Lexical Summary Elimelek: Elimelech Original Word: אֱלִימֶלֶךְ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Elimelech From 'el and melek; God of (the) king; Elimelek, an Israelite -- Elimelech. see HEBREW 'el see HEBREW melek NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom el and melek Definition "God is king," the husband of Naomi NASB Translation Elimelech (6). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֱלִימֶ֫לֶךְ (& מֶֿ֑לֶח Ruth 2:1) proper name, masculine (God is king, compare מַלְכִּיאֵל) husband of Naomi Ruth 1:2,3; Ruth 2:3; Ruth 4:3,9. Topical Lexicon Biblical Context Elimelech appears exclusively in the Book of Ruth, a narrative set “in the days when the judges ruled” (Ruth 1:1). At a time marked by moral instability and the absence of a human monarch, his very name highlights the truth that ultimate rule belongs to God. The famine that begins the account propels his family from Bethlehem (“house of bread”) to Moab, initiating the chain of events leading to Ruth’s inclusion in the royal lineage of David and, ultimately, of Christ. Family Relationships Elimelech is husband to Naomi and father of Mahlon and Chilion (Ruth 1:2). This household is identified as “Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah,” linking them both to the clan of Judah and to the ancestral holdings later redeemed by Boaz. These relationships become crucial after his death, for his widow and the Moabite daughter-in-law Ruth inherit not only grief but also legal and economic vulnerability that the narrative will resolve through covenant faithfulness (ḥesed). Migration to Moab Driven by famine, Elimelech “went to the land of Moab and lived there” (Ruth 1:2). The move is significant for several reasons: The text offers no explicit moral judgment on the relocation, yet subsequent events—his death and those of his sons—show how life outside the covenant land exposes the family to hardship. Death and Its Aftermath “Naomi’s husband Elimelech died, and she was left with her two sons” (Ruth 1:3). With the patriarch gone, Naomi’s household loses both its provider and the male representative who could safeguard their inheritance. The deaths of Mahlon and Chilion compound the crisis, leaving Naomi and her daughters-in-law destitute widows. Elimelech’s absence thus creates the narrative tension that will invite Boaz to act as kinsman-redeemer. Legal and Redemptive Implications The property that once belonged to Elimelech becomes a focal point in Ruth 4. Boaz declares, “You are witnesses today that I have bought from Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech” (Ruth 4:9). Two intertwined laws converge here: 1. Land redemption (Leviticus 25:25-28) preserves tribal allotments within a clan. By purchasing the field and marrying Ruth, Boaz restores Elimelech’s line and possessions, demonstrating covenant loyalty before the elders at the city gate. Theological Themes • Divine Kingship: In a period when “everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25), the narrative subtly proclaims that God remains sovereign. Elimelech’s name serves as a silent witness to this truth. Legacy in Salvation History The lineage list in Ruth 4 culminates with David (Ruth 4:22). By restoring Elimelech’s estate, Boaz secures the legal footing for a genealogical line that Scripture traces to the Messiah (Matthew 1:5-6, 16). Thus, although Elimelech never sees the outcome, his household becomes the conduit through which God advances the promise first given to Abraham. Lessons for Christian Ministry • Faithfulness amid Crisis: Elimelech’s account warns that pragmatic choices must be measured against trust in God’s provision, yet God can redeem even misguided steps. In sum, while Elimelech’s personal narrative is brief, its ripple effects shape one of Scripture’s most compelling accounts of redemption, demonstrating that God’s sovereign rule prevails even through human frailty and loss. Forms and Transliterations אֱֽלִימֶ֡לֶךְ אֱלִימֶ֑לֶךְ אֱלִימֶ֖לֶךְ אֱלִימֶֽלֶךְ׃ אלימלך אלימלך׃ לֶֽאֱלִימֶ֔לֶךְ לֶאֱלִימֶ֑לֶךְ לאלימלך ’ĕ·lî·me·leḵ ’ĕlî·me·leḵ ’ĕlîmeleḵ eliMelech le’ĕlîmeleḵ le·’ĕ·lî·me·leḵ leeliMelechLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ruth 1:2 HEB: וְשֵׁ֣ם הָאִ֣ישׁ אֱֽלִימֶ֡לֶךְ וְשֵׁם֩ אִשְׁתּ֨וֹ NAS: of the man [was] Elimelech, and the name KJV: of the man [was] Elimelech, and the name INT: the name of the man Elimelech and the name of his wife Ruth 1:3 Ruth 2:1 Ruth 2:3 Ruth 4:3 Ruth 4:9 6 Occurrences |
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