Booz
The Greek Form of Boaz
Booz appears in the King James Version of the New Testament in the genealogies of Jesus found in Matthew 1:5 and Luke 3:32. It is the Greek spelling of the Hebrew name Boaz, the wealthy landowner from Bethlehem who married Ruth the Moabitess. Modern translations uniformly use "Boaz" in both Old and New Testaments, but older English versions retained the Greek form Booz in the New Testament passages.
The Story of Boaz and Ruth
The book of Ruth tells one of the most beloved stories in the Bible. During the period of the judges, a Judean woman named Naomi lost her husband and both sons while living in Moab. Her Moabite daughter-in-law Ruth chose to return with her to Bethlehem, declaring, "Your people shall be my people, and your God my God" (Ruth 1:16).
In Bethlehem, Ruth gleaned grain in the fields of Boaz, a relative of Naomi's deceased husband (Ruth 2:1-3). Boaz showed extraordinary kindness to Ruth, ensuring her safety and providing generously for her (Ruth 2:8-16). When Naomi learned of Boaz's kindness, she recognized him as a potential kinsman-redeemer who could marry Ruth and preserve the family line (Ruth 3:1-4).
The Kinsman-Redeemer
Boaz fulfilled the role of kinsman-redeemer, a legal provision in Israelite law that allowed a close relative to purchase the property of a deceased family member and marry his widow to continue his name (Deuteronomy 25:5-10; Leviticus 25:25). After a closer relative declined to exercise his right of redemption, Boaz publicly assumed the responsibility, declaring before the elders at the city gate that he would buy Naomi's land and take Ruth as his wife (Ruth 4:9-10).
In the Line of the Messiah
The significance of Boaz/Booz extends far beyond the beautiful love story of Ruth. The genealogy at the end of the book of Ruth traces the line from Boaz and Ruth through their son Obed, to Obed's son Jesse, to Jesse's son David (Ruth 4:21-22). This places Boaz directly in the ancestral line of Israel's greatest king and, through David, in the lineage of Jesus the Messiah.
Matthew's genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5) specifically notes that Booz (Boaz) fathered Obed by Ruth, one of only four women mentioned in the genealogy. The inclusion of Ruth, a Gentile convert, in the Messianic line demonstrates that God's redemptive purposes have always extended beyond ethnic Israel to embrace people of all nations.
A Type of Christ
Christian interpreters have long seen in Boaz a type or foreshadowing of Christ. As Boaz redeemed Ruth from poverty and widowhood, providing her with a new identity and future, so Christ redeems believers from sin and spiritual death. The voluntary nature of Boaz's redemption, his willingness to pay the full price, and his transformation of Ruth's status from foreign gleaner to honored wife all anticipate the greater redemption accomplished through Jesus Christ.
Biblical Context
Booz (Boaz) appears in the New Testament genealogies of Jesus in Matthew 1:5 and Luke 3:32. His full story is told in the book of Ruth, where he serves as kinsman-redeemer, marrying Ruth and continuing the family line. The genealogy in Ruth 4:18-22 traces his line through Obed and Jesse to King David.
Theological Significance
Boaz/Booz is a powerful type of Christ as kinsman-redeemer. His voluntary redemption of Ruth, a Gentile outsider, prefigures Christ's redemption of all believers. The inclusion of Ruth in the Messianic genealogy demonstrates that God's plan of salvation transcends ethnic boundaries. Boaz's generosity, protection, and legal advocacy for Ruth all anticipate the work of Christ on behalf of His people.
Historical Background
The events of the book of Ruth are set during the period of the judges (c. 1200-1050 BC). The kinsman-redeemer institution was rooted in Israelite property and family law, designed to prevent the permanent alienation of family land and to preserve family lines. Bethlehem, where Boaz lived, was a small town in Judah that would later become the birthplace of both David and Jesus. The Greek form Booz reflects the Septuagint's transliteration of the Hebrew name.