Naomi
Israelite / Jew Hebrew, of Bethlehem-judah (Ephrathite) · Conquest & Judges · Old Testament
- Also called
- Mara
- Name means
- Pleasant
- Role
- Mother-in-law of Ruth
- When
- The days of the judges
What they did
Went to Moab in a famine and lost her husband and both sons. She returned to Bethlehem saying 'call me Mara', but guided Ruth to Boaz and nursed her grandson Obed.
Why it matters: the purpose of their role
God turned her bitterness into joy; through her the Moabite Ruth came to trust the God of Israel and joined the line of David.
And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. Ruth 1:20 (KJV)
Bible references
And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Beth-lehem-judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there. Ruth 1:2 (KJV)
And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me? Ruth 1:20-21 (KJV)
And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen. Ruth 2:20 (KJV)
And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him. And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it. And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David. Ruth 4:14-17 (KJV)
Family
- Spouse(s)
- Elimelech
- Children
- Mahlon, Chilion
The women said, 'There is a son born to Naomi' when Obed was born (Ruth 4:17).