Boaz - The Kinsman Redeemer. Series

Ruth 3:8-13 KJV And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet. 9 And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman. 10 And he said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman. 12 And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I. 13 Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman’s part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning.

Ruth 4:9-15 KJV 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. 10 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. 11 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 Bethlehem: 12 And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman. 13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son. 14 And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. 15 And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.

We compare Boaz with Elimelech we find that both lived in Bethlehem. They were related and rich. It appears that they were also both prominent men in Bethlehem. However the comparison ends and they stand out in stark contrast to each other.

1. Elimelech ran from Bethlehem during the famine while Boaz remained and stuck it out.

2. Elimelech appeared to have sold out while Boaz retained his property

3. Elimelech was cursed as a result of his move while Boaz was blessed and respected.

4. Elimelech lost out on everything while Boaz gained everything.

5. Elimelech died lonely in a strange land while Boaz lived with a rich heritage among brethren.

According to the Hebrew Scripture, the Kinsman Redeemer was a person who was responsible (or privileged) to act on behalf of a relative who was in need, in trouble or in danger. He was referred to by the term go-el

Looking at Boaz and the nearer kinsman we see that both had the ability to redeem and both were qualified to redeem but only Boaz was willing to redeem.

Boaz is recognized as a type of our Kinsman Redeemer the Messiah!

How is Boaz described in the book?

In Ruth 2:1 môdâ Hebrew for kinsman found one other place as kinswoman (Proverbs 7:4). Here it refers to Boaz being related to Naomi through her husband Elimelech.

Boaz is also here referred to as gibbor meaning mighty, and chayil referring to wealth, strong, force, valiant, substance.

In Ruth 2:20 Boaz is referred to as qarob and gaal ( go’el). Qarob means or near. Goel according to Strong’s occurs 78 times in the KJV and gives the idea of the kinsman redeemer and avenger.

A verb meaning to redeem or act as a kinsman-redeemer. The word means to act as a redeemer for a deceased kinsman (Rth_3:13); to redeem or buy back from bondage (Lev_25:48); to redeem or buy back a kinsman’s possessions (Lev_25:26); to avenge a kinsman’s murder (Num_35:19); to redeem an object through a payment (Lev_27:13). Theologically, this word is used to convey God’s redemption of individuals from spiritual death and His redemption of the nation of Israel from Egyptian bondage and also from exile (see Exo_6:6). (Word Study Dictionary)