Boaz

Life and work

Boaz appears in the book of Ruth as a 'man of standing' (Ruth 2:1) from Bethlehem in Judah, a relative of Elimelech, the deceased husband of Naomi. The story is set during the era of the judges, a period the book itself frames as chaotic, in deliberate contrast to the quiet, orderly domestic scene it goes on to portray.

When Ruth, Naomi's Moabite daughter-in-law, goes to glean leftover grain in the fields after the reapers — a provision for the poor under Israelite law (Leviticus 19:9-10) — she happens upon a field belonging to Boaz. He notices her, having already heard of her loyalty to Naomi, and instructs his workers to let her glean freely and even to pull out extra grain for her, while also warning the young men not to touch her (Ruth 2:8-9, 15-16).

Naomi recognizes Boaz as a 'guardian-redeemer' (Hebrew go'el), a close relative with the right and responsibility to marry a widow to preserve a deceased kinsman's name and property line, and to redeem family land that had to be sold. She sends Ruth to the threshing floor at night to lie at Boaz's feet, a culturally coded request for him to act as redeemer (Ruth 3:1-9).

Boaz responds with notable restraint and honor, praising Ruth for not pursuing younger men and promising to resolve the matter properly. He reveals there is a nearer kinsman with first right of redemption and says he will settle the question at the town gate the next day (Ruth 3:10-13).

At the gate, Boaz publicly presents the redemption opportunity to the nearer kinsman, who initially agrees to redeem the land but withdraws once he learns it also means marrying Ruth, since that would complicate his own estate. Boaz then formally acquires the right in front of the town elders, redeeming both the land of Elimelech and marrying Ruth (Ruth 4:1-10).

Boaz and Ruth have a son, Obed, who becomes the grandfather of David — making Boaz the great-grandfather of Israel's most celebrated king. The book closes with a genealogy tracing this line explicitly (Ruth 4:18-22), and Matthew's Gospel later carries the same line forward to Jesus.

Extra-biblical evidence

No archaeological or extra-biblical source names Boaz individually; the book of Ruth is the sole source for his life, and his historicity cannot be independently verified.

Scripture references

• Ruth 2:1-4:22 — Full account of Boaz's marriage to Ruth and redemption of Elimelech's land
• Matthew 1:5 — Listed in Jesus's genealogy as the son of Rahab and father of Obed

Further reading

• Encyclopaedia Britannica: Boaz

Reflect

Boaz noticed a foreign widow gleaning at the field's edge and went out of his way for her — who is at the edge of your field?