Boaz
Israelite / Jew Hebrew, tribe of Judah (Bethlehem) · Conquest & Judges · Old Testament
- Also called
- Booz
- Name means
- In him is strength (commonly given)
- Role
- Kinsman-redeemer who married Ruth
- When
- The days of the judges
What they did
A mighty man of wealth who showed kindness to Ruth as she gleaned. At the gate he redeemed Elimelech's land and took Ruth as his wife.
Why it matters: the purpose of their role
As kinsman-redeemer he is a picture of Christ, who redeems and receives those from the nations. He is an ancestor of David and of Jesus.
The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust. Ruth 2:12 (KJV)
Bible references
And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz. Ruth 2:1 (KJV)
The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust. Ruth 2:12 (KJV)
And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi. Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day. Ruth 4:9-10 (KJV)
So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son. Ruth 4:13 (KJV)
And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; Matthew 1:5 (KJV)
Family
- Father
- Salmon
- Mother
- Rahab
- Spouse(s)
- Ruth
- Children
- Obed
A kinsman of Elimelech (Ruth 2:1); Matthew 1:5 names his parents.