"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."
Biblical Name · Hebrew Origin
Chilion Meaning in the Bible
Chilion
boy
Chilion means "Pining; Wasting away; Completion", a boy's name of Hebrew origin. Chilion appears in the King James Bible, and Ruth 1:2 is the passage most often tied to it. Chilion's early death in a foreign land set in motion the story of redemption through Ruth. Even in tragedy, God was arranging the pieces for His greatest work — turning loss into the lineage of the Messiah.
Is Chilion in the Bible?
Yes — Chilion appears in the King James Bible, including Ruth 1:2.
Pronunciation:/KIL-ee-on/
OriginHebrew
MeaningPining; Wasting away; Completion
What does Chilion mean?
Chilion is a boy name of Hebrew origin meaning "Pining; Wasting away; Completion". Chilion means "pining" or "wasting away" in Hebrew — a sorrowful name that proved prophetically accurate.
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Editor’s reflection
One of the two sons of Naomi — and a name that means exactly what happened to him.
Chilion (Hebrew כִּלְיוֹן, Kilyon) is built on the root kalah, 'to finish, to be spent, to come to an end.' It is usually rendered 'wasting away' or 'consumption.' Together with his brother Mahlon ('sickness'), the pair carry names that read like an omen the moment they are introduced in Ruth 1:2.
Both brothers leave Bethlehem with Elimelech and Naomi during the famine, settle in Moab, marry Moabite women — Orpah and Ruth — and die there within ten years, leaving Naomi with two foreign daughters-in-law and no heir. Chilion has no dialogue and no recorded act. His entire function in Scripture is to make the emptiness of Ruth 1 real, so that the redemption of Ruth 4 has something to answer.
Because of that, Chilion is essentially never given as a modern name, and honestly it should not be. It is worth knowing for a different reason: it is one of the clearest examples in the KJV of Hebrew naming as narrative shorthand rather than blessing. If you came here looking for a Ruth-adjacent name to actually use, Boaz, Obed, Naomi and Ruth carry the redemption side of the same story.
“And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.”
What does Chilion mean in the Bible?
Chilion means "Pining; Wasting away; Completion" and is a name of Hebrew origin. Below is what Scripture and Christian tradition attach to that meaning.
Chilion means "pining" or "wasting away" in Hebrew — a sorrowful name that proved prophetically accurate. He was one of Elimelech and Naomi's two sons who left Bethlehem for Moab during a famine, married Moabite women, and died there within ten years.
Chilion married Orpah, who would later kiss Naomi goodbye and return to her Moabite roots — in contrast to Ruth (who married Mahlon), whose loyal declaration "whither thou goest, I will go" became one of Scripture's most beloved commitments.
The deaths of Chilion and Mahlon in Moab set the entire plot of Ruth in motion. Without their deaths, Naomi would never have returned to Bethlehem, Ruth would never have gleaned in Boaz's field, and the lineage leading to David and Jesus would have taken a different path.
Chilion and Mahlon's names — "wasting away" and "sickness" — have led some scholars to see them as literary signals that this family's time in Moab was marked by spiritual and physical decline. Their stories serve as a backdrop against which Ruth's extraordinary faithfulness shines all the brighter.
Where does Chilion appear in the Bible (KJV)?
Chilion is connected to 2 key passages in the King James Bible, beginning with Ruth 1:2. Each verse is quoted in full below.
"And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband."
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Which books of the Bible mention Chilion?
Chilion is mentioned across 1 book of the Bible. Follow any book below to read it in the KJV.
What is the spiritual meaning of Chilion?
Chilion's early death in a foreign land set in motion the story of redemption through Ruth. Even in tragedy, God was arranging the pieces for His greatest work — turning loss into the lineage of the Messiah.
Related Promises of God
Promises connected to the meaning of the name Chilion:
God Promises to Be Faithful
Bible promises about God's unwavering faithfulness in every situation.
God Promises Contentment Through Him
Bible promises about finding true satisfaction and contentment in God.
God Promises to Answer Prayer
Bible promises that God hears and answers the prayers of His people.
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Word Meaning
Faithfulness (אֱמוּנָה (emunah))
Steadfast reliability and trustworthiness — firm, unwavering loyalty.
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Word Meaning
Remnant (Sheerith) (שְׁאֵרִית (sheerith))
The faithful few — those who remain loyal to God when the majority falls away.
What names are related to Chilion?
Names like Chilion
Other Hebrew biblical names that share the spirit of "Pining; Wasting away; Completion" — discovered by matching meaning category and origin.
Names that pair well with Chilion
Sibling sets, middle-name combinations, and complementary pairings chosen for matching origin, meaning, and similar syllable weight.
Share the meaning of Chilion
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Chilion name meaning: frequently asked questions
Chilion means 'wasting away' or 'coming to an end,' from the Hebrew root kalah. In Ruth 1 he dies in Moab with his brother Mahlon. It is a genuinely biblical name but a foreboding one, and it is not used as a given name today; families drawn to the book of Ruth usually choose Boaz, Obed, Ruth or Naomi instead.
Yes — Chilion appears in the King James Bible, including Ruth 1:2.
Chilion means "Pining; Wasting away; Completion." It is a Hebrew name. The King James Bible uses it in Ruth 1:2, so the meaning is carried by a real person in Scripture.
Common questions about the name Chilion
Can I download a free King James Bible PDF to study the name Chilion?
Yes. The complete King James Bible is available as a free PDF download — all 66 books, 1,189 chapters, ready to read offline or print. No sign-up required.
Where can I read the full biblical context for Chilion?
You can read every verse where Chilion appears in the King James Bible by downloading the free KJV PDF or reading online. The download page also includes a bookmarked Book of Psalms KJV PDF for easy reference.