Ruth is described as belonging to which nation in the Ruth narrative?

• A. Israelite
• B. Canaanite
• C. Egyptian
• D. Moabite

Answer: (D)

Ruth is identified by her origin as a Moabite, a foreigner from the nation of Moab. This label appears in the narrative when she is described as the Moabite who came back with Naomi, highlighting her background before she fully adopts Naomi’s people. Yet she chooses to align herself with Israelite life—pledging loyalty to Naomi and her God—showing how a foreign-born woman becomes part of the Israelite story. This Moabite identity matters for the plot, because it sets up the theme of inclusion: Ruth, a Gentile, becomes Boaz’s wife and the great-grandmother of David, illustrating how God works through people of different national backgrounds. The other options don’t fit because she is not described as Israelite, Canaanite, or Egyptian in the Ruth narrative, but specifically as a Moabite.