The name Elimelech combines eli (my God) and melech (king). It means 'my God is king' — a name that confesses divine sovereignty. Elimelech is the husband of Naomi and father-in-law of Ruth, whose story opens the book of Ruth.
Elimelech's story is one of tragedy and providence. When famine struck Bethlehem — 'House of Bread' — he took his wife Naomi and two sons to Moab (Ruth 1:1-2). His name means 'my God is king,' yet his flight from the promised land during famine could be read as a lack of trust in God's kingly provision. Both his sons married Moabite women (Ruth and Orpah), and then Elimelech and both sons died, leaving Naomi desolate. Yet out of this tragedy came the extraordinary story of Ruth's loyalty, Boaz's redemption, and the genealogical line that led to David and ultimately to Jesus Christ (Ruth 4:17-22). God's sovereign kingship — the very meaning of Elimelech's name — was working even in the darkest seasons.