מַחְלוֹן
Machlon, an Israelite
Definition
Machlon is a proper name meaning 'sickly' or 'weakness,' derived from the Hebrew root for sickness. In the Bible, Machlon is exclusively the name of one of the two sons of Elimelech and Naomi from Bethlehem, as recorded in the Book of Ruth (Ruth 1:2). He marries the Moabite woman Ruth, but dies childless in the land of Moab (Ruth 1:5). His name and fate directly set the stage for the central themes of redemption and lineage restoration, as his widow Ruth becomes the wife of Boaz, who redeems the family's inheritance (Ruth 4:9-10).
Biblical Usage
The name Machlon is used only four times in the Old Testament, all within the Book of Ruth. It identifies a specific individual whose death creates a legal and familial crisis. The usage is strictly narrative, establishing his role as the deceased husband of Ruth and the son whose lineage and property require redemption by a kinsman-redeemer (go'el), as detailed in Ruth 4.
Etymology
The name Machlon (מַחְלוֹן) is a derivative of the Hebrew root חָלָה (chalâh, H2470), meaning 'to be weak, sick, or afflicted.' It is a nominal form meaning 'sickness' or 'one who is sickly.' This etymological meaning is often considered descriptive, possibly reflecting the character's fate or a condition at birth.
Semantic Range
Though a personal name, Machlon is theologically significant within the narrative of redemption in Ruth. His death without an heir creates the need for a kinsman-redeemer (go'el), a key Old Testament concept pointing to God's provision and the preservation of family lineage. This story is a crucial link in the genealogy of King David and, ultimately, Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5), showing how God works through human loss and covenant faithfulness to fulfill His promises.
In ancient Israelite culture, names often carried descriptive meaning or reflected circumstances. Machlon's name ('sickly') may indicate he was born frail or became ill, which would have been a source of grief and potential stigma. His death in a foreign land (Moab) and without children was a severe tragedy, representing the extinction of his family line and loss of inheritance, making the subsequent redemption by Boaz a powerful cultural and legal restoration.
Kilyon (Kiljon, H3630) — Machlon's brother, whose name also derives from a root meaning 'destruction' or 'pining away,' similarly reflecting misfortune.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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