Boaz

Boaz is introduced in the opening verses of Ruth as a member of the clan of Judah who had “great wealth” and owned fields near the town of Bethlehem (Ruth 2:1‑2). He is identified as a relative of Naomi’s deceased husband Elimelech, placing him within the extended family network that would later be crucial for the levirate and kinsman‑redeemer customs of Israel.

The narrative records Boaz’s first direct interaction with Ruth when he learns that she, a Moabite widow, has come to glean in his fields (Ruth 2:8‑10). He commands his foreman, “Let her glean … and do not rebuke her,” and further blesses her work, saying, “May the LORD reward your work and a full recompense be given you” (Ruth 2:11‑13). These verses portray Boaz as a man of generosity who observes the provision for the poor mandated in the law.

Boaz’s role as a kinsman‑redeemer is foregrounded in the evening scene at the threshing floor, where Naomi instructs Ruth to approach him (Ruth 3:9‑11). Boaz acknowledges Ruth’s request and affirms his willingness to act, yet he explains that a nearer relative has a prior claim (Ruth 3:12‑13). The subsequent legal proceeding at the city gate confirms this protocol, as Boaz presents the matter before the elders and the nearer kinsman, who declines, thereby allowing Boaz to redeem Ruth and Naomi’s land (Ruth 4:1‑3).

Following the formal redemption, Boaz takes Ruth as his wife, and they become the parents of Obed (Ruth 4:13‑17). The text notes that “Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David,” linking Boaz directly to the Davidic line. This genealogical significance is reiterated in the New Testament genealogy of Jesus, where Matthew records, “Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab; Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth” (Matthew 1:5), thereby embedding Boaz within the messianic ancestry.

Scholars often view Boaz as a typological figure of the Messiah, exemplifying the role of the kinsman‑redeemer prescribed in the Law (Leviticus 25:25). By voluntarily acquiring Ruth’s rights, providing for her, and securing her future, Boaz fulfills the redemption covenant that Christians later see fulfilled in Christ’s redemptive work for humanity.