Be Worthy Men

By Matt Watson

What does it mean to be a worthy man?

In Ruth 2:1, the narrator describes a relative of Elimelech named Boaz who was “a worthy man.” We must recall that the story in Ruth occurred during the time of the Judges, and then we must remember how some men at that time were described as “worthless fellows” (Judges 19:22). Why were they worthless? I’ve already written about those details elsewhere. There I said they were worthless because "they didn’t do their job to glorify God by protecting and defending” women; they were “sons of Belial,” a demon or sometimes a name synonymous with the person of Satan.

Contrast this with Boaz in Ruth 2. He is a good boss and well-liked by his employees (v. 4). He provides for his workers (v. 14). He addresses Ruth respectfully with the cultural honorific “my daughter” (v. 8). Boaz makes sure she knows she can work in his field to glean barley without fear of assault, and she can help herself to the drinking water without fear of harassment (v. 9). And he blesses her by reminding her about the Lord’s goodness (v. 12).

Men take note: this is the kind of man you need to be. Women take note: this is the kind of man you want.

Worthless men are violent, sexually perverted, abusive, passive, fearful, and selfish. Worthy men provide and protect for others, especially women and children.

Feminists will say a worthy man doesn’t exist, that there are no worthy men. They rage against the patriarchy because it’s forced into their oppressor/oppressed worldview. But it's patriarchal men who fight false masculinity and bring justice to true victims of abuse and assault because those men reflect the character of God.

What does God say about being a worthy man?

Hayil and Dynatos

The Hebrew word for worthy in this text is hayil. It has a wide range of meanings including “strength, capability, skill, valor, wealth; army, troop, warrior.” It's the same word to describe many of the judges throughout that book and of David in 1 Samuel 16:18. 1

The editors of the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament (Jesus’ Bible), translate worthy with the Greek word dynatos, from which we get the word dynamite. So, there you go.

Taken together, this paints Boaz in a flattering light. He is a gentleman landowner who provides for his tenants and workers with his generosity. He is both capable to reap and sow in the soil and capable to reap and sow in managing business transactions. He was probably a veteran and may have been called up to fight in any of the conflicts during the days of the judges, which means he knew how to wield a sword or spear. He is the quintessential example of Theodore Roosevelt’s diplomatic advice to “speak softly but carry a big stick.” Boaz was dangerous, but also meek.

How to Be a Worthy Man

So how do we be like Boaz? The short answer is to be like Christ. Our Lord is the ultimate example of biblical masculinity. He was physically strong—he swung a hammer for a living and walked everywhere—but he was also mentally fit and capable of teaching God’s Word. Jesus was a lion to the Pharisees and a lamb to the hurting and lost. He overturned tables and slung insults but was also compassionate to prostitutes, tax collectors, and his mom. As the sovereign King of the Universe, he had the ability to unleash legions of angels upon those crucifying him, yet he not only volunteered for it, but he also prayed for those driving the nails into his wrists. Jesus was dangerous, but also meek.

Here are just some other ways to be a worthy man according to the Bible:

• Being worthy means being capable, but also being wise in applying that capability (1 Kgs 2:6).

• Men provide financially, but also spiritually (Eph 5:25-28; 2 Thess 3:10; 1 Tim 5:8).

• Men protect others and train their hands for war (Ps 144:1).

• Men follow God’s Word, will, and ways (Deut 6:5; 1 Kgs 2:3; Ps 119:9).

• Men don’t treat their wives harshly, but with understanding (Col 3:19; 1 Pet 3:7).

• Men love their children and disciple them (Eph 6:4).

• Men multiply, cultivate, and have dominion over the earth (Gen 1:28).

• Men respect their dads and love their moms (Ex 20:12).

• Men manage their households well (1 Tim 3:12).

• Men obey God and defy tyrants (Acts 5:29).

There are many more examples, and I haven’t even touched on the Proverbs or wisdom literature. And for anyone reading this thinking, “Well, it’s too late, I’ve already messed that up,” then you’re in good company because we all have. In various ways and at different times I’ve failed to be a worthy man, as has your dad, Peter, Paul, and King David. The good news is that Christ helps us be more and more like him (Rom 8:29).

So while this is written explicitly for men, it is implicitly for women too. Men who are like Christ are men who are a blessing to women. Men who are strong, capable, and obedient to God are men who can lead, provide, and protect. This is the patriarchy, the design of God, and yet it’s constantly under attack by the feminists and has been since Eden when the first man failed to honor God and lead and protect his wife (Gen 3). He should have cut the head off the snake with his garden hoe rather than taking that bitter-sweet bite of the fruit. But though he didn’t, Jesus did. Men, in Christ, can be the men they need to be for their wives, children, and neighbors. Because you’re a sinner, at times you will fail. But because Christ is on his throne and has sent us his Spirit, we will get better at it.

1 William D. Mounce, Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2006), 933.

This article was originally published by Matthew Watson with Awake! Put on strength!, and is used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.