Bible Dictionary
Orpah
Orpah was a Moabite woman who married a son of Naomi. After her husband died, she began the journey toward Judah with Naomi but returned to her own people in Moab.
Definition
Orpah was a Moabite woman who married a son of Naomi. After her husband’s death, she began the journey from Moab toward Judah with Naomi but returned to her own people.
Biblical Usage
Orpah appears in the opening account of Ruth as the sister-in-law of Ruth and as the woman who turned back from accompanying Naomi to Judah.
Historical Background
Her name has been interpreted either as related to the Hebrew word for neck, suggesting turning back, or as meaning gazelle or fawn. The supplied material differs on whether her husband was Mahlon or Chilion.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Forelock or fawn, a Moabitess, the wife of Chilion (Ruth 1:4; 4:10). On the death of her husband she accompanied Naomi, her mother-in-law, part of the way to Bethlehem, and then returned to Moab.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(a gazelle), a Moabite woman wife of Chilion son of Naomi, and thereby sister-in-law to Ruth. (Ruth 2:4,14) (B.C. 1360.)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>or'-pa (`orpah; for meaning see below): A Moabitess, wife of Mahlon, son of Elimelech and Naomi. Unlike her sister Ru she returned to her own people after escorting Naomi on her way to Judah (Ru 1:4). Her name is supposed to be derived from the Hebrew word for "neck" (`oreph), and so to mean "stiff-necked" because of her turning-back from following her mother-in-law; others take it to mean "gazelle."</p>