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 1:2KJV
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Ruth 1:2 (KJV)

What does Ruth 1:2 mean?

Ruth 1:2 introduces the main family in the story: Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and their two sons Mahlon and Chilion, who are from Bethlehem in Judah. The verse says they traveled to the country of Moab and settled there.

This verse sets the scene for the book of Ruth by naming the key people and their origin. The family leaves their hometown during a difficult time (a famine, mentioned in the previous verse) and moves to Moab, a neighboring nation. This move is significant because it takes them away from their land and people, setting up the challenges and events that follow in the story.

Where else these words appear

“Chilion” Hebrew H3630 · used in 3 verses

  • Ruth 1:5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.
  • Ruth 4:9 And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi.

“Mahlon” Hebrew H4248 · used in 4 verses

  • Ruth 1:5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.
  • Ruth 4:9 And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi.
  • Ruth 4:10 Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.

“Ephrathites” Hebrew H673 · used in 5 verses

  • Judges 12:5 And the Gileadites took the passages of Jordan before the Ephraimites: and it was so, that when those Ephraimites which were escaped said, Let me go over; that the men of Gilead said unto him, Art thou an Ephraimite? If he said, Nay;
  • 1 Samuel 1:1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:
  • 1 Samuel 17:12 Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul.

“Elimelech” Hebrew H458 · used in 6 verses

  • Ruth 1:3 And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.
  • Ruth 2:1 And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.
  • Ruth 4:3 And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's: