Elimelech

Elimelech was Naomi's husband from Bethlehem who died in Moab.

The name Elimelech means “my God is king”

MaleTribe of JudahOld Testament1 book6 verses

Summary

A man living before Israel's Monarchy, first mentioned at Ruth 1:2; only referred to as Elimelech (אֱלִימֶ֫לֶךְ); son of Salma; husband of Naomi; father of Mahlon, Chilion.

Glossary entries

Elimelech

Family members

Father

Salma

Spouse

Naomi

Children

Chilion Mahlon

Alternative names

Mentions

  1. 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.
  2. Then Naomi’s husband Elimelech died, and she was left with her two sons,
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.