Lexical Summary Machlon: Mahlon Original Word: מַחְלוֹן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Mahlon From chalah; sick; Machlon, an Israelite -- Mahlon. see HEBREW chalah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition the first husband of Ruth NASB Translation Mahlon (4). Brown-Driver-Briggs מַחְלוֺן proper name, masculine son of Elimelech and Naomi, first husband of Ruth, Ruth 1:2,5; Ruth 4:9,10, ᵐ5 Μααλων. Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrences Ruth 1:2; Ruth 1:5; Ruth 4:9; Ruth 4:10 Historical Setting Mahlon lived during the turbulent era of the Judges when “everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). A famine drove Elimelech and Naomi from Bethlehem to Moab, an act that foreshadowed the spiritual barrenness of Israel and set the stage for God’s redemptive providence. Family Connections • Father: Elimelech, an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah. Life in Moab The ten-year sojourn in Moab (Ruth 1:4) represents Israel’s vulnerability to foreign influence. Mahlon’s marriage to Ruth illustrates both the reach of God’s grace beyond ethnic Israel and the risks of assimilation. Yet Scripture never condemns the marriage; rather, it uses it to display God’s sovereign plan. Death and Its Aftermath Mahlon and Chilion “also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and without her husband” (Ruth 1:5). The triple bereavement left three widows in a patriarchal society, highlighting the helplessness that only divine intervention could remedy. Mahlon’s death becomes the hinge on which the book turns from tragedy to redemption. Redemption through Boaz The near kinsman’s refusal (Ruth 4:6) and Boaz’s acceptance activated the levirate and land-redemption laws (Leviticus 25; Deuteronomy 25). When Boaz acquired Mahlon’s estate, he declared, “Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, to perpetuate the deceased man’s name on his inheritance” (Ruth 4:10). Thus Mahlon’s line was restored, securing his rightful place in Israel despite his absence in life. Genealogical Significance Through Boaz and Ruth came Obed, Jesse, and David (Ruth 4:17–22). Mahlon, though childless in life, is placed within the royal lineage that culminates in Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5–6). His brief biography therefore intersects directly with the messianic promise first given in Genesis 3:15 and expanded through the Davidic covenant (2 Samuel 7:12–16). Theological Themes 1. Providence: Mahlon’s untimely death illustrates how God weaves apparent tragedies into His redemptive tapestry. Ministry Application • Care for Widows: Mahlon’s account underscores the biblical mandate to defend and provide for the marginalized (James 1:27). Summary Mahlon’s brief appearance in Scripture powerfully advances the narrative of redemption, demonstrating that even unnoticed lives are integral to God’s unfolding plan. His legacy endures not through heroic deeds but through the faithfulness of God, the obedience of Ruth, and the redemptive act of Boaz, all of which lead to the advent of the Messiah. Forms and Transliterations וּמַחְל֑וֹן ומחלון מַחְל֜וֹן מַחְל֣וֹן מַחְל֤וֹן מחלון machLon maḥ·lō·wn maḥlōwn ū·maḥ·lō·wn umachLon ūmaḥlōwnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ruth 1:2 HEB: שְׁנֵֽי־ בָנָ֣יו ׀ מַחְל֤וֹן וְכִלְיוֹן֙ אֶפְרָתִ֔ים NAS: sons [were] Mahlon and Chilion, KJV: sons Mahlon and Chilion, INT: of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion Ephrathites Ruth 1:5 Ruth 4:9 Ruth 4:10 4 Occurrences |
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