"Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. And the name of the man was Elimelech."
Biblical Name · Hebrew Origin
Elimelech Meaning in the Bible
Elimelech
boy
Elimelech means "my God is King," a Hebrew name (eh-LIM-eh-lek). In the King James Bible he is Naomi's husband, a man of Bethlehemjudah who took his family to Moab during a famine and died there (Ruth 1:1-3). His death sets up the story of Ruth and Boaz.
Is Elimelech in the Bible?
Yes — Elimelech appears in the King James Bible, including Ruth 1:1-2.
Pronunciation:/eh-LIM-eh-lek/
OriginHebrew
MeaningMy God is King
What does Elimelech mean?
Elimelech is a boy name of Hebrew origin meaning "My God is King". Elimelech means "my God is King" in Hebrew. He was Naomi's husband and the father of Mahlon and Chilion — the family whose journey from Bethlehem to Moab set in motion the events of the Book of Ruth.
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Editor’s reflection
'My God is King' — a man whose name confessed more than his choices did.
Elimelech (אֱלִימֶלֶךְ) joins Eli ('my God') with melek ('king'): 'my God is King.' It is one of the strongest theological names in the Hebrew Bible, and it belongs to a man the book of Ruth mentions in four verses and then buries.
Elimelech is 'a certain man of Bethlehemjudah' who leaves the covenant land during a famine and sojourns in Moab (Ruth 1:1–2). The text never condemns him outright, and readers have argued about it for centuries: was leaving prudent provision for his family, or quiet distrust of the God his own name calls King? What Scripture does record is that he dies in Moab, and that the land and lineage he left behind are later redeemed by Boaz — who buys 'all that was Elimelech's' (Ruth 4:9) to raise up the line that runs to David and to Christ.
The name survives mostly in Jewish usage and in fiction, but its meaning has outlived the man. It sits alongside Elijah ('my God is the LORD') and Elkanah ('God has possessed') as one of the El- names that make a whole sentence of faith out of two syllables.
“The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi.”
Why parents choose Elimelech today
- •A complete confession of faith in a single name: 'my God is King'
- •Central to the book of Ruth and therefore to David's line
- •Shortens naturally to Eli, one of the most popular boys' names of the decade
- •Rare in full form, so it carries the meaning without the crowd
What does Elimelech mean in the Bible?
Elimelech means "My God is King" and is a name of Hebrew origin. Below is what Scripture and Christian tradition attach to that meaning.
Elimelech means "my God is King" in Hebrew. He was Naomi's husband and the father of Mahlon and Chilion — the family whose journey from Bethlehem to Moab set in motion the events of the Book of Ruth.
When famine struck Bethlehem — ironically "the house of bread" — Elimelech took his family to the foreign land of Moab. This decision, while understandable, moved them away from the community of God's people. In Moab, Elimelech died, followed by both sons, leaving Naomi destitute with two Moabite daughters-in-law.
Elimelech's story raises profound questions about faith and pragmatism. His name declared "my God is King," yet his actions suggested that circumstances, not God, determined his family's direction. The famine was real, but many families stayed in Bethlehem and survived.
Yet God's sovereignty shines through even this departure. Had Elimelech not gone to Moab, Ruth would never have married into the family, never returned to Bethlehem with Naomi, never met Boaz, and never become the great-grandmother of King David.
Where does Elimelech appear in the Bible (KJV)?
Elimelech is connected to 2 key passages in the King James Bible, beginning with Ruth 1:1-2. Each verse is quoted in full below.
"And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons."
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What are the variants and nicknames of Elimelech?
Elimelech has 1 recorded variant, short form, and translation across languages and biblical traditions.
Variants & related forms
Which books of the Bible mention Elimelech?
Elimelech is mentioned across 1 book of the Bible. Follow any book below to read it in the KJV.
What is the spiritual meaning of Elimelech?
Elimelech — 'my God is King' — left the land of promise during famine. His story asks: do we truly let God reign, or do we take matters into our own hands when circumstances grow difficult?
Related Promises of God
Promises connected to the meaning of the name Elimelech:
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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What names are related to Elimelech?
Names like Elimelech
Other Hebrew biblical names that share the spirit of "My God is King" — discovered by matching meaning category and origin.
Names that pair well with Elimelech
Sibling sets, middle-name combinations, and complementary pairings chosen for matching origin, meaning, and similar syllable weight.
Elizabeth
girl
"God is my oath"
Elimelech & Elizabeth
Eliana
girl
"My God has answered"
Elimelech & Eliana
Magdalene
girl
"Of Magdala or tower"
Elimelech & Magdalene
Rebecca
girl
"To bind or captivate"
Elimelech & Rebecca
Seraphina
girl
"Burning one; Fiery angel"
Elimelech & Seraphina
Abigail
girl
"Father's joy; Source of joy"
Elimelech & Abigail
Share the meaning of Elimelech
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Elimelech name meaning: frequently asked questions
The KJV never says so directly. Ruth 1 records only that famine drove him to sojourn in Moab and that he died there. Many readers note the irony that a man named 'my God is King' left the land of that King, but the book's judgment is left implicit; its interest is in how Naomi's emptiness is answered through Ruth and Boaz.
Yes — Elimelech appears in the King James Bible, including Ruth 1:1-2.
Elimelech means "My God is King." It is a Hebrew name. The King James Bible uses it in Ruth 1:1-2, so the meaning is carried by a real person in Scripture.
Common questions about the name Elimelech
Can I download a free King James Bible PDF to study the name Elimelech?
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 Elimelech?
You can read every verse where Elimelech 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.