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Naomi

Ruth’s mother-in-law

Who was Naomi?

The name
Naomi means “gracious.” When she came back to Bethlehem, she asked to be called Mara, which means “bitter.” Ruth 1:20
Also called
Mara, the name she herself asked for Ruth 1:20
From
Bethlehem of Judah Ruth 1:1-2
Naomi, an artistic recreation

What the Bible says

Ruth 1:1-2

1In the days of one of the judges, when the judges ruled, there came a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem Juda, went to sojourn in the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons. 2He was named Elimelech, and his wife, Noemi: and his two sons, the one Mahalon, and the other Chelion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem Juda. And entering into the country of Moab, they abode there.

Ruth 1:3-5, 22

3And Elimelech the husband of Noemi died: and she remained with her sons. 4And they took wives of the women of Moab, of which one was called Orpha, and the other Ruth. And they dwelt there ten years. 5And they both died, to wit, Mahalon and Chelion: and the woman was left alone, having lost both her sons and her husband. 22So Noemi came with Ruth the Moabitess her daughter in law, from the land of her sojournment: and returned into Bethlehem, in the beginning of the barley harvest.

Ruth 3:1; Ruth 4:13, 16-17

After she was returned to her mother in law, Noemi said to her: My daughter, I will seek rest for thee, and will provide that it may be well with thee.

Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.

The path of Naomi

  1. Before Jesus. There was a famine in the land, and her family left Bethlehem for Moab. Ruth 1:1-2
  2. Before Jesus. There her husband, Elimelech, died. Her two sons married two Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. Ruth 1:3-4
  3. Before Jesus. About ten years later, her two sons died too. Ruth 1:4-5
  4. With Jesus. She heard that the Lord had given his people bread, and she set out to return to Judah. Ruth 1:6-7
  5. With Jesus. She asked her daughters-in-law to go back to their mothers’ homes. Orpah went back; Ruth stayed with her. Ruth 1:8, 14-16
  6. With Jesus. When she reached Bethlehem, she told the women not to call her Naomi, but Mara. Ruth 1:19-20
  7. With Jesus. Ruth told her she had gleaned in the field of Boaz. Naomi told her that Boaz was their relative. Ruth 2:19-20
  8. With Jesus. Naomi advised Ruth to stay with the young women of Boaz, because in another field she could be mistreated. Ruth gleaned there until the end of the harvest. Ruth 2:22-23
  9. With Jesus. One day, Naomi told Ruth she wanted to find a home for her. She told her that Boaz was winnowing barley that night on the threshing floor. Ruth 3:1-2
  10. With Jesus. When Ruth came back from the threshing floor, she told Naomi everything. Naomi asked her to wait, because Boaz would not rest until he settled the matter that very day. Ruth 3:16-18
  11. Afterward. At the city gate, Boaz spoke with a closer relative. He told him that Naomi was selling the field of her husband, Elimelech. Ruth 4:1-3
  12. Afterward. When Obed, the son of Ruth and Boaz, was born, Naomi took him on her lap and raised him. Ruth 4:16
  13. Afterward. The neighbor women blessed the Lord. They said the child would support Naomi in her old age, and that Ruth, who loved her, was worth more than seven sons. Ruth 4:14-15

Words of Naomi

“Go ye home to your mothers: the Lord deal mercifully with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.” Ruth 1:8

On the way back, to her two daughters-in-law.

“Call me not Noemi, (that is, beautiful,) but call me Mara, (that is, bitter,) for the Almighty hath quite filled me with bitterness.” Ruth 1:20

When she reached Bethlehem and the women wondered if it was really her.

“Blessed be he of the Lord: because the same kindness which he shewed to the living, he hath kept also to the dead.” Ruth 2:20

When Ruth told her she had gleaned in the field of Boaz. Naomi was blessing Boaz.

“Wait my daughter, till we see what end the thing will have. For the man will not rest until he have accomplished what he hath said.” Ruth 3:18

When Ruth came back from the threshing floor with six measures of barley.

What they were like

The greatest thing they did

What people ask

Why did Naomi go to Moab?

Because there was a famine in Judah. She went with her husband and her two sons. Ruth 1:1

Why did she want to be called Mara?

She had lost her husband and her two sons. She said the Almighty had filled her with bitterness. Ruth 1:20-21

What advice did she give Ruth?

She advised her to go at night to the threshing floor, where Boaz was winnowing barley. There Boaz would tell her what to do. Ruth 3:2-4

Why did the neighbor women say a son had been born to Naomi?

Obed was the son of Ruth and Boaz. But Boaz married Ruth so that the name of Mahlon, Naomi’s son, would not be lost. Ruth 4:10, 17

What is gleaning?

Picking up the ears of grain left in the field behind the reapers. God’s Law commanded that they be left for the poor and for strangers. Ruth 2:2-3; Leviticus 19:9-10; NAB note on Rut 2, 2

What was a relative with the right of redemption?

A close relative who could buy the family’s field so it would not be lost. The closest one did not want to, and Boaz bought it. Ruth 4:4-6, 9

Her sorrow When she reached Bethlehem, she said the Almighty had filled her with bitterness and had afflicted her. Ruth 1:20-21 Little known It was the neighbor women who named…

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Who Naomi is connected to

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All the people of the Bible · The Twelve Apostles · Women of the Bible

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