GURUKUL LUTHERAN THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE

Subject: Women in Men’s World: Reading the book of Ruth and Esther (MOT019)
Topic: Characterization of Boaz
Submitted by: Batlajuban F. Nongsiej
Submitted to: Dr. John Samuel Ponnusamy

Introduction:

The Book of Ruth is one of the books in the Hebrew Bible that is named after a character
which is a woman. It falls under the third section of the canonized Bible, known as the
Ketuvim or Writings. The narration begins with the famine in Israel and the narration
continues with conversation between characters. The book has few major characters and
presents an example of faith, strength, and kindness. The book is characterized by hope and
cheerfulness, describing Ruth and Naomi’s journey from sadness to happiness and from
emptiness to fullness. The paper will try to bring in to life the character of Boaz.

The Context:

The book is the story of a woman named Ruth, who turns out to be a widow after the death of
her husband. The story begins with the time when the Judges to rule over the people of the
Lord. A woman character named Naomi, with her sons, went to live in Moab as Judah was
under a famine. The sons married Orpah and Ruth, the Moabite women, and they continued
to live in Moab until both of the sons died. Later, Ruth followed Naomi, her mother in law to
Bethlehem and they came into contact with a wealthy man named Boaz who is among the
genealogy of Jesus.1

Boaz in the Book of Ruth:

Boaz is the son of Salmah, the grand-father of King David. He was descended from Nahshon,
the son of Amminadab (Ruth 4:20–22; I Chron. 2:10–15), prince of the tribe of Judah in the
generation of the wilderness (Num. 1:7). He lived in Beth-Lehem in the time of the Judges

1
Edward E Campbell, “Ruth,” in Anchor Bible Commentary (Anchor Bible: London, 1975), 34-35.

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and is described as a “man of substance,” that is, a wealthy landowner employing many
young men and women on his estate (Ruth 2:1).2

The narrator described the incident when Boaz met Ruth. He narrated that Boaz first saw
Ruth when she gleans in his field, and he admired her generosity towards her mother in-law,
Naomi. Boaz is a kin to Naomi’s husband, Elimelech, and by law of levirate marriage he can
marry Ruth and take care of her if there be no closer male relative to redeemed her for
marriage.3

The Characters of Boaz:

1. Wealthy:

Boaz was a wealthy man in Bethlehem. The narrator introduces Boaz as is ,

(A great man). He has field full of crops and wealthy enough to feed the people who
came and gather the crops without a price. This does not literally show his worldly
riches. His compassion towards a stranger, a non Israelite, shows that he is also
wealthy at heart.4

2. Worthy:

The narrator described Boaz as a worthy man (2:1) who has faith in the Lord (2:4). He
has a good reputation among his people as he’s proven himself to be a man of
character and worth by his actions. He greet his workers in the name of the Lord, this
signified that he is a man worthy of the Lord’s field. It is much easier to trust a person
with good reputation for being honest, reliable, and responsible. These qualities show
the good characteristics about the person.5

3. Protective:

The narrator brings out the way Boaz instigate his conversation with Ruth. Boaz
encouraged Ruth to gather the crops from in his own field, so that she would be safe

2
Nahum M. Sarna, Boaz (Cengage, 2018), 1. https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/philosophy-and-
religion/biblical-proper-names-biographies/boaz (Accessed- 19 Oct. 2021)

3
Christian Brady “Boaz: A close reading of Ruth”, in Targuman January 27, 2014. 4
http://targuman.org/2014/01/27/boaz-a-close-reading-of-ruth/ (Accessed- 19 Oct. 2021)
4
Christian Brady “Boaz: A close reading of Ruth…, 2.
5
Brady “Boaz: A close reading of Ruth…, 3

2
 among the other women. He also commanded the young men of his field not to touch
her (2:9).6 This signifies the protective character of Boaz.

4. Provider:

The narrator let Boaz met Ruth in chapter 2. He is painted as a provider of Ruth’s
needs. He gave her plenty of water to drink (2:9), provided meals for her (2:14), and
gave her an abundance of barley to share with Naomi (3:15). Boaz then directs his
men to ensure that she will have plenty of food, allowing her to glean far beyond what
the law stipulates. Clearly Boaz has taken the role of a provider in Ruth’s his
attention.7

5. Truthfulness:

Knowing the truth that Ruth was Naomi daughter in-law, Boaz knew that there will
be other closer relative to Ruth’s deceased husband who can help in saving Ruth
(3:12-13). He took the right way by giving him a chance to win her hand for the
marriage (4:1-6). Until he has his answer, Boaz could not even rest (3:18). He bears
witness to the fact that Ruth can be his wife to confirm that he acted with integrity.8

6. A True Lover:

The verse 10 of chapter 3 concluded this. He understood her readiness to marry him
as an act of kindness. He responded to her joyfully, instead of looking down on her as
a poor foreigner. If the kindness he showed to her during her harvesting was not only
out of kindness to poor but rather for love. In verse 10 He says, “You have not run
after the younger men, whether rich or poor.” Boaz is clearly older than Ruth. Maybe
the age gap made him hesitate before. While he loves Ruth and would love nothing
more than to make her his wife, he still had doubts that a man of his age would be
desirable to Ruth. From this we can also see that Boaz is selfless and a true lover.9

6
https://www.startmarriageright.com/2011/09/a-modern-day-boaz/ (Accessed- 20 Oct. 2021)
7
Brady “Boaz: A close reading of Ruth…, 4.
8
https://www.startmarriageright.com/2011/09/a-modern-day-boaz/ (Accessed- 20 Oct. 2021)
9
Boaz Character Study – The Life of Boaz. https://studyandobey.com/boaz-character-study/ (Accessed- 22 Oct.
2021)

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 7. A great communicator:

The character of Boaz is presented as a good communicator. Although a busy

business man, he does not cut his conversation with Ruth, rather he extended with
blessing. This may be an encouragement to Ruth, as being a widow and a stranger,
and destitute, the conversation with Boaz may have makes her feel better.10

The character of Boaz can also be seen as:-

8. A Solution:

Boaz can be characterized as a problem solver. The book of Ruth begins with a
problem, and followed by a series of problems. Until in the chapter 2, when Boaz was
portrayed as another principal character, these problems were able to solve. The
problem of famine was solved by Boaz grains, the widow- re marriage. Therefore,
Boaz can be seen as an answer to the problems of Ruth and Naomi.11

9. A Politics:

Boaz can be understood as a political agreement between two kingdoms, the kingdom
of Judah and the Moabite kingdom. These two kingdoms were seen from the
beginning to be full of conflict and enmity. However, Boaz an Israelite is treating well
towards a Moabite woman, and took her as his wife is thought to bring both the
kingdoms to be the sole province of the Israelites alone.12

10. As an metaphor:

Boaz and Ruth story can be said as a metaphorical character of God towards the
people. Boaz showed kindness and love towards Ruth from the time he saw her
gleaning on his fields, like wise can be said as God kindness and love towards his
people. God who would never deserted his people in any way. As Boaz find a way to

10
The Life of Boaz. https://studyandobey.com/..., (Accessed- 22 Oct. 2021)
11
Roland E. Murphy and O. Cram, Wisdom Literature: Job, Proverbs, Ruth, Canticles, Ecclesiastes and Esther
(WBE Publishing Company: Grand Rapids,1983 , 87.)
12
Timothy F. Simpson, “God of the Displaced: the Politics of Ruth” in The Politics of the Scripture (Political
Theology Network, 2012). https://politicaltheology.com/politics-ruth-11-18/ (Accessed- 22 Oct. 2021)

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 take Ruth as his wife by marrying her, God on the other hand find a way to save his
people. From Boaz and Ruth stemmed David, who is in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.

The influence of Boaz to the Book of Ruth:

The Character of Boaz in the book of Ruth played an important role. In the beginning of the
book, Ruth was seen with her mother in-law Naomi, who returned from Moab because of the
famine. In Israel, Naomi and Ruth went for gleaning in the field of Boaz. Boaz was brought
in the story as a wealthy kinsman, and the readers were made to notice him before Ruth.13
Boaz who noticed Ruth, when gleaning on his field and from there on the story revolves
around him.

The book of Ruth although titled of a woman name, has a significant of a male dominance
and therefore cannot be complete without the role played by Boaz. He is portrayed as a man
of good character and a redeemer of the downtrodden. Boaz occupied the chapter towards the
end of the story. The actions at the city gate with the closer kinsman of Naomi, his marriage
to Ruth.14 Boaz acted as vessel to carry out a greater task, which is to be among the
genealogy of King David and follow through to Jesus Christ.

Conclusion:

From the time the narrator introduced Boaz, he was painted and portrayed as a man of good
character. He proved by showing the wisdom in dealing and handling business. His character
shows the merits of a good person. He chooses to marry Ruth rather that considering her as
an outsider. He chose to love her and change her fortune. Thus, the book of Ruth ended in a
distinct way from where it started. Ruth life changed from emptiness to fullness, from being a
widow to being a wife and a mother. Thus from Boaz, we know the importance of
relationships, stewardship, and honesty.

13
Brady “Boaz: A close reading of Ruth…, 4.
14
Brady “Boaz: A close reading of Ruth…, 5.

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Bibliography:

Books:

Campbell, Edward E. “Ruth.” In Anchor Bible Commentary. Anchor Bible: London, 1975.

Murphy, Roland E. and O. Cram, Wisdom Literature: Job, Proverbs, Ruth, Canticles,
Ecclesiastes and Esther. WBE Publishing Company: Grand Rapids, 1983.

Internet Sources:

Boaz Character Study – The Life of Boaz. https://studyandobey.com/boaz-character-study/.

Accessed- 22 Oct. 2021.

Brady, Christian. “Boaz: A close reading of Ruth”, in Targuman January 27, 2014. 4
http://targuman.org/2014/01/27/boaz-a-close-reading-of-ruth/. Accessed- 19 Oct.
2021.

https://www.startmarriageright.com/2011/09/a-modern-day-boaz/. Accessed- 20 Oct. 2021.

Sarna, Nahum M. Boaz (Cengage, 2018) https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/philosophy-

and-religion/biblical-proper-names-biographies/boaz. Accessed- 19 Oct. 2021.

Simpson, Timothy F. “God of the Displaced: the Politics of Ruth” in The Politics of the
Scripture (Political Theology Network, 2012). https://politicaltheology.com/politics-
ruth-11-18/. Accessed- 22 Oct. 2021.