📖 Biblical Definition
Boaz was a wealthy landowner of Bethlehem during the period of the judges, and a kinsman of Naomi’s deceased husband Elimelech. When Ruth the Moabitess gleaned in his field, he treated her with extraordinary kindness — instructing his reapers to leave handfuls of purpose, and inviting her to eat at his table (Ruth 2). At Naomi’s direction Ruth pressed the claim at the threshing-floor (ch. 3), and Boaz at the city gate redeemed Elimelech’s land and married Ruth as goel (kinsman-redeemer, ch. 4). Their son Obed became the grandfather of King David. Boaz stands in Christ’s royal genealogy (Matthew 1:5) — and is one of Scripture’s clearest typological pictures of the greater Kinsman-Redeemer who buys back the Gentile bride.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Bethlehem landowner; kinsman-redeemer of Ruth; Christ-ancestor.
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Wealthy landowner of Bethlehem during the late judges period. Kinsman of Naomi's deceased husband Elimelech. Showed kindness to Ruth the Moabitess gleaning in his field, ordering his reapers to leave extra sheaves for her. Eventually pursued the kinsman-redeemer role: at the city gate he assumed the right after the unnamed nearer kinsman declined, both buying back Elimelech's land and marrying Ruth. Their son Obed was grandfather of David and so ancestor of Christ. The Boaz-Ruth narrative is a complete picture of goel-redemption.
📖 Key Scripture
Ruth 2:14 — "And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar."
Ruth 4:9-10 — "Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's... Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife."
Matthew 1:5 — "And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Sometimes romanticized as Hallmark love-story; the kinsman-redeemer legal structure and its Christ-pointing typology gets thinned.
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The Boaz-Ruth story is a romance, but it is also a careful exposition of the goel-redeemer law. The legal scene at the gate (Ruth 4) is theological essay through narrative: only one able and willing can redeem. The unnamed kinsman couldn't risk his inheritance; Boaz could. Christ alone could risk infinitely.
Recover the legal-typological depth: every detail of the redemption preaches Christ. The drama is real; the law is real; the Christ-foreshadowing is real.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew Boaz.
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['Hebrew', 'H1162', 'Boaz', 'Boaz']
Usage
"Boaz redeemed Ruth; Christ redeems the bride."
"Both able and willing — the goel's two requirements."
"Their son Obed led to David and to Christ."