There was a relative of Naomi’s husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech. His name was Boaz.
Parallel translations
- WEB Naomi had a relative of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech, and his name was Boaz.
- KJV And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.
- BSB Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side, a prominent man of noble character from the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.
- NASB Now Naomi had a relative of her husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.
- NLT Now there was a wealthy and influential man in Bethlehem named Boaz, who was a relative of Naomi’s husband, Elimelech.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The narrator introduces Boaz, a worthy and wealthy kinsman of Elimelech. His arrival signals the coming agent of redemption.
Overview
Boaz is described as a 'mighty man of wealth' and a relative of Naomi's late husband—two facts essential to the plot. As a near kinsman he is a potential 'redeemer' (goel) able to rescue the family. His introduction here, before Ruth even meets him, shows the reader that God has already provided the means of restoration; Boaz will foreshadow Christ, our kinsman-Redeemer.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Ruth 4:21and Salmon became the father of Boaz, and Boaz became the father of Obed,
- Ruth 3:2Now isn’t Boaz our kinsman, with whose maidens you were? Behold, he will be winnowing barley tonight on the threshing floor.
- Ruth 3:12Now it is true that I am a near kinsman. However, there is a kinsman nearer than I.
- Matt 1:5Salmon became the father of Boaz by Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed by Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse.
- Ruth 1:2The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi. The names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem Judah. They came into the country of Moab, and lived there.
- 1 Chr 2:10–12Ram became the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, prince of the children of Judah;
- Deut 8:17–18and lest you say in your heart, “My power and the might of my hand has gotten me this wealth.”
- Luke 3:32the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,
- Job 1:3His possessions also were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the children of the east.
- Judg 12:8–10After him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.
- Job 31:25If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gotten much;
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Boaz the kinsman-redeemer who buys back the destitute and takes a bride foreshadows Christ, our Redeemer who pays the price to make a people his own; and from Ruth's line comes David, and David's greater Son.
How Ruth 2:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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