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Boaz

Biblical
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A biblical figure from the Book of Ruth who acted as kinsman-redeemer, marrying Ruth and continuing her family line.

Detailed Definition
Boaz showed kindness to Ruth, fulfilled levirate duty, and became ancestor of David and Jesus. His integrity and generosity model covenant faithfulness. In poetry, Boaz embodies providential care, the dignity of labor, and redemptive love that restores the marginalized—often invoked as a type of Christ, the ultimate Redeemer who gathers the outsider into His family.
Example
Example in poetry:
In John Milton’s "Paradise Lost," Boaz’s kindness to Ruth (Ruth 2–4) prefigures redemptive grace; In Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s "The Seraphim," Boaz symbolizes the kinsman-redeemer; In George Herbert’s "The Church-porch," Boaz’s generosity models neighborly love; In John Keble’s "Lyra Innocentium," Boaz represents providential care; In Christina Rossetti’s "Goblin Market," Boaz’s field offers safe gleanings; In T.S. Eliot’s "Four Quartets," Boaz’s lineage leads to Bethlehem.
Additional Notes
Boaz: Kinsman-redeemer of Ruth; model of hesed (loyal love) and integrity (Ruth 2–4). In poetry, Boaz symbolizes providential provision, righteous masculinity, and the quiet heroism of everyday virtue. His field as a space of grace for Ruth offers rich agrarian imagery. As David’s ancestor, he links to messianic hope—ideal for poems on redemption, hospitality, or the dignity of labor.
Also Known As
Boaz of Bethlehem Boaz the Kinsman-Redeemer
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