Topical Encyclopedia
The term "Moabitess" refers to a female member of the Moabite people, an ancient nation descended from Moab, the son of Lot and his eldest daughter (
Genesis 19:37). The Moabites were closely related to the Israelites, yet often found themselves in conflict with them throughout biblical history. The land of Moab was located east of the Dead Sea, in what is now modern-day Jordan.
Biblical Context and SignificanceThe most notable Moabitess in the Bible is Ruth, whose account is recounted in the Book of Ruth. Ruth was a Moabitess who married Mahlon, an Israelite from Bethlehem, during a time of famine when his family had relocated to Moab. After the death of her husband, Ruth chose to remain with her Israelite mother-in-law, Naomi, rather than return to her own people. Her famous declaration of loyalty is recorded in
Ruth 1:16-17 : "But Ruth replied: 'Do not urge me to leave you or to turn from following you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me, and ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.'"
Ruth's decision to follow Naomi back to Bethlehem and her subsequent marriage to Boaz, a relative of Naomi's late husband, is a pivotal narrative in the Bible. Ruth's inclusion in the genealogy of Jesus Christ, as recorded in
Matthew 1:5, underscores the theme of God's grace extending beyond the boundaries of Israel to include Gentiles in His redemptive plan.
Cultural and Religious ImplicationsThe Moabites, as descendants of Lot, were considered relatives of the Israelites, yet they were often viewed with suspicion and hostility due to their idolatrous practices and historical enmity with Israel. The Moabites worshiped Chemosh, a god to whom they sometimes offered human sacrifices (
2 Kings 3:27). Despite these tensions, the account of Ruth the Moabitess highlights the possibility of faith and redemption for those outside the covenant community of Israel.
The inclusion of a Moabitess in the lineage of King David, and ultimately Jesus Christ, serves as a profound testament to the inclusivity of God's covenant promises. It illustrates that faith and loyalty to the God of Israel transcend ethnic and national boundaries, a theme that resonates throughout the biblical narrative.
Historical Interactions with IsraelThroughout the Old Testament, the Moabites had a complex relationship with Israel. They were often adversaries, as seen in the account of Balak, the Moabite king, who sought to curse Israel through the prophet Balaam (Numbers 22-24). However, there were also periods of peace and intermarriage, as evidenced by the account of Ruth.
The Moabites were eventually subdued by King David, who made them his subjects (
2 Samuel 8:2). Despite their subjugation, the Moabites continued to exist as a distinct people group throughout the biblical period.
Theological ReflectionsThe account of Ruth the Moabitess is a powerful narrative of conversion, loyalty, and divine providence. It reflects the broader biblical theme of God's sovereignty and grace in bringing outsiders into His covenant community. Ruth's faith and her role in the lineage of the Messiah serve as a reminder of God's redemptive purposes for all nations, foreshadowing the inclusion of Gentiles in the New Covenant through Jesus Christ.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
n.) A female Moabite.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
MOABITESSmo'-ab-it-es, mo-ab-i'-tes (mo'abhiyah): A woman, or in plural women, of Moab. The term is applied to Ruth (1:22; 2:2, 6, 21; 4:5, 10); to some of Solomon's wives (1 Kings 11:1); and to Shimrith, whose son shared in the murder of King Joash (2 Chronicles 24:26).
SeeMOAB.
Greek
4503. Rhouth -- Ruth, aMoabitess and an ancestor of Christ... Ruth, a
Moabitess and an ancestor of Christ. Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable
Transliteration: Rhouth Phonetic Spelling: (hrooth) Short Definition
...Strong's Hebrew
4125. Moabi -- descendant of Moab... Word Origin from Moab Definition desc. of Moab NASB Word Usage Moab (1), Moabite
(6), Moabites (3),
Moabitess (6). woman of Moab, Moabite,.
...7327. Ruth -- "friendship," a Moabite ancestress of David
... 12). Ruth. Probably for r'uwth; friend; Ruth, aMoabitess -- Ruth. see HEBREW
r'uwth. 7326, 7327. Ruth. 7328 . Strong's Numbers.
8116. Shimrith -- a Moabite woman
... Shimrith. Feminine of Shimriy; female guard; Shimrith, aMoabitess -- Shimrith.
see HEBREW Shimriy. 8115, 8116. Shimrith. 8117 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
Ruth
... The true explanation is no doubt to be sought in the fact that Ruth theMoabitess
is counted worthy to be an ancestress of David; and, if the book be post...
The Devotion of Ruth
... Ruth, theMoabitess, said to Naomi, "Let me now go into the fields and pick up the
scattered heads of grain after him whose favor I should win." Naomi said to...
Scriptural Poems; Being Several Portions of Scripture Digested...
... And Ruth, theMoabitess, did intreat Her Mother's leave, that she might go, and
gather Some ears of corn, where she should most find favour: Go, daughter, go...
A Gentle Heroine, a Gentile Convert
... 22. So Naomi returned, and Ruth theMoabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which
returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Beth-lehem in the...
The Moody Colportage Library
... Evans 130 Intercessory Prayer. JGK McClure 131 From Death Unto Life. JH Brookes
132 Ruth, theMoabitess. Henry Moorhouse 134 Forty-Eight Bernard Street....
Writing v. But as up to that Time the Genealogies of the Hebrews...
... public archives, and those, too, which were traced back to the proselytes [1051]
"as, for example, to Achior the Ammanite, and Ruth theMoabitess, and those...
The Kingdom of all Israel.
... to trouble his soul, Samuel's last great act was to anoint the youngest son of Jesse
the Bethlehemite, the great grandchild of the lovingMoabitess, Ruth, the...
Genealogy of Jesus According to Matthew.
... Salmon; 5 and Salmon begat Boaz of Rahab [she had been a heathen and a harlot of
Jericho]; and Boaz begat Obed of Ruth [she was a heathenMoabitess]; and Obed...
The Return from the Sepulchre.
... Mara of Suphan was aMoabitess, came from the neighbourhood of Suphan, and
was a descendant of Orpha, the widow of Chelion, Noemi's son....
Introduction
... The genealogies given by the Hebrew writers prove how extensive this intermingling
of racial elements must have been; even David counted aMoabitess among his...
Thesaurus
Moabitess (7 Occurrences)...MOABITESS. mo'-ab-it-es, mo-ab-i'-tes (mo'abhiyah): A woman, or in plural women,
of Moab.
... See MOAB. Multi-Version Concordance
Moabitess (7 Occurrences).
...Na'omi (21 Occurrences)
... Ruth 1:22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth theMoabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her,
who returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the...
Naomi (25 Occurrences)
... Ruth 1:22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth theMoabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her,
who returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the...
Ruth (19 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary A friend, aMoabitess, the wife of Mahlon, whose
father, Elimelech, had settled in the land of Moab. On...
Orpah (2 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Forelock or fawn, aMoabitess, the wife of Chilion
(Ruth 1:4; 4:10). On the death of her husband she accompanied...
Jehozabad (4 Occurrences)
... According to 2 Kings 12:21 (22), he was a son of Shomer, but 2 Chronicles 24:26
makes him "son of Shimrith theMoabitess." (2) A Korahite doorkeeper, son of...
Deceased (8 Occurrences)
... Ruth 4:5 Then Boaz said, "On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you
must buy it also from Ruth theMoabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up...
Shimeath (2 Occurrences)
... even though the king had merited death) was "the son of (shim`ath), the Ammonitess"
and the other was "the son of (shimrith), theMoabitess" (compare Torrey...
Shimrith (1 Occurrence)
... SHIMRITH. shim'-rith (shimrith, "guard," feminine): AMoabitess, the mother of
Jehozabad, one of those that conspired against King Joash (2 Chronicles 24:26)....
Maintain (50 Occurrences)
... Ruth 4:5 Then Boaz said, "On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you
must buy it also from Ruth theMoabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up...
Resources
Who was Jesse in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Obed in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWho were the Ephrathites? | GotQuestions.orgMoabitess: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
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