Did Boaz have a wife before Ruth?

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10

In the Holy Scriptures, there is no mention of Boaz having a wife before Ruth; however, according to Jewish tradition and the Midrash (which the Coptic Church often references for historical context where Scripture is silent), many scholars and historians believe Boaz was a widower.

The tradition suggests that Boaz’s first wife had passed away either shortly before or on the very day Ruth arrived in Bethlehem.

1. The "First" Doesn't Mean the "Final"

Even if Boaz had a life, a history, or a "best friend" before Ruth, it was Ruth who was destined to be part of the genealogy of Christ.

• The Connection: You are worried that "history" and "being there first" make a relationship more holy or ordained. The story of Ruth proves the opposite. Ruth was the "last" to arrive. She was the "outsider." She had no history in Bethlehem. Yet, she was the one God chose.

2. God Is Not Bound by "Who Was There First"

You feel like the "girl best friend" has a prior claim on your ex’s soul or destiny because she was there for his baptism or his father's death.

• The Reality: In the Bible, God often bypasses the "first" for the "last."
• He chose Jacob over the firstborn Esau.
• He chose David over his older, taller brothers.
• He chose Ruth (the Moabitess) over any local Bethlehemite woman who had "history" with Boaz.

3. Your Worth Is Not Defined by "Seniority"

The enemy is trying to make you feel like an "interloper" (someone who doesn't belong).

• The Truth: If you were in a relationship with him, you were part of his life's journey. You weren't "in the way." God used that time to show you who he was and, more importantly, to show you who you are.
• Even if they end up together, it doesn't mean you were a "mistake." It means God used that relationship to bring you to the point where you are now—seeking Him with "drenched tears" and finding your worth in the Eucharist.

4. The "Side Character" Lie

Whether Boaz had a wife before or not, Ruth is never treated as a "side character" or a "replacement." She is the heroine.

• You must stop viewing your life through the lens of their relationship.
• Imagine if Ruth spent all her time in the field wondering if Boaz missed his first wife or if he liked the local girls better. She wouldn't have had the strength to glean! She kept her eyes on her work and her loyalty to Naomi.

The Lesson for You:

God doesn't care about "who was there a long time ago." He cares about the heart that is seeking Him now.

Don't let the devil use "history" to steal your future. You are not a side character in their "baptized together" story. You are the daughter of God who is being refined in the fire. Whether your ex ends up with her or someone else is irrelevant to your salvation. Your Boaz is Christ. He has no "first wife" other than the Church, of which you are a full and beloved member.

The Lord is creating a new thing in you. The "former things" have passed away (Isaiah 43:18). Stop looking at their "history" and start looking at your destiny.