Who Was Boaz in the Bible? The Guardian-Redeemer Who Married Ruth

Boaz was a respected landowner in Bethlehem during the time of the judges and a relative of Naomi's late husband, Elimelek (Ruth 1:1; 2:1). He showed kindness to Ruth, a Moabite widow gleaning in his fields, and later acted as guardian-redeemer by buying Elimelek's land and marrying Ruth (Ruth 4:9-10). Their son Obed was the grandfather of King David, and Boaz is listed in the genealogy of Jesus (Ruth 4:17; Matthew 1:5). His story is told in Ruth 2-4.

Older English translations such as the King James Version use the word "kinsman" for his role. The NIV uses "guardian-redeemer."

Quick Facts About Boaz

Fact	Details
Name meaning	Uncertain; often explained as "in him is strength"
Testament	Old Testament, with New Testament genealogies
Key books	Ruth 2-4; also 1 Chronicles 2:11-12, Matthew 1:5, Luke 3:32
Time period	Period of the judges, roughly the 12th or 11th century BC (traditional dating)
Family	Son of Salmon; husband of Ruth; father of Obed; great-grandfather of David
Known for	His kindness to Ruth and his role as guardian-redeemer

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The Background: Naomi and Ruth

During a famine in the days of the judges, a man named Elimelek left Bethlehem with his wife Naomi and their two sons, Mahlon and Kilion, and went to live in Moab (Ruth 1:1-2). Elimelek died there. His sons married Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth, and about ten years later both sons died (Ruth 1:3-5).

Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem. Ruth refused to leave her and promised that Naomi's people would be her people and Naomi's God her God (Ruth 1:16-17). They arrived in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning (Ruth 1:22).

Who Was Boaz in the Bible? A Man of Standing

The book introduces Boaz as a relative on Naomi's husband's side, a man of standing from the clan of Elimelek (Ruth 2:1). Ruth went out to glean leftover grain behind the harvesters, and she happened to come to the part of the field that belonged to Boaz (Ruth 2:2-3).

The Law of Moses told landowners not to reap to the very edges of their fields or gather the gleanings, but to leave them for the poor and the foreigner (Leviticus 19:9-10; Deuteronomy 24:19). Ruth was both.

Boaz Notices Ruth

Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted his harvesters with a blessing in the LORD's name, and they blessed him in return (Ruth 2:4). He asked his foreman about the young woman, and the foreman told him she was the Moabite who had come back with Naomi and had worked steadily since morning (Ruth 2:5-7).

Boaz told Ruth to stay in his field and work alongside his women. He had told his men not to lay a hand on her, and she could drink from the water jars whenever she was thirsty (Ruth 2:8-9). Ruth bowed and asked why he was so kind to a foreigner (Ruth 2:10). Boaz said he had heard everything she had done for her mother-in-law, including leaving her father, mother and homeland (Ruth 2:11). Then he blessed her:

"May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge." (Ruth 2:12)

Extra Grain

At mealtime Boaz invited Ruth to eat bread with his workers and offered her roasted grain. She ate all she wanted and had some left over (Ruth 2:14). He told his men to let her glean among the sheaves and even to pull out stalks from the bundles for her (Ruth 2:15-16). By evening she had about an ephah of barley (Ruth 2:17).

When Naomi heard the man's name, she blessed him and told Ruth that Boaz was a close relative and one of their guardian-redeemers (Ruth 2:19-20). Ruth gleaned in his fields until the barley and wheat harvests were finished (Ruth 2:23).

What Is a Guardian-Redeemer?

A guardian-redeemer was a close relative with a duty to help family members in need. The Law of Moses said that if an Israelite became poor and sold land, his nearest relative was to come and redeem what he had sold (Leviticus 25:25). The Law also provided for a brother to marry his dead brother's widow so that the dead man's name would not be blotted out of Israel (Deuteronomy 25:5-6).

Boaz was not Mahlon's brother, but his role in Ruth 4 combined both ideas: redeeming Elimelek's land and marrying Mahlon's widow to maintain the name of the dead with his property (Ruth 4:5, 4:10).

The Night at the Threshing Floor

Naomi wanted to find a secure home for Ruth. She told her that Boaz would be winnowing barley at the threshing floor that night, and instructed her to wash, put on perfume, and lie down at his feet after he had eaten (Ruth 3:1-4). Ruth did as Naomi said (Ruth 3:6-7).

In the middle of the night Boaz was startled to find a woman lying at his feet. When he asked who she was, she answered:

"'I am your servant Ruth,' she said. 'Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family.'" (Ruth 3:9)

Boaz blessed her and said this kindness was greater than her earlier kindness, because she had not gone after younger men, rich or poor (Ruth 3:10). He told her not to be afraid, because everyone in town knew she was a woman of noble character (Ruth 3:11).

There was a problem. Another relative was more closely related than Boaz (Ruth 3:12). Boaz promised that if that man would not redeem her, he would do it himself, as surely as the LORD lived (Ruth 3:13). Ruth left before dawn, before anyone could be recognized, and Boaz sent her home with six measures of barley (Ruth 3:14-15). Naomi said he would not rest until the matter was settled that day (Ruth 3:18).

Boaz at the Town Gate

Boaz went to the town gate and sat down. When the closer relative came by, Boaz called him over and gathered ten elders as witnesses (Ruth 4:1-2). He told the man that Naomi was selling Elimelek's land. The man said he would redeem it (Ruth 4:3-4).

Boaz then explained that whoever bought the land would also acquire Ruth, to maintain the name of the dead with his property (Ruth 4:5). The relative said he could not redeem it because he might endanger his own estate, and he told Boaz to redeem it instead (Ruth 4:6). In keeping with the custom of that time, he took off his sandal to make the transfer final (Ruth 4:7-8).

Boaz declared before the elders and all the people that he had bought everything belonging to Elimelek, Kilion and Mahlon, and had acquired Ruth as his wife (Ruth 4:9-10). The elders blessed the marriage, praying that Ruth would be like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the family of Israel, and that his family would be like that of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah (Ruth 4:11-12).

Obed and the Line of David

Boaz married Ruth, and the LORD enabled her to conceive and she gave birth to a son (Ruth 4:13). The women of Bethlehem praised the LORD for not leaving Naomi without a guardian-redeemer, and said Ruth was better to her than seven sons (Ruth 4:14-15). They named the child Obed. He became the father of Jesse, the father of David (Ruth 4:17).

The book ends with a genealogy from Perez to David, which lists Boaz as the son of Salmon and the father of Obed (Ruth 4:18-22).

Boaz in the New Testament

The Gospel of Matthew names Boaz in the genealogy of Jesus and adds two details about the women in his family. It says Boaz's mother was Rahab and that Obed's mother was Ruth (Matthew 1:5). Luke's genealogy also includes Boaz (Luke 3:32).

The Pillar Named Boaz

When Solomon built the temple, he set up two bronze pillars at the portico. The one to the south was named Jakin and the one to the north was named Boaz (1 Kings 7:21; 2 Chronicles 3:17). The Bible does not explain why the pillar was given this name.

Key Lessons From Boaz's Life

• Faith shows in everyday work. Boaz greeted his workers in the LORD's name and kept God's gleaning laws generously (Ruth 2:4, 2:15-16).
• Kindness goes beyond the minimum. He provided water, food, protection and extra grain for a foreign widow (Ruth 2:8-16).
• Integrity follows proper process. Boaz gave the closer relative his rightful opportunity before acting (Ruth 3:12-13; 4:1-6).
• God works through ordinary events. As it turned out, Ruth gleaned in Boaz's field, and from that marriage came the line of David (Ruth 2:3; 4:17).

Where Boaz Appears in the Bible

• Ruth 2:1-4:22
• 1 Chronicles 2:11-12
• Matthew 1:5
• Luke 3:32

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Boaz in the Bible?

Boaz was a landowner in Bethlehem and a relative of Naomi's husband Elimelek (Ruth 2:1). He married Ruth the Moabite and became the great-grandfather of King David (Ruth 4:13-17).

What is a kinsman-redeemer?

A kinsman-redeemer, called a guardian-redeemer in the NIV, was a close relative responsible for buying back family land and helping relatives in need (Leviticus 25:25). Boaz filled this role for Naomi and Ruth (Ruth 4:9-10).

Who was Boaz's mother?

Matthew 1:5 says Boaz was the son of Salmon and Rahab. The book of Ruth names his father, Salmon, but does not name his mother (Ruth 4:21).

Why did the other relative refuse to redeem Ruth?

He said he could not redeem the land because he might endanger his own estate (Ruth 4:6). Buying it would also require him to marry Ruth and maintain the name of her dead husband (Ruth 4:5).

How was Boaz related to King David?

Boaz was David's great-grandfather. Boaz was the father of Obed, Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of David (Ruth 4:21-22).