### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew lemma מַחְלוֹן (Machlôwn), Strong's `{{H4248}}`, is a masculine proper noun. Its etymological root is derived from the verb חָלָה (chalâh), Strong's `{{H2470}}`, which signifies "to be sick, weak, or diseased." Consequently, the name Machlon inherently carries the meaning of "sickness" or "sickly." As a proper noun, its primary function is to identify a specific individual; however, the connotative meaning embedded in its etymology lends a poignant and, in retrospect, tragic dimension to the character it names.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
Machlon appears exclusively within the Book of Ruth. He is first introduced as one of the two sons of Elimelech and Naomi, a family from Bethlehem in Judah ([[Ruth 1:2]]). Due to a severe famine in their homeland, the family migrates to the land of Moab ([[Ruth 1:1-2]]). In Moab, Machlon marries Orpah, a Moabitess, while his brother Chilion marries Ruth ([[Ruth 1:4]]). The narrative then takes a sorrowful turn as Machlon dies in Moab, following the earlier death of his father Elimelech, and preceding the death of his brother Chilion ([[Ruth 1:3]], [[Ruth 1:5]]). These deaths leave Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth as widows, plunging Naomi into deep grief and a sense of divine affliction ([[Ruth 1:13]], [[Ruth 1:20-21]]). The name "Machlon," meaning "sickly," acquires a profound, almost prophetic, irony in light of his premature demise. While the name does not explicitly state the cause of his death, its meaning subtly foreshadows or reflects his fate, serving as a somber commentary on his brief life.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **חָלָה (chalâh) `{{H2470}}`**: The direct verbal root of Machlon's name, meaning "to be sick, weak, diseased, to grieve, to be wounded." This connection underscores the theme of physical and emotional affliction.
* **כִּלְיוֹן (Kilyown) `{{H3633}}`**: Machlon's brother, Chilion, whose name is derived from כָּלָה (kalâh) `{{H3615}}`, meaning "to complete, finish, perish, consume." The names of both brothers, Machlon ("sickly") and Chilion ("perishing"), bear a striking and tragic resonance with their early deaths, hinting at frailty and cessation.
* **Famine (רָעָב - ra'av `{{H7458}}`)**: The initial hardship that compels Elimelech's family to leave Judah, a condition often associated with illness and death.
* **Widowhood (אַלְמָנָה - almanah `{{H490}}`)**: The state of profound loss and vulnerability experienced by Naomi, Ruth, and Orpah, directly resulting from the deaths of Machlon, Chilion, and Elimelech.
* **Loss and Grief**: Central emotional themes that permeate the opening chapters of the Book of Ruth, vividly expressed through Naomi's laments and her altered perception of herself.
### Theological Significance
The name Machlon, meaning "sickly," serves as a poignant reminder of the inherent fragility of human existence and the pervasive reality of suffering within a fallen world. His untimely death, alongside his father and brother, profoundly impacts Naomi, who interprets these losses as the "hand of the Lord" having gone out against her ([[Ruth 1:20-21]]). While the text refrains from explicitly stating their deaths were a direct divine punishment for their sojourn in Moab, Naomi's perspective highlights a theological understanding of suffering as potentially emanating from God's sovereign will. Crucially, the tragic demise of Machlon and Chilion creates the necessary void that sets the stage for the redemptive arc of the Book of Ruth. Their deaths necessitate the application of the levirate marriage law and the kinsman-redeemer concept, ultimately leading to Ruth's marriage to Boaz and the continuation of Elimelech's lineage through Obed, who becomes the grandfather of King David and an ancestor of the Messiah. Thus, even through names that connote weakness and death, God's intricate and sovereign plan unfolds, transforming sorrow into the foundation for future blessing and the establishment of the Davidic line.
### Summary
מַחְלוֹן (Machlôwn), Strong's `{{H4248}}`, is a Hebrew proper noun derived from חָלָה (chalâh) `{{H2470}}`, meaning "sickly" or "sickness." He is introduced in the Book of Ruth as the son of Elimelech and Naomi and the husband of Orpah. His death in Moab, along with his father and brother Chilion (`{{H3633}}`), leaves Naomi a desolate widow and serves as the catalyst for the subsequent narrative of Ruth's loyalty and God's providential care. The meaning of Machlon's name tragically foreshadows his early demise, underscoring the themes of human fragility and loss prevalent in the opening chapters of Ruth. Theologically, Machlon's death, though a source of profound sorrow, is a pivotal event that creates the circumstances through which God's redemptive plan for Naomi and the lineage leading to King David and ultimately the Messiah is unfolded, demonstrating divine sovereignty even amidst profound human suffering.
TRV