The Parallel Structures of Ruth 1 & 4

In our Wednesday evening Bible study group we just completed the Book of Ruth. As we were going to be finishing up ch. 4 the other night, I threw together this bare bones outline to show the parallel structures of Ruth 1 & 4. Ruth 2 & 3 also parallel one another, the result being that the book functions somewhat chiastically. In chapters 1 and 4, the Prologue in ch. 1 (I.) parallels the Epilogue in ch. 4 (III.). The Negotiation in ch. 1 (II.) parallels the Negotiation in ch. 4 (I.). And the Rest in ch. 1 (III.) parallels the Rest in ch. 4 (II.). The reader should also take note of the preponderance of "threes" in the outlines. This is something inherent to the text, not simply an arbitrary choice I made in outlining it. I would suggest also that this is a manifestation of the Trinitarian foundation of the Covenant, which plays a central role in the Book of Ruth, as in all of Scripture, and all of life, for that matter. But that is a discussion for another occasion. Lack of time has prevented me from doing either a basic outline of chs. 2 & 3, or an outline of the whole book. For now, at least, I thought I would post what I had.

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Ruth 1 - Structure


I.  Prologue of the Book of Ruth - vs. 1-5


II.  Naomi "arose" - Negotiating a relationship on the way back to Bethlehem

 A.  Naomi's First Speech - vs. 8-9a

  A'.  Ruth and Orpah's verbal and nonverbal response - vs. 9b-10

 B.  Naomi's Second Speech - vs. 11-13

  B'.  Ruth and Orpah's nonverbal responses - vs. 14

 C.  Naomi's Third Speech - vs. 15

  C'. Ruth's verbal response - vs. 16-18


III.  Rest in the Land

 A.  Naomi and Ruth arrive in the land - vs. 19a

 B.  Women address Naomi - vs. 19b

 C.  Naomi renames herself - vs. 20-21



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Ruth 4 - Structure


I.  Boaz "had gone up"- Negotiating a relationship at the gate of Bethlehem

 A.  Boaz's First Speech - vs. 3-4a

  A'.  Redeemer's verbal response - vs. 4b

 B.  Boaz's Second Speech - vs. 5

  B'.  Redeemer's verbal and nonverbal responses - vs. 6-8

 C.  Boaz's Third Speech - vs. 9-10

  C'.  Elders' and People's verbal response - vs. 11-12


II.  Rest in the Land

 A.  Boaz and Ruth "arrive" in the land - vs. 13

 B.  Women address Naomi - vs. 14-16

 C.  Women name Obed - vs. 17


III. Epilogue of the Book of Ruth - vs. 18-22