The BibleGospel Companion

Mara

Every entry below is printed as its editors wrote it, with the edition named.

Easton's 1897Smith's 1884ISBE 19151 verse reference

Easton's 1897

Bitter; sad, a symbolical name which Naomi gave to herself because of her misfortunes (Ruth 1:20).

Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897) · public domain

Smith's 1884

(sad, bitter), the name which Naomi adopted in the exclamation forced from her by the recognition of her fellow citizens at Bethlehem. (Ruth 1:20)

Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884) · public domain

ISBE 1915

From the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915). Where it reports or adopts critical theories, those are the views of its writers or the scholars they cite; Gospel Companion holds the historic Christian view of Scripture.

ma'-ra, mar'-a (marah, "bitter"): The term which Naomi applies to herself on her return from Moab to her native country (Ru 1:20). Changed beyond recognition, she creates astonishment among her former acquaintances, who ask, "Is this Naomi?" She replies, "Call me not Naomi" (i.e. "pleasant" or "sweet"), but "call me Mara" (i.e. "bitter"). In the light of her bitter experience, and her present pitiable plight, the old name has become peculiarly inappropriate.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915) · public domain

In Scripture

Ruth 1:20
1 reference found in the entries above · verse links open the World English Bible

Sources