Ruth 1 2

Ruth 1:2 kjv

And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.

Ruth 1:2 nkjv

The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion? Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there.

Ruth 1:2 niv

The man's name was Elimelek, his wife's name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there.

Ruth 1:2 esv

The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there.

Ruth 1:2 nlt

The man's name was Elimelech, and his wife was Naomi. Their two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. And when they reached Moab, they settled there.

Ruth 1 verses

Ruth 1 2 Meaning

Ruth 1:2 identifies the family of Elimelech who left Bethlehem, a town known as "House of Bread" in Judah, during a severe famine. This verse introduces Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, detailing their origins as Ephrathites from Bethlehem. Faced with desolation in their homeland, they departed from God's covenant land and sought refuge in the foreign, hostile country of Moab, where they took up residence for an unspecified period. The naming of the sons, often interpreted as portents of their early deaths, combined with their migration to a forbidden land, sets a somber and precarious tone for the narrative, hinting at the suffering and divine sovereignty to unfold.

Ruth 1 2 Context

Ruth 1:2 follows the introductory verse, which sets the scene "in the days when the judges ruled" and mentions the specific cause for migration: a famine in Judah. This places the narrative within a period of spiritual and social instability for Israel, where lawlessness was common. Elimelech's decision to move to Moab, a land often hostile to Israel and specifically excluded from full participation in God's assembly (Deut 23:3-6), reflects both the desperation brought on by the famine and perhaps a practical choice that ran counter to covenant principles. The detailed introduction of each family member by name lays the foundation for understanding their individual and collective journey, the unfolding tragedy, and God's eventual redemption through Naomi and Ruth.

Ruth 1 2 Word analysis

• The name of the man was Elimelech:

  • "name": In Hebrew thought, a name (שֵׁם, shem) often signified one's character, reputation, or even destiny.
  • "Elimelech" (אֱלִימֶלֶךְ, 'Ĕlîmeleḵ): Means "My God is King" or "God is King." This name creates profound irony given the famine in Judah (suggesting God is not providing) and Elimelech's choice to leave the land and its King (Yahweh) for Moab. It foreshadows the tragic consequence of abandoning divine kingship for worldly provision.

• and the name of his wife Naomi:

  • "Naomi" (נָעֳמִי, Nā‘omî): Means "My pleasantness," "pleasant," or "lovely." This name contrasts sharply with the bitter experience she endures, leading her later to request being called Mara ("bitter") in Ruth 1:20-21. It highlights her profound change through suffering.

• and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion:

  • "Mahlon" (מַחְלוֹן, Maḥlôn): Derived from a root meaning "sick" or "weak" (cf. חָלָה, ḥālāh, "to be weak/sick"). This name suggests frailty or infirmity.
  • "Chilion" (כִּלְיוֹן, Kiləyôn): Derived from a root meaning "to pine away," "to be consumed," or "to fail/perish" (cf. כָּלָה, kālāh, "to finish, cease, consume, perish"). This name is indicative of perishing or destruction.
  • "two sons": Their very names, "Sickly" and "Perishing," often interpreted as foreshadowing the untimely deaths that occur in Moab, contributing to Naomi's subsequent despair and setting the stage for Ruth's loyalty.

• Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah:

  • "Ephrathites" (אֶפְרָתִים, 'Ephrātîm): Refers to people from Ephrath (or Ephratah), an older, poetic name for the region around Bethlehem. This specific identifier confirms their tribal and geographic rootedness within Judah, underscoring their Israelite identity and God's covenant with them.
  • "Bethlehem" (בֵּית לֶחֶם, Bêṯ Leḥem): Means "House of Bread." The irony of a famine in the "House of Bread" drives the family's departure. This town holds profound theological significance as the future birthplace of King David and later, the Messiah, the "Bread of Life" (Mic 5:2; Jn 6:35).
  • "in Judah" (יְהוּדָה, Yehûḏâ): Specifies their tribal affiliation. Judah was the leading tribe, holding the promise of kingship and from whom the Messiah would come (Gen 49:10). Their belonging to Judah highlights their unique place within Israel and makes their departure even more notable.

• And they went to the country of Moab:

  • "went": Often in Scripture, leaving the covenant land for a foreign one (like Egypt or Moab) implies a step away from God's direct provision or covenant protection, even if driven by desperate circumstances.
  • "country of Moab" (שְׂדֵה מוֹאָב, Śədēh Môʾāḇ): "Field of Moab." Moab was historically an enemy of Israel and worshiped false gods like Chemosh. Deuteronomic law prohibited Moabites from entering the assembly of the LORD for 10 generations (Deut 23:3-6). Choosing Moab suggests a desperation that prioritized physical survival over covenantal separation and faithfulness.

• and remained there:

  • "remained there" (וַיִּהְיוּ שָׁם, wayyihyû šām): Indicates a settling in, not just a passing through. This established residence in a foreign land sets the stage for the family's entanglement with Moabite society and customs, which becomes pivotal when the sons take Moabite wives. It also contrasts with temporary sojourning allowed for foreigners within Israel.

Ruth 1 2 Bonus section

The move from Bethlehem, often on higher ground, to Moab across the Jordan River and down into the Rift Valley, might also symbolically be viewed as a spiritual "going down," much like other biblical figures who went "down to Egypt" or other foreign lands in times of trouble (Gen 12:10, Gen 46:5-7, Ex 1:1, Isa 30:2-3). This spatial metaphor often implies a deviation from trust in God's provision within His promised land. The fact that Ruth, a Moabite woman, ultimately returns to Bethlehem and becomes part of the Messianic lineage, underscores God's immense grace and His redemptive plan reaching beyond tribal and national boundaries. It contrasts the human family's decision to leave with God's divine call to return and His providential working to bring foreigners into His people.

Ruth 1 2 Commentary

Ruth 1:2 serves as a foundational verse, meticulously introducing the key players and their background while subtly foreshadowing the narrative's themes of famine, migration, loss, and ultimate redemption. The precise identification of the family's origin as "Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah" is critical, grounding them firmly in the covenant land and Davidic lineage, contrasting starkly with their decision to seek sustenance in Moab. The famine in "House of Bread" (Bethlehem) propels their departure, presenting a profound irony that God would later overcome through the arrival of the ultimate "Bread of Life" in that very town.

The names chosen for the family members carry significant weight: Elimelech ("My God is King") leaving the land where God is supposed to reign; Naomi ("Pleasantness") experiencing deep bitterness; and their sons Mahlon ("Sickly") and Chilion ("Perishing"), whose names eerily prefigure their early deaths. Their relocation to Moab, a land prohibited to Israel for religious and historical reasons, represents a decision born of human desperation in a period of spiritual decline ("when the judges ruled"). This choice, though understandable given the circumstances, inadvertently positions them outside the direct blessings of the covenant, setting the stage for trials. However, the ensuing events ultimately demonstrate God's sovereign hand, using human choices and suffering to weave a narrative of unexpected grace and provision, leading to Ruth's integration into Israel and the eventual lineage of Christ. This verse highlights the tension between human choice and divine purpose, illustrating how God can work even through situations that seem to defy His law, to accomplish His greater redemptive plan.