Boaz

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Ruth 2:1 , a wealthy Bethlehemite, a descendant of Judah, through whom is traced the regular succession of Jewish kings, Matthew 1:5 . His conduct in the case of Ruth proves him to have been a man of fine spirit and of strict integrity. He admitted the claim which Ruth had upon him as a near kinsman: under the obligations of the Levitical law, he married the poor gleaner, and thus became one of the ancestors of David, and also of David's Son and Lord. He was the father of Obed, Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse of David. The whole narrative is a beautiful picture of the simplicity of the age, when artificial courtesies had not usurped the place of natural and sincere expressions of love.

Boaz was also the name of one of the two brazen pillars which Solomon erected in the porch of the temple, the other being called 1 Kings 7:15,16,21 .

Bridgeway Bible Dictionary

If the Rahab whom the Israelites saved at the time of Jericho’s destruction is the same Rahab whose name appears in the genealogy of Jesus, then Boaz was descended from her (Joshua 6:17; Ruth 4:18-22; Matthew 1:1; Matthew 1:5). He features in the book of Ruth as the man who helped the young Moabite widow Ruth and later married her (see RUTH).

Boaz was a godly man who was eager to reward Ruth when he learnt of her kindness to her widowed mother-in-law (Ruth 2:11-12). He protected her from the local youths (Ruth 2:8-9; Ruth 2:22), supplied her with food and drink during her day’s work (Ruth 2:9; Ruth 2:14), rewarded her gleaning (Ruth 2:16-20) and gave her extra supplies of grain (Ruth 3:15). He showed no racial prejudice against her in spite of the traditional hostility between Israel and Moab (Ruth 2:6; Ruth 2:10).

When Ruth asked Boaz to keep alive the name of her late husband by fulfilling the duties of a close relative, Boaz responded generously. He was open and honourable in all his dealings with her, whether concerning marriage or property (Ruth 3:11-13; Ruth 4:1-6). He married Ruth, and the child born to them was an ancestor of King David and of Jesus the Messiah (Ruth 4:18-22; Matthew 1:1; Matthew 1:5).

Easton's Bible Dictionary

The name given (for what reason is unknown) to one of the two (the other was called Jachin) brazen pillars which Solomon erected in the court of the temple (1 Kings 7:21; 2 Chronicles 3:17 ). These pillars were broken up and carried to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar.

Copyright StatementThese dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain.

Bibliography InformationEaston, Matthew George. Entry for 'Boaz'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/b/boaz.html. 1897.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Explained in margin 1 Kings 7:15-21, "in it (is) strength." Others, fleetness.

1. Of Bethlehem: Elimelech's (Naomi's husband's) kinsman. When the next of kin to Ruth, Naomi's daughter-in-law, declined to do the part of redeemer (god) (See BLOOD) of the inheritance of her deceased husband Mahlon (compare Deuteronomy 25:5-10), Boaz did so by marrying her, though much her senior (Ruth 3:10). Their son Obed was grandfather of David. There being no objection to an Israelite's marriage with a Moabitess marks an early date (contrast Ezra 9).

David's descent from Ruth the Moabitess accounts for the intimacy of David with the king of Moab, so that it was with him he left his father and mother in his flight from Saul (1 Samuel 22:3-5); an undesigned coincidence between the books of Samuel and Ruth, a mark of genuineness (compare Psalms 27:10). In the genealogy (Ruth 4:18-22) several, at least three, generations must be inserted, as the list there only allows ten generations for 850 years, and only four for the 450 years between Salmon and David.

2. The name of one of the two brass pillars in Solomon's temple porch, on the left, as Jachin was on the right. The difference of the height as given in 1 Kings 7:15; 1 Kings 7:21; 2 Chronicles 3:15, arises from the height in one place including, in the other place excluding, the ornament which united the shaft to the chapiter (compare Jeremiah 52:17-21). The pillars, which were hollow, were broken up and carried to Babylon at the fall of Jerusalem before Nebuchadnezzar.

Holman Bible Dictionary

Matthew 1:5Luke 3:32

2. The left or north pillar Solomon set up in the Temple (1 Kings 7:21 ). The function of the pillars is not known. See Jachin .

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

The son of Salmon and Rahab, and the father of Obed, by Ruth; of whom, by descent, after the flesh, sprung Christ. (See Matthew 1:5-6) I beg the reader not to overlook the grace of the Lord Jesus in this wonderful relation. Jesus will not only take our nature for the purpose of redemption, but he will take it from the lowest order of the people. Rahab was an harlot of the city of Jericho, cursed by Joshua, (Joshua 6:26) though famous for her faith in the Lord God of Israel; and Ruth a poor outcast of Moab. Both Gentiles, and yet brought into the genealogy of the Lord Jesus Christ. Was it to shew the astonishing condescension of Jesus? And was it not to shew also, that long before the great events of redemption were to be accomplished, the Jew and Gentile church were both in Christ? (Galatians 3:28-29)

See Harlot

Boaz (2)

One of the pillars in the porch of Solomon's temple, (1 Kings 7:21) It was on the left hand, as Jachin, the other pillar corresponding to it, was placed on the right. The names of both were significant. Jachin means, he that strengthens and makes steadfast. Boaz means, in it is strength and firmness. No doubt, they both were figurative of Him who condescends to call himself the Door; in whom, and by whom, unless an entrance be made into the temple, the same is "a thief and a robber." (John 10:8)

We are told these pillars were eighteen cubits high each of them, and twelve in circumference, 1 Kings 7:15. And from their magnificence, they formed no unapt resemblance of Him "who is the pillar and ground of the truth." (1 Timothy 3:15)

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

BOAZ . A Bethlehemite of wealth, the son of Salmon; grandfather of Jesse, and thus ancestor of David ( Ruth 4:21-22 , 1 Chronicles 2:11 , Matthew 1:5-6 , Luke 3:32 ). He became the second husband of the widowed Ruth, whom he married (according to ancient Hebrew custom) as next-of-kin, when her ‘near kinsman’ refused to undertake this duty ( Ruth 4:1-10 ). See Ruth.

W. O. E. Oesterley.

BOAZ , the name of one of the two bronze pillars which stood in front of Solomon’s Temple. The other was named Jachin ( 1 Kings 7:21 , 2 Chronicles 3:17 ). See Jachin and Boaz, Temple.

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

BOAZ. —The husband of Ruth, named in the genealogies of our Lord (Matthew 1:5, Luke 3:32).

Morrish Bible Dictionary

This and JACHINwere the names given to two pillars in the porch of the temple built by Solomon. They are minutely described in 1 Kings 7:15-22; 2 Chronicles 3:15-17 . It will be observed that in Kings and Jeremiah 52:21 the height of each pillar is 18 cubits, but in Chronicles their length is said to be 35 cubits. The explanation of this difference is that in Kings the height of each is given, and in Chronicles the length of the pillars , the two together; so that the 17-1/2 cubits, with perhaps a socket, would be the same as the 18 cubits in Kings. JACHIN signifies 'He will establish,' and BOAZ, 'in Him [is] strength' — implying that the kingdom will be established in strength and in peace, under the administration of Christ: thus the names are typical of the millennium. There appears to be an allusion to these pillars in Revelation 3:12 , the overcomer being made a 'pillar' in the temple of God.

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Boaz (bô'az), or Booz (bô'oz), lovely. 1. Was a descendant of Judah, Ruth 2:1, and through him is traced the regular succession of Jewish kings and of Christ. Matthew 1:5. Boaz was a man of wealth and of great respectability. He married Ruth and begat Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of David. 2. One of the brazen pillars erected by Solomon before the portico of the temple. Its companion was Jachin. They were named for their givers or makers, or else had a symbolical meaning. 1 Kings 7:21; 2 Chronicles 3:17; Jeremiah 52:21.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Bo'az. (fleetness).

1. A wealthy Bethlehemite, kinsman to Elimelech, the husband of Naomi. He married Ruth, and redeemed the estates of her deceased husband, Mahlon. Ruth 4:1. Boaz is mentioned in the genealogy of Christ, Matthew 1:5. (B.C. 1250, but there is great difficulty in assigning his date).

2. The name of one of Solomon's brazen pillars, erected in the Temple porch. See Jachin. It stood on the left, and was eighteen cubits high. 1 Kings 7:15; 21; 2 Chronicles 3:15; Jeremiah 52:21.

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

Ruth 2:1 (c) This is a type of the Lord JESUS who owns the field and who marries those who were formerly foreigners and strangers, but who put their trust in Him and become His bride, the church.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

bō´az ( בּעז , bō‛az  ; Βόοζ , Bóoz  ; "quickness" (?) Ruth 2 through 4; 1 Chronicles 2:11 , 1 Chronicles 2:12; Matthew 1:5; Luke 3:32 ):

(1) A resident of Bethlehem and kinsman of Elimelech, Naomi's husband. In Rth 2:1 he is described as a gibbōr ḥayil , a phrase which can mean either "a mighty man of valor" or else "a man of position and wealth." The latter is probably the sense in which the phrase is applied to Boaz (compare 1 Samuel 9:1 ). He had fields outside the town, and to them Ruth went to glean. Boaz noticed her and extended special kindness and protection to her, bidding her remain with his female workers, and charging the men not to illtreat her, and also giving her of the reapers' food at mealtime. Boaz awoke one night and found Ruth lying at his feet. He praised her virtue, and promised to take charge of her if her dead husband's next-of-kin failed to do so. He laid her case before the next-of-kin, and finally redeemed the family property himself and bought as well the right to take Ruth in marriage. The son of Boaz and Ruth was Obed, father of Jesse, and grandfather of David. 1 Chronicles 2:11 , 1 Chronicles 2:12 makes Boaz a descendant of Hezron, and so probably a chief of the Hezronite clan in Bethlehem. Jewish tradition identifies Boaz with Ibzan ( Judges 12:8-10 ).

Boaz "is set before us as a model of piety, generosity and chastity" (H. P. Smith, Old Testament History , 398). He found virtue and rewarded it. HPM , sections 501-8, gives a picture of the life of "a well-to-do landed proprietor of central Palestine," much of which could aptly be taken as a description of Boaz.

(2) The name of one of the two bronze pillars erected in front of Solomon's temple, the other being Jachin (1 Kings 7:21; 2 Chronicles 3:17 ). See Jachin And Boaz; Temple .

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Boaz, 1

Bo´az, a wealthy Bethlehemite, and near kinsman of the first husband of Ruth, whom he eventually espoused under the obligations of the Levirate law, which he willingly incurred. The conduct of Boaz—his fine spirit, just feeling, piety, and amenity of manners—appears to great advantage in the book of Ruth, and forms an interesting portraiture of the condition and deportment of what was in his time the upper class of Israelites. By his marriage with Ruth he became the father of Obed, from whom came Jesse, the father of David. He was thus one of the direct ancestors of Christ, and as such his name occurs in Matthew 1:5 [RUTH; GENEALOGY].

Boaz, 2

Boaz, the name given to one of the two brazen pillars which Solomon erected in the court of the Temple [JACHIN AND BOAZ].

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

is mentioned in the genealogy, Matthew 1:5 ("Booz"), as the son of Salmon by Rahab, but there is some difficulty in assigning his date. The genealogy in Ruth (Ruth 4:18-22) only allows ten generations for the 833 years from Judah to David, and only four for the 535 years between Salmon and David, if (as is almost certain from Matthew and from Jewish tradition) the Rahab mentioned is Rahab the harlot. If Boaz be identical with the judge Ibzan (q.v.), as is stated with little shadow of probability by the Jerusalem Talmud and various rabbins, several generations must be inserted. Dr. Kennicott, from the difference in form between Salmah and Salmon (Ruth 4:20-21), supposes that by mistake two different men were identified (Dssert. i, 543); but we seem to want at least three generations, and this supposition gives us only one. Hence, even if we interpolate two generations before Boaz and one after Obed, still we must suppose each was the youngest son of his father, and that they did not marry till an advanced age (Dr. Mill, On the Genealogies; Lord Hervey, Id. p. 262, etc.; Browne, Ordo Seclorum, p. 263). (See Genealogy); (See David).

2. (Sept. Βολώζ, and in the latter passage translates Ι᾿σχύς, strength). The name given to the left-hand one of the two brazen pillars which Solomon erected in the court of the Temple (1 Kings 7:21; 2 Chronicles 3:17); so called, either from the architect or (if it were a votive offering) from the donor. It was hollow, and surmounted by a chapiter five cubits high, ornamented with net-work and 100 pomegranates. The apparent discrepancies in stating the height of it arise from the- including or excluding of the ornament which united the shaft to the chapiter, etc. (See Jachin).

The Nuttall Encyclopedia

wo pillars of brass at the entrance of Solomon's Temple, signifying respectively strength and stability.