R
Feminine
Greek Bible
Meaning & History
Rhouth is a Greek transliteration of the Hebrew name Ruth (רוּת), used in the Greek translation of the Old Testament known as the Septuagint. The name appears in the Greek Bible as Ῥούθ (Rhouth), representing the Hebrew original character of the Book of Ruth. The name Ruth itself is traditionally derived from the Hebrew word reʿuṯ (רְעוּת), meaning "female friend" or "companion." As a Christian name, Ruth gained popularity after the Protestant Reformation, and in England it was sometimes associated with the archaic word ruth meaning "pity, compassion" (the root of ruthless).
Biblical Context
In the Old Testament, Ruth was a Moabite woman who chose to remain with her Israelite mother-in-law Naomi after the death of their husbands. She accompanied Naomi to Bethlehem, where she met and married Boaz, a kinsman of Naomi. Ruth became the great-grandmother of King David, as stated in the Book of Ruth (Ruth 4:17–22). Her story emphasizes loyalty, faithfulness, and the inclusion of foreigners among the people of Israel.
Variant Forms
Related names in other languages include the Swedish Rut, Slovak Rút, English Ruthie, Estonian Rutt, and Finnish Ruut. The Greek form Rhouth is only rarely used outside of biblical contexts, but it is a direct historical link to the Septuagint tradition.
- Meaning: "female friend"
- Origin: Greek biblical (transliterated from Hebrew)
- Type: First name
- Usage regions: Greek Bible, early Christianity