves. They give insight to the hidden meaning of the allegory. For example: Ruth means "friendship." She represents our spirit which is the only part of man which can respond to God's offer of friendship through the finished work of Jesus Christ. Elimelech means "strength of the king." He represents the sin nature which attempts to live by its own capabilities rather than the grace and mercy of God.
As you read through this story about Ruth, you might want to use this list of meanings to help put the story together.
| Name | Meaning | Representation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ruth | Friendship | Human spirit | |
| Naomi | Beautiful Grace of God | Human soul | |
| Elimelech | The Strength of the King | Sin nature | |
| Judah | Worship | Presence with God (heaven) | |
| Bethlehem | Celebrated | Praising God | |
| Moab | Incest | Sin | |
| Mahlon | Sickly | Self effort | |
| Kilion | Failing | Self effort | |
| Orpah | Stubbornness | Pride | |
| Mara | Bitterness | Broken hearted | |
| Boaz | Strong Redeemer/Pillar | Jesus | |
| Obed | Servant | Born again | |
| David | Beloved Son | Jesus | |
| Jesus Christ | Salvation | Jesus | |
| Israel | He will rule | Man as a whole |
Continue reading: "Ruth's Story"
Be Reconciled to God
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. (2 Corinthians 5:17-19 - NIV)