Kinsman-redeemer of Ruth; great-grandfather of David
c. 1100 BC · Old Testament
The wealthy Bethlehemite landowner who showed kindness to the Moabite widow Ruth, redeemed her family's land, married her, and became great-grandfather of David — a foreshadowing of Christ as kinsman-redeemer.
Boaz was a man of Bethlehem, a mighty man of wealth (Ruth 2:1), and a relative of Elimelech (Naomi's deceased husband). When the widowed Ruth went gleaning in the fields to provide for herself and Naomi, she 'happened' to come to Boaz's field. Boaz noticed her, learned her story, and showed her great kindness — letting her glean among the sheaves, providing food, and protecting her from harm (Ruth 2). Naomi recognized God's hand: 'The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen' (Ruth 2:20). She instructed Ruth to approach Boaz at the threshing floor in covenant signal — laying at his feet — to invoke the kinsman-redeemer (Hebrew 'goel') role. Boaz responded with grace and integrity (Ruth 3). There was a nearer kinsman with first right; Boaz pursued the legal process at the city gate. When the nearer relative declined, Boaz publicly took the responsibility: 'Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife' (Ruth 4:10). Boaz and Ruth married. They had Obed, who fathered Jesse, who fathered David — making Boaz great-grandfather of David, and ancestor of Christ (Matthew 1:5). Boaz is one of the great kinsman-redeemer figures of Scripture — preserving family land and lineage through covenant love. Jewish tradition (with some biblical support) identifies him with Ibzan, a judge of Israel (Judges 12:8-10). Boaz typologically prefigures Christ as kinsman-redeemer — Christ became kin to humanity (Hebrews 2:14) so he could legally redeem his people. The book of Ruth is one of the great love stories of the Bible and a clear gospel foreshadowing.
Recognizes her courageous loyalty
Lets her glean among the sheaves
Invokes the kinsman-redeemer role
Public legal process; nearer kinsman declines
Covenant fulfilled
Ancestor of Christ
Boaz's significance: (1) He is one of the great OT examples of the kinsman-redeemer (goel) — preserving family land and lineage through covenant kindness. (2) He shows integrity in dealings — pursuing the matter through proper legal process. (3) He shows kindness to a foreigner (Moabite) — anticipating God's heart for the nations. (4) His marriage to Ruth produced David's line — and ultimately Christ's. (5) He typologically prefigures Christ as the kinsman-redeemer of his people.
“The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.”— Ruth 2:12
“Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead.”— Ruth 2:20 (Naomi about Boaz)
Boaz was a wealthy man of Bethlehem in the time of the Judges (Ruth 2:1). He showed kindness to the Moabite widow Ruth, who was gleaning in his field. As a kinsman of her deceased husband, he became her kinsman-redeemer, buying back the family land and marrying her (Ruth 4). They had Obed, who became David's grandfather — making Boaz an ancestor of David and ultimately of Christ (Matthew 1:5).
A goel (kinsman-redeemer) was a near male relative who had the right and responsibility to: (1) buy back family land sold in poverty (Leviticus 25:25); (2) free a relative from debt-slavery (Leviticus 25:48); (3) marry a deceased relative's widow to preserve the family line (Deuteronomy 25:5-10, the levirate marriage); (4) avenge bloodshed (Numbers 35). Boaz acted as kinsman-redeemer for Ruth and Naomi — and this typologically prefigures Christ as our Redeemer.
Boaz is a kinsman-redeemer; Christ is the supreme Redeemer. Boaz had to be a relative to redeem; Christ became human (Hebrews 2:14) to redeem humans. Boaz redeemed Ruth (a foreigner); Christ redeems all who come to him from every nation. Boaz redeemed at a cost (paying for the land); Christ redeemed at the cost of his blood (1 Peter 1:18-19). The Ruth-Boaz story is one of the OT's clearest gospel pictures.
Through David. Boaz married Ruth → they had Obed → Obed had Jesse → Jesse had David. Matthew 1:5-6 traces this line. Through David's line, Jesus comes (Matthew 1:1). Boaz is in the genealogy of Christ. His covenant kindness preserved the line through which the Messiah would come — a Moabite woman becoming an ancestress of Israel's King.