What is the significance of Boaz being a "kinsman-redeemer" in Ruth 2:20? Text of Ruth 2:20 “Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, ‘May he be blessed by the LORD, who has not withdrawn His kindness from the living or the dead.’ She continued, ‘The man is a close relative; he is one of our kinsman-redeemers.’” Meaning of the Hebrew Term “Kinsman-Redeemer” (gōʾēl) The noun גֹּאֵל (gōʾēl) stems from the verb “to redeem, buy back, restore.” In Israelite civil law the gōʾēl was the nearest adult male blood-relative charged with four central duties: • Buy back land sold under economic duress (Leviticus 25:25). • Redeem relatives sold into slavery (Leviticus 25:47-49). • Provide an heir for a deceased brother through levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5-10). • Pursue justice for murdered kin (Numbers 35:19). Legal Framework Behind the Narrative a) Property Redemption: Naomi had earlier sold Elimelech’s field (Ruth 4:3). Leviticus 25 allowed the nearest kin to repurchase such land so it stayed within the clan. b) Levirate Marriage: Ruth, childless widow of Mahlon, stood under Deuteronomy 25. A kinsman marrying Ruth would raise offspring “to carry on the name of the dead.” Boaz is eligible on both counts, linking land and lineage in one redemptive act. Socio-Economic Significance Widows in the Late Bronze/Early Iron Age had no standing without a male protector. Ruth and Naomi faced extinction—poverty, loss of family name, loss of inheritance. Boaz’s role restores economic security and social dignity, transforming their status from marginal to blessed. Nuzi tablets (15th cent. BC) and Alalakh texts confirm that close relatives could repurchase land for widows, matching the biblical picture. Covenant “Hesed” Displayed Naomi blesses Boaz because his act embodies the LORD’s חֶסֶד (hesed)—covenant loyalty. Human hesed channels divine hesed; thus Boaz’s kindness is simultaneously God’s kindness “to the living or the dead.” The narrative makes clear that redemptive love is not abstract but enacted through obedient persons. Providential Thread to David and the Messiah Boaz marries Ruth, fathering Obed, grandfather of David (Ruth 4:13-22; Matthew 1:5-6). By functioning as gōʾēl he safeguards the royal line that leads to the Messiah. Isaiah later calls the LORD Himself “Redeemer” (Isaiah 59:20), and the New Testament identifies Christ as ultimate kinsman-redeemer (Galatians 4:4-5; Hebrews 2:11-15). Boaz therefore occupies a strategic node in redemptive history: his obedience keeps the messianic promise on track. Typology Pointing to Christ Boaz prefigures Jesus in at least five ways: 1 — Related by blood: Boaz is kin; Jesus took on flesh to be our Brother (John 1:14). 2 — Able: Boaz had resources; Christ alone is sinless and worthy (Revelation 5:9). 3 — Willing: Boaz volunteers; Jesus willingly lays down His life (John 10:18). 4 — Pays price: Boaz buys land; Christ sheds blood (1 Peter 1:18-19). 5 — Produces a bride: Boaz gains Ruth; Christ gains the Church (Ephesians 5:25-27). Naomi’s Theological Insight Naomi recognizes more than social courtesy. By calling Boaz “one of our kinsman-redeemers,” she perceives God’s unseen hand reversing her earlier lament, “The Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me” (Ruth 1:20). The verse is a pivot from emptiness to fullness, despair to hope. Archaeological Corroboration of Redemption Customs • Nuzi (Mesopotamia) adoption contracts (tablet HSS 19, 50) show land sold with redemption clauses. • Kuntillet Ajrud inscriptions (8th cent. BC) include familial blessing formulas strikingly like Naomi’s benediction. • The Chicago Alalakh series records levirate-type marriages that preserve inheritance lines. These finds illustrate that the legal and social backdrop in Ruth is historically grounded, not legendary. Ethical and Devotional Implications Today Believers are called to mirror Boaz’s redemptive generosity—protecting the vulnerable, preserving family integrity, and demonstrating tangible covenant love. In doing so they echo the gospel that saved them (1 John 3:16-18). Summary Boaz’s status as kinsman-redeemer in Ruth 2:20 carries layered significance: legal rescue of land and lineage, embodiment of God’s covenant hesed, pivotal preservation of the messianic line, and rich typology fulfilled in Christ. The verse stands as a testimony that the LORD orchestrates history through faithful individuals to accomplish eternal redemption. |
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