Mahlon מַחְלוֹן
Husband of Ruth, son of Elimelech and Naomi.
Who is Mahlon in the Bible?
Mahlon was the son of Elimelech and Naomi from Bethlehem, who fled to Moab during a famine in Judah (Ruth 1:2). In Moab, he married Ruth, a Moabite woman, but died while still living there, leaving Ruth a widow (Ruth 1:5). Though Mahlon himself had a brief life and left no children, his marriage to Ruth became significant in Israel's history, as Ruth later married Boaz, a kinsman-redeemer, who restored the family line and property (Ruth 4:9-10). Mahlon's story illustrates how God's providential plan unfolded even through the deaths and losses experienced by his family, ultimately positioning Ruth as the great-grandmother of King David.
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
Parents
In Scripture
1 biblical bookRuth 4 verses
- Ruth 1:2
"The man’s name was Elimelech, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah, and they entered the land of Moab and settled there."
- Ruth 1:5
"both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and without her husband."
- Ruth 4:9
"At this, Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I am buying from Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech, Chilion, and Mahlon."
- Ruth 4:10
"Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, to raise up the name of the deceased through his inheritance, so that his name will not disappear from among his brothers or from the gate of his home. You are witnesses today.”"
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | מַחְלוֹן |