Naomi
femaleJudgesMeaning: “Pleasant”
A widow of Bethlehem who lost her husband and sons in Moab, returned home in grief, and was restored through the loyalty of her daughter-in-law Ruth.
Biography
Naomi, a woman of Bethlehem, is the grieving heart at the center of the book of Ruth — a study in bitter loss turned to restored hope through covenant loyalty and God's quiet providence.
Loss in Moab
Driven by famine to Moab, Naomi lost her husband Elimelech and then both sons, Mahlon and Chilion, leaving her with two Moabite daughters-in-law and no security (Ruth 1:3–5).
"Call me Mara"
Returning to Bethlehem empty, she told the women, "call me not Naomi [pleasant], call me Mara [bitter]: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me" (Ruth 1:20) — yet she came back clinging to the God she felt had afflicted her.
Restored through Ruth
Ruth's refusal to leave her, and Naomi's wise guidance of Ruth toward Boaz, led to redemption and a grandchild. The women declared that Obed would be "a restorer of thy life," and Naomi, who had returned empty, took the child to her bosom (Ruth 4:15–16). Her emptiness became the cradle of the line of David.
Life Timeline
Loses her husband and two sons in Moab
Returns to Bethlehem in grief with Ruth
Nurses Obed, restored from emptiness to hope
On the Bible timeline
Naomi belongs to the Conquest & the Judges era (c. 1400 – 1050 BC).
- c. 1375 – 1050 BCThe Age of the Judges
Family Tree
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Themes & lessons from Naomi
Biblical themes that run through the passages where Naomi appears.
People they appear with
Scripture Appearances
20 verses in 1 bookRuth20 verses
Ruth 1:2
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 Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there. continued: Heb. were
Ruth 1:3
And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.
Ruth 1:8
And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.
Ruth 1:11
And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
Ruth 1:19
So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?
Ruth 1:20
And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. Naomi: that is, Pleasant Mara: that is, Bitter
Ruth 1:21
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 1:22
So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.
Ruth 2:1
And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz. Boaz: Gr. Booz
Ruth 2:2
And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.
Ruth 2:6
And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab:
Ruth 2:20
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. one of: or, one that hath right to redeem
Ruth 2:22
And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter in law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field. meet: or, fall upon thee
Ruth 3:1
Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?
Ruth 4:3
And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's:
Ruth 4:5
Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.
Ruth 4:9
And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi.
Ruth 4:14
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. left: Heb. caused to cease unto thee kinsman: or, redeemer
Ruth 4:16
And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it.
Ruth 4:17
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.
Frequently asked about Naomi
Who was Naomi in the Bible?
A widow of Bethlehem who lost her husband and sons in Moab, returned home in grief, and was restored through the loyalty of her daughter-in-law Ruth.
What does the name Naomi mean?
The name Naomi means “Pleasant”.
Who were Naomi's children?
Naomi's children include Mahlon, Chilion.
Where does Naomi appear in the Bible?
Naomi is mentioned 20 times across 1 book: Ruth.
What can we learn from Naomi?
The story of Naomi touches on themes of readings, select, ruth, inheritance, elimelech — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Naomi's life.
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