Summary
Robert L. Hubbard Jr.’s Ruth in the NICOT series is a beautifully crafted, academically responsible, and pastorally sensitive exposition of this cherished Old Testament book. We find it a commentary that combines rigorous linguistic work with warm theological insight, helping readers appreciate the narrative artistry and covenant theology that shape the story of Ruth. Hubbard writes from a broadly evangelical standpoint, offering a faithful and engaging treatment that serves pastors, teachers, and thoughtful Christians alike.
The commentary highlights the literary sophistication of Ruth while situating it firmly within the larger redemptive storyline. Hubbard’s attention to structure, character development, and the book’s theological themes gives readers a rich understanding of how God’s providence and kindness are woven through the narrative.
Why Should I Own This Commentary?
Hubbard excels at showing how Ruth is far more than a simple love story. He demonstrates its theological depth—its portrayal of loyal love, covenant faithfulness, and the surprising grace of God reaching into the margins of Israel’s life. His exposition helps preachers appreciate how each scene contributes to the book’s movement from emptiness to fullness.
The commentary is especially strong in its analysis of Hebrew narrative technique. Hubbard’s careful work on the text brings clarity to key words, literary motifs, and structural features that shape the book’s impact. Yet he never loses sight of the pastoral importance of the story: the hope it offers to the suffering, the dignity it gives to the overlooked, and the assurance it provides of God’s steadfast commitment to His people.
Hubbard’s engagement with scholarship is balanced and discerning. He interacts with alternative views without overwhelming the reader or distracting from the message of the book. Pastors will benefit from his clear explanations, thoughtful thematic summaries, and sensitivity to the theological richness of Ruth.
Closing Recommendation
We strongly commend Hubbard’s volume as one of the finest evangelical treatments of Ruth available. It offers depth for the preacher, clarity for the student, and warmth for any believer seeking to understand God’s redeeming grace in the everyday details of life.
For those preparing to preach or study Ruth, this commentary provides a trustworthy and illuminating guide—rich, careful, and consistently edifying.
Robert L. Hubbard
Robert L. Hubbard Jr. is an American evangelical Old Testament scholar, active in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, with a broadly Reformed theological orientation.
Hubbard’s main contribution lies in his commentaries on narrative and prophetic books, where he combines literary sensitivity, exegetical care, and awareness of theological themes. His writing often highlights narrative flow, characterisation, and the unfolding of covenant history, all in service of the text’s message for God’s people today. As a teacher and commentator, he seeks to bridge the gap between academic study and pulpit proclamation.
He is appreciated for clarity, balanced engagement with scholarship, and a steady confidence in the reliability and relevance of the Old Testament. Pastors find his volumes especially helpful for understanding structure and movement within a book, which in turn supports series planning and sermon preparation.
Notable works include his commentaries on Ruth and other Old Testament books in well-regarded evangelical series.