Chilion

Orpah’s husband, son of Elimelech and Naomi (Rth 1:2-5; Rth 4:9). An Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah (formerly Ephrath, Gen 35:19).

(Hebrews Kilyon´, כַּלְיוֹן, pining; Sept. Χελεών v. r. Χελαιών), the younger son of Elimelech and Naomi of Bethlehem, and husband of Orpah, Ruth’s sister; he died childless in the country of Moab (Rth 1:2; Rth 4:9). B.C. 1360.

[Chil’ion]

Son of Elimelech and Naomi. Rth 1:2; Rth 1:5; Rth 4:9.

By: Emil G. Hirsch, Gerson B. Levi

A son of Elimelech and Naomi, the Bethlehemites who emigrated to Moab because of the severe famine in Judea (Ruth i. 2). This might have been the reason for the name "Chilion" (wasting), as also for his brother's name "Mahlon" (disease). In Moab, Chilion married Orpah (ib.), and, after living in that land for ten years, died there.

CHILION and Mahlon were the two sons of Elimelech and Naomi (Rth 1:1-2). They married women of the Moabites—Mahlon marrying Ruth, and Chilion Orpah (Rth 4:10)—and after a sojourn of ten years in Moabite territory died there. Chilion means ‘wasting away.’ Mahlon means ‘sickly.’ Neither of these names occurs elsewhere in the Bible. The two names occur in varying order in Rth 1:2; Rth 4:9, so that no conclusion can be drawn as to which was the elder.

kil´i-on (כּליון, kilyōn, “pining,” “wasting away”): One of the two sons of Elimelech and Naomi, “Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem-judah” (Rth 1:2). With his mother and brother he came into Moab and there both married Moabite women, Orpah being the name of Chilion’s wife and Ruth that of the wife of Mahlon (Rth 4:9, Rth 4:10). Both died early and Orpah remained in Moab while Ruth accompanied Naomi back to Bethlehem. When Boaz married Ruth he “bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s, and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi” (Rth 4:9).