Free Bible lesson for kids · The Judges
Ruth and Naomi
When there was a famine, Naomi’s family went to live in Moab, and there her husband and her two sons died. Naomi decided to go home to Bethlehem and told her daughters-in-law to return to their own mothers’ houses. Orpah kissed her goodbye, but Ruth clave unto her and said, “Whither thou goest, I will go… thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God,” and the two came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.
- Bible passage
- Ruth 1:1–22
- Big idea
- Real love stays loyal, and Ruth chose to follow Naomi’s God.
- Memory verse
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 (KJV)- Ages
- Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
- Time
- About 45 minutes
- Included, free
- Animated story film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game
The story
When the judges ruled, there was a famine, so Elimelech, his wife Naomi and their two sons went to live in Moab (Ruth 1:1–2). Elimelech died, and his sons married Orpah and Ruth, two women of Moab (Ruth 1:3–4). Later both sons died too (Ruth 1:5). When Naomi heard that the LORD had given His people bread again, she set out for home (Ruth 1:6–7).
Naomi told her daughters-in-law, “Go, return each to her mother’s house” (Ruth 1:8). They wept, and Orpah kissed Naomi goodbye, but Ruth clave unto her (Ruth 1:14). Ruth said she would go wherever Naomi went: “thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God” (Ruth 1:16). So the two of them came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest (Ruth 1:19, 22). Naomi was sad and said, “Call me not Naomi, call me Mara” (Ruth 1:20).
Read it in the Bible: Ruth 1:1–22 (KJV)
1Now 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. 2And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there. 3And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. 4And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. 5And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband. 6Then 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. 7Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah. 8And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother’s house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. 9The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept. 10And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people. 11And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 12Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; 13Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me. 14And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. 15And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. 16And 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: 17Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. 18When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her. 19So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi? 20And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. 21I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me? 22So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.
Questions to ask
Why did Naomi’s family go to Moab?
There was a famine in the land (Ruth 1:1).
What did Orpah do, and what did Ruth do?
Orpah kissed Naomi and went back, but Ruth clave unto her (Ruth 1:14–15).
What did Ruth promise Naomi?
“Whither thou goest, I will go… thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God” (Ruth 1:16).
What this story teaches
- God cares for His people and gives them bread (Ruth 1:6).
- God’s people show loyal love, even in hard times (Ruth 1:16–17).
- Anyone from any nation can choose to trust the true God (Ruth 1:16).
- Following the true God means turning away from false gods (Ruth 1:15–16).
Jesus Welcomes All Who Come
Ruth, a woman from Moab, came to trust Israel’s God. Jesus welcomes everyone who comes to Him and will never send them away.
John 6:37
A 45-minute lesson plan
| 5 min | Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Ask God to help us be loyal, loving friends, and thank Him that He is our God. |
|---|---|
| 10 min | The story. Play the story film: each verse appears on screen in the King James Version while the scene plays. Pause to ask what happens next. |
| 10 min | Talk about it. Ask the three questions below. Then ask: “Real love stays loyal, and Ruth chose to follow Naomi’s God.” What does that mean for us? |
| 5 min | Memory verse. Say Ruth 1:16 together, covering one word at a time until the children can say it alone. |
| 10 min | Activity. Younger children color the coloring page while you retell the story; older children do the class sheet (memory-verse fill-in, word search and questions). |
| 5 min | Pray and send home. Pray together and send the sheet home so families can talk about the first question this week. |
- Preschool: keep it short and physical. Act out the story, use a simple prop, and repeat the big idea in one sentence.
- Elementary: let children find the passage in their own Bibles. Ask “who, what, where” questions first, then “why.”
- Preteens: read the verses before and after the passage, and ask how this story fits the whole story of the Bible.
Game time
For kids · game · indoors · about 10 minutes
Step in My Steps
You need: Paper footprints
- In pairs, the leader lays paper footprints across the room on a winding path.
- The partner must step in exactly those steps.
- At the end, the partner says, “Whither thou goest, I will go!” Then switch.
Ruth said to Naomi, “Whither thou goest, I will go… thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.”
For youth group · activity · indoors · about 25 minutes
Friendship Bracelets
You need: Embroidery thread, beads, tape
- Make a bracelet for a friend, family member or someone who needs to know they matter.
- While you work, talk about Ruth’s loyalty to Naomi when it would have been easier to leave.
- Give it away this week.
Ruth stayed when it was hard. Loyal love is a picture of God’s love for us.
Pray
Ask God to help us be loyal, loving friends, and thank Him that He is our God.