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NASB | Ruth 2:1 Now Naomi had a kinsman of her husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ruth 2:1 Now Naomi had a relative of her husband, a man of great wealth and influence, from the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. |
Bible Question: Was Boaz . . his first name? Was his last name given? Were the people of Old only know by one name? |
Bible Answer: Greetings Judy! "Boaz bo'-az (bo'az; Booz; "quickness" (?) Ruth 2 through 4; 1Ch_2:11-12; Mat_1:5; Luk_3:32): (1) A resident of Bethlehem and kinsman of Elimelech, Naomi's husband. In Rth_2:1 he is described as a gibbor chayil, 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 1Sa_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. 1Ch_2:11-12 makes Boaz a descendant of Hezron, and so probably a chief of the Hezronite clan in Bethlehem. Jewish tradition identifies Boaz with Ibzan (Jdg_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." (1) I hope this helps! Blessings to you, Makarios Source: (1) International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 1939, Eerdmans Publishing Co., James Orr, M.A., D.D. General Editor |