Boaz (Ruth 2:1–7; Ruth 2:8–16; Ruth 2:17–23; Ruth 3:1–9; Ruth 3:10–18; Ruth 4:1–8; Ruth 4:9–12; Ruth 4:13–17; Ruth 4:21–22; 1 Chronicles 2:11–12; Matthew 1:5; Luke 3:32)

Mighty Man of Wealth, Kinsman of Elimelech

A mighty man of wealth of Beth-lehem, of the family of Elimelech, in whose field Ruth the Moabitess gleaned; he bade her stay, answered her request at the threshing-floor, bought Elimelech's land and purchased Ruth to be his wife before the elders at the gate, and became the father of Obed, the grandfather of Jesse.

The book of Ruth opens “in the days when the judges judged” (Ruth 1:1). Boaz is first named after Naomi and Ruth have come back to Beth-lehem: “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). Ruth the Moabitess went to glean, and “her hap was to light on the portion of the field belonging unto Boaz” (Ruth 2:3). He came from Beth-lehem greeting his reapers, “Jehovah be with you” (Ruth 2:4), asked whose damsel she was, bade her abide by his maidens, bade her eat at meal-time, and charged his young men to let her glean among the sheaves (Ruth 2:5-16). Naomi told Ruth, “The man is nigh of kin unto us, one of our near kinsmen” (Ruth 2:20).

At Naomi’s instruction Ruth went down to the threshing-floor. At midnight Boaz “was afraid, and turned himself; and, behold, a woman lay at his feet” (Ruth 3:8). Ruth asked him to spread his skirt over her, “for thou art a near kinsman” (Ruth 3:9). He blessed her, told her there was a kinsman nearer than he, and promised that if that man would not do the kinsman’s part, he would, “as Jehovah liveth” (Ruth 3:13). At the gate Boaz sat down, called the nearer kinsman and ten of the elders, and set the matter before them; the nearer kinsman declined, and Boaz said, “Ye are witnesses this day” (Ruth 4:9).

“So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife; and he went in unto her, and Jehovah gave her conception, and she bare a son” (Ruth 4:13). The women named the child Obed, “the father of Jesse, the father of David” (Ruth 4:17). The book closes with the generations of Perez, in which “Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed” (Ruth 4:21). First Chronicles gives the same line, and Matthew’s genealogy reads “Salmon begat Boaz of Rahab; and Boaz begat Obed of Ruth” (Matthew 1:5). Luke’s list has “the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon” (Luke 3:32). Scripture does not record his age or his death.

Strengths

• Kindness to the living and to the dead
• Took knowledge of a foreigner
• Protection of Ruth
• Honor shown to a worthy woman
• Faithfulness to the kinsman’s part
• Public dealing at the gate

Themes

• Kinsman-redeemer
• Gleaning and provision
• A foreigner received
• Redemption at the gate
• The line of David

Ruth gleans in the field of Boaz (Ruth 2:1–7)

Naomi’s kinsman, a mighty man of wealth, is named Boaz; Ruth’s hap is to light on his portion of the field, and he comes from Beth-lehem, greets the reapers, and asks whose damsel she is.

Bids Ruth stay, feeds her, and charges his young men (Ruth 2:8–16)

Boaz tells Ruth to abide by his maidens, bids her eat at meal-time, and commands his young men to let her glean among the sheaves and not reproach her.

Bids Ruth stay, feeds her, and charges his young men

“Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither pass from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens” (Ruth 2:8). Ruth fell on her face and asked, “Why have I found favor in thy sight, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a foreigner?” (Ruth 2:10).

Boaz answered, “It hath fully been showed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law since the death of thy husband” (Ruth 2:11), and said, “Jehovah recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of Jehovah, the God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to take refuge” (Ruth 2:12).

“And at meal-time Boaz said unto her, Come hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers, and they reached her parched grain, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left thereof” (Ruth 2:14). When she rose to glean, “Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not” (Ruth 2:15).

Naomi learns the name and the kinship (Ruth 2:17–23)

Ruth brings home the barley and says the man’s name is Boaz; Naomi says he is one of their near kinsmen, and Ruth keeps fast by his maidens to the end of harvest.

Ruth comes to the threshing-floor at night (Ruth 3:1–9)

At Naomi’s word Ruth goes down to the threshing-floor and uncovers Boaz’s feet; at midnight he finds a woman at his feet, and she asks him to spread his skirt over her as a near kinsman.

Blesses Ruth, names the nearer kinsman, and sends her home (Ruth 3:10–18)

Boaz blesses Ruth, says there is a kinsman nearer than he who may do the kinsman’s part, promises, as the LORD liveth, to do it himself if that man will not, and sends her home with six measures of barley.

Blesses Ruth, names the nearer kinsman, and sends her home

“Blessed be thou of Jehovah, my daughter: thou hast showed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich” (Ruth 3:10). He said, “fear not; I will do to thee all that thou sayest; for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a worthy woman” (Ruth 3:11).

“And now it is true that I am a near kinsman; howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I” (Ruth 3:12). He continued, “if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as Jehovah liveth: lie down until the morning” (Ruth 3:13).

Ruth lay at his feet until the morning and rose before one could discern another, “For he said, Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing-floor” (Ruth 3:14). “He measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her; and he went into the city” (Ruth 3:15). Naomi said, “the man will not rest, until he have finished the thing this day” (Ruth 3:18).

At the gate, the nearer kinsman declines (Ruth 4:1–8)

Boaz sits at the gate and calls the nearer kinsman and ten elders; the kinsman agrees to redeem Elimelech’s land, then declines when Ruth is named, and draws off his shoe.

At the gate, the nearer kinsman declines

“Now Boaz went up to the gate, and sat him down there” (Ruth 4:1). When the near kinsman came by, Boaz bade him sit, and he “took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down” (Ruth 4:2).

Boaz told of the parcel of land that was Elimelech’s: “If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know; for there is none to redeem it besides thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it” (Ruth 4:4). Then said Boaz, “What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance” (Ruth 4:5).

The near kinsman said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: take thou my right of redemption on thee” (Ruth 4:6). The text explains the custom: “a man drew off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbor; and this was the manner of attestation in Israel” (Ruth 4:7). “So the near kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thyself. And he drew off his shoe” (Ruth 4:8).

Declares the purchase before the witnesses (Ruth 4:9–12)

Boaz calls the elders and all the people to witness that he has bought what was Elimelech’s, Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, and has purchased Ruth the Moabitess to be his wife; the people and elders bless the marriage.

Takes Ruth as his wife; Obed is born (Ruth 4:13–17)

Boaz takes Ruth, the LORD gives her conception, and she bears a son; the women bless Naomi and name the child Obed.

Takes Ruth as his wife; Obed is born

“So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife; and he went in unto her, and Jehovah gave her conception, and she bare a son” (Ruth 4:13).

“And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be Jehovah, who hath not left thee this day without a near kinsman; and let his name be famous in Israel” (Ruth 4:14). Of the child they said, “he shall be unto thee a restorer of life, and a nourisher of thine old age” (Ruth 4:15).

“And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it. And the women her neighbors gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David” (Ruth 4:16-17).

Ruth (Ruth 2:8–12; Ruth 3:9–11; Ruth 4:10; Ruth 4:13)

The Moabitess who gleaned in his field and asked him to spread his skirt over her; Boaz purchased her to be his wife.

Naomi (Ruth 2:1; Ruth 2:20; Ruth 4:9; Ruth 4:14–17)

A kinsman of her husband’s whom she called one of their near kinsmen; he bought all that was Elimelech’s of her hand.

Obed (Ruth 4:13–17; Ruth 4:21)

The son born to Boaz and Ruth, named by the women and called the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Salmon (Ruth 4:20–21; 1 Chronicles 2:11; Matthew 1:5; Luke 3:32)

His father: “Salmon begat Boaz” (Ruth 4:21); First Chronicles spells the name Salma.

Rahab (Matthew 1:3; Matthew 1:5)

Named as his mother in Matthew’s genealogy, “Salmon begat Boaz of Rahab,” (Matthew 1:5) as Tamar is named for Perez and Zerah.

David (Ruth 4:17; Ruth 4:21–22)

The generations that close the book of Ruth run from Boaz to Obed, Jesse, and David.

The nearer kinsman (Ruth 3:12–13; Ruth 4:1–8)

Unnamed, a kinsman of Elimelech nearer than Boaz; Boaz offered him the redemption first, and he agreed, then declined lest he mar his own inheritance.

The elders and the people at the gate (Ruth 4:2; Ruth 4:9–11)

Ten elders sat to hear the matter, and the elders and people said, “We are witnesses.” (Ruth 4:11)

Major sections

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

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