Orpah

thumb|240px|Orpah (right) leaving Ruth (biblical figure)|Ruth and Naomi. Engraving by [[Hendrik Goltzius, 1576.]] thumb|240px|Woodcut by Julius Schnorr von Karolsfeld Orpah ( ʿOrpā, meaning "neck" or "fawn") is a woman mentioned in the Book of Ruth in the Hebrew Bible. She was from Moab and was the daughter-in-law of Naomi and wife of Chilion. After the death of her husband, Orpah and her sister-in-law Ruth wished to go to Judea with Naomi. However, Naomi tried to persuade both Ruth and Orpah to return to their people and to their gods. Ruth chose to remain with Naomi, but Orpah chose to return to her people and her gods. (Ruth i. 4 et seq.).

== In rabbinicism == In rabbinic literature, the treatment of Orpah is almost entirely negative. Babylonian Talmud () identifies Orpah with Harapha, the mother of the four Philistine giants (2 Samuel 21:16), one of whom was Goliath. These four sons were said to have been given her for the four tears which she shed at parting with her mother-in-law.