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Elimelech

Biblical
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Husband of Naomi who moved to Moab during a famine, leading to the story of Ruth

Detailed Definition
Elimelech’s death in Moab set in motion Naomi’s return with Ruth, culminating in Boaz’s redemption and David’s lineage. In poetry, Elimelech represents the unintended consequences of flight from hardship, the fragility of patriarchal security, and how loss can seed redemptive grace.
Example
Example in poetry:
In John Milton’s "Paradise Lost," Elimelech’s migration to Moab (Ruth 1) illustrates the consequences of famine and displacement; In Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s "The Seraphim," Elimelech symbolizes the patriarch whose death opens redemptive possibility; In George Herbert’s "The Church-porch," Elimelech’s name (“my God is king”) contrasts with his family’s temporary exile; In John Keble’s "Lyra Innocentium," Elimelech represents the faithful who die before seeing restoration; In Christina Rossetti’s "Goblin Market," Elimelech’s absence enables Ruth’s loyalty to Naomi; In T.S. Eliot’s "Four Quartets," Elimelech’s journey prefigures the exile that leads to grace.
Additional Notes
Elimelech: Husband of Naomi and father of Mahlon and Chilion in the Book of Ruth; his decision to leave Bethlehem during famine leads to tragedy in Moab. Though he dies early, his name (“My God is King”) ironically contrasts with his family’s displacement and loss. In poetry, Elimelech represents the consequences of well-intentioned but faith-compromising choices, the fragility of patriarchal security, and the backdrop against which Ruth’s loyalty shines. His story invites reflection on migration, divine sovereignty in suffering, and the quiet unraveling of lineage—useful in elegiac or diasporic verse.
Also Known As
Elimelech of Bethlehem Elimelech husband of Naomi
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