The meaning of the name Elimelech is usually given as “my God is king” or “God is king.” It is a Hebrew name, and it appears in the Bible as the husband of Naomi in the Book of Ruth. The core meaning is consistent across sources. The grammar of one small part of the name is less settled, and that is explained below.
Short Answer
- Language: Hebrew. Kveller lists its origin as Biblical and Rabbinic Hebrew.
- Common translation: “My God is King,” as given by Biblehub’s topical encyclopedia and Kveller.
- Alternative readings: “God Is King” and “God Of The King,” from Abarim Publications.
How the Name Is Built
The name has two main parts, plus a connecting letter.
El (אל)
The first element is ‘el, which usually refers to God. Abarim notes that ‘el may come from the Canaanite deity whose name was applied to the God of Israel, or it may be a short form of Elohim, the general word for God. Abarim Publications explains both possibilities.
Melek (מלך)
The second element is melek, meaning “king.” Abarim also notes related Hebrew words built from the same root, such as the words for kingship and sovereignty.
The Middle Letter: Yod (י)
The letter yod sits between the two elements. Its role is the point of disagreement:
| Reading | Role of the yod | Translation | Who gives it (per Abarim) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verb reading | Belongs to the second element, forming “he is (being) a king” | God Is King | NOBSE Study Bible Name List and BDB Theological Dictionary |
| Possessive reading | Marks possession, turning el into “my el” or “el of” | God Of The King | Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names |
In plain terms, the first reading treats the name as a full sentence: “God is king.” The second treats the yod as a possessive marker, which yields something closer to “God of the king.” Both readings keep God and kingship at the center. The disagreement is about grammar, not about the broad idea.
Most popular sources, including Kveller and Biblehub, give only the “my God is king” form and do not discuss the yod. Biblehub’s Strong’s entry gives “God is king” as the short definition. Easton’s Bible Dictionary gives “God his king.”
Elimelech in the Bible
Elimelech appears in the Book of Ruth. Abarim Publications states that the Bible has only one Elimelech, and cites Ruth 1:2. The basic storyline, as summarized by several sources:
- Elimelech of Bethlehem, in Judah, leaves during a famine with his wife Naomi and two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. Biblehub’s Smith’s Bible Dictionary dates this to the time of the Judges.
- The family moves to Moab. Elimelech dies there.
- The sons marry Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. Both sons die after about ten years.
- Naomi returns to Bethlehem with Ruth. Ruth later marries Boaz, and their son Obed becomes the grandfather of King David, according to Biblehub.
Some sources add interpretation. The Chinese Church of Iowa City devotional describes Elimelech’s move as made without turning back to God. That is the devotional’s reading of the story, not a historical finding, and other readers may weigh the text differently.
Related Names
- Malchiel (מלכיאל): Abarim says this name is the reversal of Elimelech. The elements are the same, arranged in the opposite order.
- Mahlon and Chilion: The sons’ names. The devotional gives “sickly” and “failing” or “pining away” as meanings, and notes that both names appear in Ugaritic texts, which suggests they were typical Canaanite names. Scholars’ views on these meanings are not covered in the sources here.
- Naomi: The devotional gives “my delight” or “sweet” as her name’s meaning.
Modern Use
Kveller treats Elimelech as a modern baby name for boys. It notes that the nickname Eli keeps the name easier to use day to day. The sources supplied do not give data on how common the name is today.
What Remains Unclear
- The yod: The sources do not settle which grammatical reading is correct. Abarim lists both, with scholarly support for each. A reader who needs one answer should treat “My God is King” as the common translation and “God Is King” or “God of the King” as the grammatical alternatives.
- Spelling: The sources do not discuss English spelling variants such as “Elimelek.” Biblehub’s Strong’s entry uses “Elimelek” in its heading, so variant spellings do appear in reference works.