According to A DICTIONARY OF SCRIPTURE PROPER NAMES by J.B. Jackson, the name Boaz means ‘in him is strength.’  Often in scripture, a person’s name describes his character.  Boaz certainly lived up to his name. 

We read in the first chapter of the book of Ruth about a man, Elimelech of Beth-lehem-judah and Naomi, his wife.  There was a drought in the land, so Elimelech took his wife and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion into the land of Moab.  While in Moab, Elimelech died.  Afterwards, his two sons married women of Moab.  Mahlon married a woman named Ruth, while Chilion married a woman named Orpah.  After ten years in Moab, the sons of Elimelech also died.  Soon, Naomi heard the famine in the land of the Lord’s people was over and she decided to return home.  Both of her daughters-in-laws were determined to go with Naomi. 

Naomi tried to persuade Ruth and Orpah to stay in Moab, but they persisted in going with her.  Finally, after giving her daughters-in-law ample reason to stay in Moab, we read in Ruth 1:14, “And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law; but Ruth clave unto her.”  Both of these ladies loved their mother-in-law, but Ruth would not be deterred, and she determined to return with Naomi to her homeland.  It was Ruth who made such a beautiful appeal to Naomi.  It is one that most of us know well.  “And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.” (Verses 16-17). 

Ruth 2:1 tells us, “And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.”  In the Book of Ruth, a kinsman-redeemer was a male relative who had the privilege or responsibility to act on behalf of a relative who was in trouble or need. The kinsman-redeemer was responsible for protecting the family’s property, caring for their widows, and ensuring the continuation of the family line. In the story of Ruth, Boaz was a kinsman-redeemer for Ruth’s deceased husband, Mahlon, and his mother, Naomi. Boaz was able to redeem the land inheritance of Elimelech and also Ruth, the wife of Mahlon.

We will not spend time going over the entire book (although I encourage you to do so), but let’s read Ruth 4:9-11 which says, “And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi. Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day. And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Beth-lehem.”  So Boaz, who’s name means ‘in him is strength’ redeemed all the property and responsibilities of Elimelech, his near kinsman. 

So, as Boaz did in the cause of Ruth and Naomi, he became a type of the Lord Jesus Christ in His relationship with Israel.  As their kinsmen, the Lord has the right of redemption of these people and in a yet future day, He will undertake their cause once again.  It can truly and absolutely be said of the Lord Jesus that ‘in Him is strength’.  Not only was Boaz a type of Christ, but he also became the great-grandfather of King David as we read in Ruth 4:21-22, “And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed, And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.” 

I encourage you to read the book of Ruth.  It only contains four chapters and can be read in 15-20 minutes.  It is a beautiful account of how Boaz redeemed Ruth and Naomi according to the customs of the time.  It is a beautiful type of the Lord Jesus as the true kinsman redeemer.  (CC)  (616.6)