From the prefix ב (be) “in” and the verb עזז (‘azaz) “strong,” thus meaning “strong.” He was the second husband of Ruth, great-grandfather in the direct line of King David and thus part of the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1, 5-6). When Ruth came as a widow to Bethlehem along with her mother-in-law Noemi, Booz gave help to Ruth, who was gleaning in her field (Ruth 2, 8-9) and later married her, even though she was a Moabite. Their union was blessed by the elders of the city (Ruth 4, 11-12), and the son born to them, Obed, begat Jesse, father of David.

This was also the name of one of the two pillars that stood outside the Temple in Jerusalem built by King Solomon son of David. Boaz is the name of the left pillar and the right pillar is called Jachin (1Kings 7, 21).