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.