Brief Overview of Ῥούθ (Strong’s G4503: Rhouth)

Strong’s G4503: A proper noun of Hebrew/Moabite origin (רוּת), referring to Ruth, the Moabite woman who became part of Israel’s covenant community and an ancestor of Jesus Christ. Her inclusion in Matthew’s genealogy highlights God’s grace in incorporating Gentiles into His redemptive plan.

U- Unveiling the Word

Ῥούθ represents one of the most significant examples of Gentile inclusion in Israel’s covenant history. In the New Testament, her appearance in Jesus’s genealogy demonstrates God’s plan for universal salvation transcending ethnic boundaries. Early church fathers frequently used Ruth’s story to illustrate both Gentile inclusion and the nature of genuine faith. Today, she continues to symbolize how faith and devotion to God can transcend cultural and ethnic barriers.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: Ῥούθ, Rhouth, /hrooth/
• Detailed pronunciation: HROOTH (single syllable)
• Part of Speech: Proper Noun (feminine)

Etymology:

• Moabite/Hebrew origin: רוּת (Ruth)
• Possible meaning “friendship” or “companion”
• No clear etymology in Hebrew
• Transliterated directly into Greek

D – Defining Meanings

• The Moabite woman who married Boaz
• An ancestor of King David and Jesus
• A model of faithful conversion
• Symbol of Gentile inclusion

For compound words:
This is not a compound word but a simple transliteration.

Translation Options:

• “Ruth” – traditional English rendering
• “Rhouth” – closer to Greek form
• “Rut” – Spanish/alternative form

E – Exploring Similar Words

• Ῥαχάβ (Rhachab) /hrakh-ab/ – another Gentile woman in Jesus’s genealogy
  See G4477
• Βόοζ (Booz) /bo-oz/ – Ruth’s husband
  See G1003

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Morphological features as a proper noun:

• Case: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative
• Number: Singular only (as a proper name)
• Gender: Feminine
• Indeclinable (remains unchanged in different cases)

Being a proper noun of foreign origin, Ῥούθ is indeclinable in Greek.

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes her role in Jesus’s ancestry. Thayer’s notes her Moabite origin. LSJ provides limited coverage due to its Hebrew origin. Vine’s highlights her significance in the genealogy. Strong’s connects her to faithfulness. Moulton and Milligan document her name in Jewish literature.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
“Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by [Ῥούθ] Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse,” Matthew 1:5

Additional References:
None in the New Testament

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Ῥούθ powerfully illustrates God’s inclusive grace and the universal scope of His redemptive plan. Her presence in Jesus’s genealogy proclaims the good news that King Jesus came to save people from all nations. Through her story, we see that faith, not ethnicity, determines inclusion in God’s family, and that His covenant love extends to all who trust in Him.

D – Did You Know?

1. Ruth is one of only four women explicitly named in Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus.
2. She is the only Moabite mentioned positively in Scripture.
3. Early Christian writers saw Ruth’s gleaning as a metaphor for Gentiles gathering spiritual food from Israel.

Strong’s G4503: A proper noun of Hebrew/Moabite origin (רוּת), referring to Ruth, the Moabite woman who became part of Israel’s covenant community and an ancestor of Jesus Christ. Her inclusion in Matthew’s genealogy highlights God’s grace in incorporating Gentiles into His redemptive plan.

Part of speech: Proper Noun (feminine)

Tags: Ruth, genealogy of Jesus, Gentile inclusion, women in the Bible, Moabite, conversion, faith, ancestry, covenant, Matthew’s Gospel, redemption, grace​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​