Ruth 2:1 (KJV)

What does Ruth 2:1 mean?

Naomi had a relative through her late husband, Elimelech, named Boaz. Boaz was a wealthy, influential man who belonged to Elimelech’s wider family.

The key expression is “a mighty man of wealth”—גִּבּוֹר חַיִל (gibbor hayil). The expression describes a man of substantial standing and resources. The word translated “wealth” can include strength, ability, and property, so the description gives Boaz more than a large bank balance: he is an established, capable man with influence. The narrator introduces him before Ruth meets him in the fields.

The Hebrew behind Ruth 2:1

• “kinsman” — מוֹדַע (moda): This word describes someone known or connected to a person. It is related to יָדַע (yada), “to know.” Here, “of her husband’s” and “of the family of Elimelech” make the connection a family relationship. The verse introduces Boaz as a relative without specifying the exact degree of kinship.

• “husband’s” — אִישׁ (ish): This word means “man” and, when used in relation to a wife, “husband.” Here it identifies Naomi’s marriage as the link to Boaz. The same word appears as “man” in the description of Boaz.

• “family” — מִשְׁפָּחָה (mishpahah): This means a family group or clan, wider than one household. Boaz and Elimelech belong to the same extended kinship group.

Why Ruth 2:1 matters

• The reader knows something Ruth does not yet know. Before Ruth enters Boaz’s field, the narrator identifies the field’s owner as connected to Naomi’s husband.

• Boaz has both family ties and material resources. “Of the family of Elimelech” explains his connection to Naomi, while “a mighty man of wealth” establishes his ability to provide substantial help.