The BibleGospel Companion

Naomi

נׇעֳמִי · no.o.mi · H5281מָרָא · ma.ra · H4755“beautiful; agreeable” Hitchcock's 186920 mentions, all in Ruth
Illustration — not a likeness; generated for Gospel Companion in the app's painting style — Naomi
Illustration — not a likeness; generated for Gospel Companion in the app's painting style

Who she was

Naomi, later known as Mara, was an Israelite woman from Bethlehem who played a significant role in the Book of Ruth. She was the wife of Elimelech and the mother of Mahlon and Chilion.

During a time of famine, Naomi and her family moved to the land of Moab. While there, her sons married Moabite women, Ruth and Orpah. Tragically, Elimelech and both of Naomi's sons died, leaving her widowed and childless (Ruth 1:1–5).

Hearing that the famine in Israel had ended, Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem. She encouraged her daughters-in-law to remain in Moab, but Ruth insisted on accompanying her (Ruth 1:6–18). Upon their arrival in Bethlehem, Naomi expressed her bitterness, saying, "Call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me" (Ruth 1:20). The name "Mara" means "bitter" in Hebrew.

Naomi played a crucial role in guiding Ruth and helping her find security and provision. She instructed Ruth to glean in the fields of Boaz, a relative of Elimelech (Ruth 2:1–3). Later, Naomi encouraged Ruth to seek marriage with Boaz as a kinsman-redeemer, following Israelite custom (Ruth 3:1–4).

Through Boaz and Ruth's marriage, Naomi's lineage was preserved. When their son Obed was born, the women of Bethlehem declared to Naomi, "Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer" (Ruth 4:14). Obed became the grandfather of King David, making Naomi an ancestor of both David and, ultimately, Jesus Christ.

Naomi's story is one of loss, faithfulness, and redemption. Her journey from bitterness to joy, through the love and loyalty of Ruth and the providence of God, has made her an enduring example of faith and resilience.

Article: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

Family

SpouseElimelechChildrenMahlon, Chilion
Family relations: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

Every mention

20 references, counted from STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0 · verse text: World English Bible (public domain)

Ruth 20 mentions

Ruth 1:2The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi. The names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem Judah. They came into the country of Moab and…Ruth 1:3Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left with her two sons.Ruth 1:8Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May Yahweh deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.Ruth 1:11Naomi said, “Go back, my daughters. Why do you want to go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?Ruth 1:19So they both went until they came to Bethlehem. When they had come to Bethlehem, all the city was excited about them, and they asked, “Is this Naomi?”Ruth 1:20She said to them, “Don’t call me Naomi. Call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.Ruth 1:21I went out full, and Yahweh has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since Yahweh has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?”Ruth 1:22So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, who returned out of the country of Moab. They came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.Ruth 2:1Naomi had a relative of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech, and his name was Boaz.Ruth 2:2Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Let me now go to the field, and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I find favor.” She said to her, “Go, my daughter.”Ruth 2:6The servant who was set over the reapers answered, “It is the Moabite lady who came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab.Ruth 2:20Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by Yahweh, who has not abandoned his kindness to the living and to the dead.” Naomi said to her, “The man is a close relative to us…Ruth 2:22Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his maidens, and that they not harm you in any other field.”Ruth 3:1Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?Ruth 4:3He said to the near kinsman, “Naomi, who has come back out of the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech’s.Ruth 4:5Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must buy it also from Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead on his…Ruth 4:9Boaz said to the elders and to all the people, “You are witnesses today, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, from the hand of Naomi.Ruth 4:14The women said to Naomi, “Blessed be Yahweh, who has not left you today without a near kinsman. Let his name be famous in Israel.Ruth 4:16Naomi took the child, laid him in her bosom, and became nurse to him.Ruth 4:17The women, her neighbors, gave him a name, saying, “A son is born to Naomi”. They named him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

What the dictionary says

The lovable; my delight, the wife of Elimelech, and mother of Mahlon and Chilion, and mother-in-law of Ruth (1:2, 20, 21; 2:1).

Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
Read the article →

Sources