Boaz (Person)

Salmon’s son from the tribe of Judah (Ruth 4:18–22). Boaz lived in Bethlehem in the days of the judges and married Ruth, a Moabite woman. Boaz was an ancestor of Christ (Matthew 1:5; Luke 3:32) and a wealthy relative by marriage of Ruth’s mother-in-law, Naomi. Boaz noticed Ruth when she was picking up food from one of his fields (Ruth 2). Boaz's kindness to Ruth made Naomi think he might agree to buy her late husband's land and marry Ruth as part of the deal.

See also Ruth, Book of; Marriage, Marriage Customs; Genealogy of Jesus Christ.