Naomi's husband from Bethlehem.
Elimelech
Named in 6 verses of Ruth, first in Ruth 1:2.
אֱלִימֶ֫לֶךְElimelech
The name means “my God is king.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869
About Elimelech Written by AI
Elimelech was a man from Bethlehem in Judah, the husband of Naomi and the father of Mahlon and Chilion (Ruth 1:2). During a time of famine, Elimelech and his family moved to the country of Moab (Ruth 1:1 to 2). While in Moab, Elimelech died, leaving Naomi a widow (Ruth 1:3). Naomi's sons, Mahlon and Chilion, married Moabite women named Ruth and Orpah, but they also died after about ten years (Ruth 1:4 to 5). After the death of her husband and sons, Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem, and her daughter-in-law Ruth accompanied her (Ruth 1:6 to 22). Elimelech's family had owned land in Bethlehem, which was later acquired by Boaz, a relative who married Ruth (Ruth 4:3). Through this marriage, Elimelech's lineage was preserved, and his family's property remained within the clan.
Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.
Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897
God his king, a man of the tribe of Judah, of the family of the Hezronites, and kinsman of Boaz, who dwelt in Bethlehem in the days of the judges. In consequence of a great dearth he, with his wife Naomi and his two sons, went to dwell in the land of Moab. There he and his sons died (Ruth 1:2,3; 2:1,3; 4:3,9). Naomi afterwards returned to Palestine with her daughter Ruth.
M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.
Where the Bible names him
- Ruth 1:2
The man’s name was Elimelech, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah, and they entered the land of Moab and settled there.
- Ruth 1:3
Then Naomi’s husband Elimelech died, and she was left with her two sons,
- Ruth 2:1
Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side, a prominent man of noble character from the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.
- Ruth 2:3
So Ruth departed and went out into the field and gleaned after the harvesters. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelech.
- Ruth 4:3
And he said to the kinsman-redeemer, “Naomi, who has returned from the land of Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our brother Elimelech.
- Ruth 4:9
At this, Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I am buying from Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech, Chilion, and Mahlon.
From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.