Mahlon מַחְלוֹן

Male Tribe of Judah H4248 1 book

Husband of Ruth, son of Elimelech and Naomi.

Biography

Mahlon was the son of Elimelech and Naomi from Bethlehem in Judah. He had a brother named Chilion. Due to a famine in Judah, Elimelech took his family to live in the country of Moab. There, Mahlon married a Moabite woman named Ruth. However, Elimelech, Mahlon, and Chilion all died in Moab, leaving Naomi and her daughters-in-law as widows. When Naomi decided to return to Judah, Ruth chose to go with her. In Bethlehem, Boaz, a relative of Elimelech, acted as a kinsman-redeemer. He married Ruth and bought the property that had belonged to Elimelech, Chilion, and Mahlon to maintain their inheritance (Rut.1.2, 5; 4.9, 10).

Family

In Scripture

1 biblical book
Ruth 4 verses
  • Ruth 1:2

    "The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi. The names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem Judah. They came into the country of Moab and lived there."

  • Ruth 1:5

    "Mahlon and Chilion both died, and the woman was bereaved of her two children and of her husband."

  • Ruth 4:9

    "Boaz said to the elders and to all the people, “You are witnesses today, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, from the hand of Naomi."

  • Ruth 4:10

    "Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, I have purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead on his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brothers and from the gate of his place. You are witnesses today.”"

Names & Aliases

Form Language Script Strong's
Named Hebrew מַחְלוֹן H4248
Encyclopedia Article

Mahlon

ISBE 1915 (Public Domain)

vid's descent and that of his "Greater Son" come through Ru and Boaz (Ru 4:22).

ma'-hol (machol, "dance"; compare bene-machol, "sons of dance"): The father of the 4 sages reputed next in wisdom to Solomon (1Ki 4:31). Their names were Ethan, Heman, Chalcol, Darda