Orpah

Wife of Chillon, son of Elimelech. (Ruth i. 4.) If from Sarah, the name means nakedness.

Or´pah (fawn), daughter-in-law of Naomi, who remained behind among her kindred in Moab, when Ruth returned with Naomi to Bethlehem (Rth 1:4-14) [RUTH].

The Moabites, Naomi’s daughter-in-law, who remained with her people and gods, when Ruth followed Naomi and the Lord, Rth 1:4-14 . The one was taken and the other left.\par

Or’pah. (a gazelle). A Moabite woman, wife of Chilion, son of Naomi, and thereby, sister-in-law to Ruth. Rth 2:4; Rth 2:14. (B.C. 1360).

(See NOAMI; BOAZ.) Wife of Chilion. (See CHILION.) On her husband’s death accompanied Naomi toward Bethlehem a short distance, but, in spite of professions of attachment and tears, she went back to "her people and her gods," and lost the golden opportunity which Ruth embraced of having Israel’s God for her God. "Orpah kissed her mother in law, but Ruth clave unto her" (Rth 1:14, compare Pro 17:17; Pro 18:24; compare Demas, 2Ti 4:10). Orpah’s name is now dishonoured, and her seed if she had any is consigned to oblivion. Ruth’s Seed - Jesus Christ - is the name at which every knee shall bow (Php 2:10).

[Or’pah]

Wife of Chilion son of Elimelech. She wept at parting from her mother-in-law, but she returned to Moab when Naomi with Ruth came to Canaan. Rth 1:4; Rth 1:14. She stands in contrast to Ruth, whose faith and trust in the God of Israel were so highly rewarded.

By: Executive Committee of the Editorial Board., Jacob Zallel Lauterbach

A Moabitess; daughter-in-law of Naomi, and wife of Mahlon. After the death of her husband, Orpah and her sister-in-law Ruth wished to go to Judea with Naomi. She was persuaded, however, by Naomi to return to her people and to her gods (Ruth i. 4 et seq.).

In rabbinical literature Orpah is identified with Harafa, the mother of the four Philistine giants (comp. II Sam. xxi. 22); and these four sons were said to have been given her for the four tears which she shed at parting with her mother-in-law (Soṭah 42b). She was a sister of Ruth; and both were daughters of the Moabite king Eglon (Ruth R. ii. 9). Her name was changed to "Orpah" because she turned her back on her mother-in-law (ib.; comp. Soṭah l.c.). She was killed by David's general Abishai, the son of Zeruiah (Sanh. 95a).

ORPAH.—A Moabitess, sister of Ruth and daughter-in-law of Naomi. When the latter was returning to her own country, Orpah, following Naomi’s advice, elected to go back to her own people and to her god (or gods), while her sister went with her mother-in-law (Rth 1:4-14).

ôr´pa (ערפּה, ‛orpāh; for meaning see below): A Moabitess, wife of Mahlon, son of Elimelech and Naomi. Unlike her sister Ruth she returned to her own people after escorting Naomi on her way to Judah (Rth 1:4 ff). Her name is supposed to be derived from the Hebrew word for “neck” (ערף, ‛ōreph), and so to mean “stiff-necked” because of her turning-back from following her mother-in-law; others take it to mean “gazelle.”