Boaz

Etymology

Possibly from 'bo' (in him) and 'az' (strength), or from an unused root meaning swiftness. Also the name of one of the two pillars of Solomon's temple (the other was Jachin), where it may mean 'in strength.'

Who they were

Boaz is one of the most admirable men in the Old Testament. A wealthy landowner in Bethlehem, he first appears in the book of Ruth when the Moabite widow Ruth comes to glean in his fields. His response to her — a foreigner, a widow, with nothing — defines his character. He instructed his workers to leave extra grain for her, told her to stay in his fields where she would be safe, and praised her loyalty to her mother-in-law Naomi: '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.' When Ruth, following Naomi's plan, came to him at the threshing floor at night — a scene charged with risk and vulnerability — Boaz responded with honour, not exploitation. He navigated the legal process of kinsman-redemption with integrity, married Ruth, and their son Obed became the grandfather of King David. Matthew's genealogy of Jesus places Boaz in the direct line of the Messiah, and notes that his own mother was Rahab — another outsider welcomed into Israel's story. His name adorns one of the two great pillars at the entrance to Solomon's temple.

Family

Mother

Rahab (according to Matthew's genealogy)

Spouse

Ruth

Children

Obed

Character qualities

• Generosity to the vulnerable
• Integrity in business
• Honour in relationships
• Legal conscientiousness
• Kindness without condescension

Key verse

Ruth 2:12

Where they appear

Themes

Variants & related forms

Boas · Booz

Related names