Ruth 1

Bethlehem Ephratah, birthplace of the Messiah

Bethlehem — “house of bread”; Ephrath — “fruitful”

Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. Ruth 1:1–2

The story starts with Ephrathites of Bethlehem-judah — the exact town and clan Micah names as the place the everlasting Ruler of Israel will come from. Everything in Ruth runs toward David, and through David to Jesus, who was born in that town.

How we know: another scripture interprets it of Him · a traditional type, cited

• alludes to Micah 5:2 — Verified: “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah… out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” Ruth's opening names the same town under the same double name (Bethlehem‑judah / Ephrathites).

Jehovah, who visits His people with bread

LORD (Jehovah) — the covenant name

Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread. Ruth 1:6

Jehovah ends the famine and gives bread again to Bethlehem, the “house of bread.” The same Lord would be born in that town and call Himself the Bread of Life, and Zacharias would praise Him for having “visited and redeemed his people.”

How we know: the verse itself names Him · another scripture interprets it of Him

• alluded to by Luke 1:68 — Verified: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people” — Zacharias, prophesying of the coming Messiah, reuses this Old Testament phrase for the Lord visiting His people.

Jehovah, the God Ruth chooses

LORD (Jehovah) — the covenant name

And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Ruth 1:16–17

Ruth, a Moabite raised among other gods, takes Jehovah as her God and swears by His name. That choice puts a convert into the covenant family through whom Jesus Christ would be born — Matthew names her in His genealogy.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4) · the verse itself names Him · another scripture interprets it of Him