Who was Elimelech in the Bible?
Lived before Israel had a king
Elimelech was a man from Bethlehem in Judah, the husband of Naomi and the father of Mahlon and Chilion (Rut.1.2). Elimelech appears in 6 verses of the Bible.
What does the Bible say about Elimelech?
Elimelech was a man from Bethlehem in Judah, the husband of Naomi and the father of Mahlon and Chilion (Rut.1.2). During a time of famine, Elimelech and his family moved to the country of Moab (Rut.1.1-2). While in Moab, Elimelech died, leaving Naomi a widow (Rut.1.3). Naomi's sons, Mahlon and Chilion, married Moabite women named Ruth and Orpah, but they also died after about ten years (Rut.1.4-5). After the death of her husband and sons, Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem, and her daughter-in-law Ruth accompanied her (Rut.1.6-22). Elimelech's family had owned land in Bethlehem, which was later acquired by Boaz, a relative who married Ruth (Rut.4.3,9). Through this marriage, Elimelech's lineage was preserved, and his family's property remained within the clan.
Definition text: STEPBible · Tyndale House Cambridge. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Lightly edited for length and formatting.
Compiled by Protos: the verse list on this page. Where one name belongs to more than one person or place, each of them gets a separate entry.
Where does Elimelech appear in the Bible?
Elimelech is referenced in 6 verses. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.
- Ruth 1:2
- Ruth 1:3
- Ruth 2:1
- Ruth 2:3
- Ruth 4:3
- Ruth 4:9
What else appears in these passages?
These turn up in the same passages as Elimelech.
Common questions
How many times does the Bible mention Elimelech?
Elimelech appears in 6 verses, all of them in Ruth.
Which books of the Bible mention Elimelech?
Just one: Ruth.
Where can I read every verse about Elimelech?
This page lists 6 of them. Protos carries all 6, and opens this entry on the verse you are reading rather than in a separate tab.
