Boaz בֹּ֫עַז
Kinsman-redeemer who married Ruth, ancestor of David and Jesus
Who is Boaz in the Bible?
Boaz was a wealthy landowner from Bethlehem who played a crucial role in the story of Ruth (Ruth 2-4). As a relative of Naomi's deceased husband, Boaz acted as a kinsman-redeemer when he married Ruth, a Moabite widow, after she gleaned grain in his fields and he recognized her loyalty and character (Ruth 2-3). Through their marriage, Boaz and Ruth became the parents of Obed, who fathered Jesse and grandfather of King David (Ruth 4:13-17). His significance extends beyond his time period, as he appears in the genealogy leading to Jesus Christ (Luke 3:32), making him an important figure in God's plan of redemption and a model of faithful obedience to the law of kinsman-redemption.
Biography
Boaz was a wealthy man from Bethlehem who played a significant role in the story of Ruth (Ruth 2-4). He was a relative of Naomi's deceased husband, Elimelech, and acted as a kinsman-redeemer for Ruth, a Moabite widow. When Ruth gleaned grain in Boaz's field, he showed her kindness and protection, recognizing her loyalty to Naomi (Ruth 2). Later, Naomi instructed Ruth to approach Boaz at night and request that he fulfill his role as a kinsman-redeemer (Ruth 3). Boaz agreed to marry Ruth, after ensuring that a closer relative did not wish to claim this right (Rut.4.1-12). Their marriage led to the birth of Obed, who became the grandfather of King David (Rut.4.13-17). Boaz is also mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus Christ (Matt. Rut.1.5; Luk.3.32), highlighting his importance in God's plan of redemption. Additionally, Boaz is associated with one of the two bronze pillars in Solomon's temple, which was named after him (1Ki.7.21; 1 Chr. 1Ki.2.11-12). His story demonstrates the importance of integrity, kindness, and faithfulness in fulfilling one's duties and God's purposes.
Family
Parents
In Scripture
5 biblical books ; 2 with study contentRuth 5 verses
- Ruth 2:1
"Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side, a prominent man of noble character from the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz."
- Ruth 2:3
"So Ruth departed and went out into the field and gleaned after the harvesters. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelech."
- Ruth 2:4
"Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and said to the harvesters, “The LORD be with you.” “The LORD bless you,” they replied."
- Ruth 2:5
"And Boaz asked the foreman of his harvesters, “Whose young woman is this?”"
- Ruth 2:8
"Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Do not go and glean in another field, and do not go away from this place, but stay here close to my servant girls."
1 Kings 1 verse
- 1 Kings 7:21
"Thus he set up the pillars at the portico of the temple. The pillar to the south he named Jachin, and the pillar to the north he named Boaz."
1 Chronicles 2 verses
- 1 Chronicles 2:11
"Nahshon was the father of Salmon, and Salmon was the father of Boaz."
- 1 Chronicles 2:12
"Boaz was the father of Obed, and Obed was the father of Jesse."
Matthew 1 verse
- Matthew 1:5
"Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse,"
Study Matthew →
Luke 1 verse
- Luke 3:32
"the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon,"
Study Luke →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | בֹּ֫עַז |
| Greek | Greek | Βοόζ |
Boaz
(1) A resident of Bethlehem and kinsman of Elimelech, Naomi's husband. In Ru 2:1 he is described as a gibbor chayil, a phrase which can mean either "a mighty man of valor" or else "a man of position and wealth." The latter is probably the sense in which the phrase is applied to Boaz (compare 1Sa 9:1). He had fields outside the town, and to them Ru went to glean. Boaz noticed her and extended special kindness and protection to her, bidding her remain with his female workers, and charging the men not to illtreat her, and also giving her of the reapers' food at mealtime. Boaz awoke one night and found Ru lying at his feet. He praised her virtue, and promised to take charge of her if her dead husband's next-of-kin failed to do so. He laid her case before the next-of-kin, and finally redeemed the family property himself and bought as well the right to take Ru in marriage. The son of Boaz and Ru was Obed, father of Jesse, and grandfather of David. 1Ch 2:11,12 makes Boaz a descendant of Hezron, and so probably a chief of the Hezronite clan in Bethlehem. Jewish tradition identifies Boaz with Ibzan (Jud 12:8-10).
Boaz "is set before us as a model of piety, generosity and chastity" (H. P. Smith, Old Testament History, 398). He found virtue and rewarded it. HPM, sections 501-8, gives a picture of the life of "a well-to-do landed proprietor of central Palestine," much of which could aptly be taken as a description of Boaz.
(2) The name of one of the two bronze pillars erected in front of Solomon's temple, the other being Jachin (1Ki 7:21; 2Ch 3:17).
See JACHIN AND BOAZ; TEMPLE.
David Francis Roberts
bok'-as (Bokkas): A priest in the line of Ezra (1 Esdras 8:2) called Bukki in Ezr 7:4 and Borith in 2 Esdras 1:2.
bo'-ke-roo (bokheru): A