Lexical Summary
Boaz: Boaz
Original Word:בֹּעַז
Part of Speech:Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration:Bo`az
Pronunciation:BO-az
Phonetic Spelling:(bo'-az)
KJV: Boaz
NASB:Boaz
Word Origin:[from an unused root of uncertain meaning]
1. Boaz, the ancestor of David
2. also the name of a pillar in front of the temple
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Boaz
From an unused root of uncertain meaning; Boaz, the ancestor of David; also the name of a pillar in front of the temple -- Boaz.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom an unused word
Definition"quickness," an ancestor of David, also a pillar before the temple
NASB TranslationBoaz (24).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(
quickness ?) —
, who married RuthRuth 2:1,3,4,5,8,11,14,15,19,23;Ruth 3:2,7;Ruth 4:1 (twice in verse);Ruth 4:5;Ruth 4:8;Ruth 4:9;Ruth 4:13; alsoRuth 4:21 (twice in verse);1 Chronicles 2:11,12 ( , ).
(compare also below )1 Kings 7:21 2Chronicles 3:17; (meaning obscure; apparently reference to , compare 2Chronicles 3:17; Thes supposes name of architect or donor; Ew perhaps sons of Solomon, etc.; read possiblyin strength, 2Chronicles 3:17 ; Th thinks a sentence, one word being engraved on each pillar,he (God)establisheth in strength; against him, however, Ke Be; Öttli thinks an exclamation,in strength ! expressing satisfaction of architect; Klo proposes for , (compare B1 Kings 7:21 )).
Topical Lexicon
Historical SettingBoaz appears exclusively in the days “when the judges ruled” (Ruth 1:1), a turbulent era in which covenant faithfulness was rare. His account unfolds in Bethlehem of Judah, anchoring the narrative of Ruth at the heart of Israel’s ancestral homeland.
Status and Reputation
Ruth 2:1 introduces him as “a man of great wealth”, a phrase that also conveys valor and noble standing. Boaz’s first recorded words reveal spiritual depth: “The LORD be with you” (Ruth 2:4). His servants’ immediate response, “The LORD bless you,” indicates mutual respect and a God‐centered workplace.
Kinsman-Redeemer
Under Mosaic law the nearest male relative could redeem property or raise an heir for a deceased kinsman (Leviticus 25;Deuteronomy 25). Boaz fulfills both aspects:
• He preserves Elimelech’s land (Ruth 4:9).
• He marries Ruth “to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance” (Ruth 4:10).
His willingness contrasts sharply with the closer relative who relinquishes the right (Ruth 4:6–8), highlighting Boaz’s self-sacrificial character.
Provision and Protection
Boaz safeguards Ruth’s dignity while she gleans, commanding his men, “Do not rebuke her” (Ruth 2:15). He ensures abundant provision and personal refreshment (Ruth 2:14–16). These acts embody covenant kindness (ḥesed), reflecting the LORD’s own care for the vulnerable.
Marriage to Ruth
At the threshing floor Boaz perceives Ruth’s proposal as a call to redeem, not immorality (Ruth 3:9–13). His conduct in the gate before witnesses (Ruth 4:1–12) models transparency and legal integrity. When “the LORD enabled her to conceive” (Ruth 4:13), their union becomes the conduit of redemptive history.
Genealogical Legacy
Boaz fathers Obed, grandfather of David (Ruth 4:21–22;1 Chronicles 2:11–12).Matthew 1:5 records the same line, placing Boaz in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. Thus the kindness of one man in Bethlehem foreshadows the incarnation of the Redeemer born in the same town.
Typological Significance
1. Redeemer: By paying the price and taking Ruth as his bride, Boaz prefigures Christ, “who gave Himself as a ransom for all” (1 Timothy 2:6).
2. Inclusion of Gentiles: Ruth’s acceptance anticipates the gospel call to the nations (Ephesians 2:12–13).
3. Restoration: Naomi moves from emptiness to fullness through Boaz’s actions, paralleling the believer’s restoration in Christ.
Boaz and the Temple Pillar
The name reappears in Solomon’s Temple: “He set up the pillars... and named the left pillar Boaz” (1 Kings 7:21;2 Chronicles 3:17). As the pillar symbolized strength, it memorialized the steadfast faith of Boaz and pointed worshipers to the LORD as the source of enduring support.
Ministerial Applications
• Godly Leadership: Boaz shows how material influence can be used to bless others and uphold righteousness.
• Moral Integrity: He maintains purity in private (threshing floor) and public (city gate).
• Compassionate Action: Boaz’s proactive care for the poor and foreigner informs Christian stewardship and hospitality.
• Redemptive Hope: His account assures believers that personal faithfulness can have multigenerational impact, woven into God’s larger redemptive plan.
Key References
Ruth 2:1, 4, 11; 3:9–13; 4:9–13
1 Chronicles 2:11–12
1 Kings 7:21;2 Chronicles 3:17
Forms and Transliterations
בֹ֗עַז בֹ֙עַז֙ בֹ֜עַז בֹּ֔עַז בֹּ֙עַז֙ בֹּ֤עַז בֹּ֨עַז בֹּֽעַז׃ בעז בעז׃ וּבֹ֖עַז וּבֹ֙עַז֙ וּבֹ֨עַז ובעז לְבֹ֔עַז לְבֹ֖עַז לבעז bō‘az ḇō‘az bō·‘az ḇō·‘az Boaz lə·ḇō·‘az ləḇō‘az leVoaz ū·ḇō·‘az ūḇō‘az uVoaz Voaz
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