Naomi

The wife of Elimelech. Her history, and a most interesting history it is, we have in the book of Ruth. Her name signifies beautiful or pleasant.

See RUTH.

Na´omi, wife of Elimelech of Bethlehem, and mother-in-law of Ruth, in whose history hers is involved [RUTH].

Wife of Elimelech, and mother-in-law of Ruth. See RUTH.\par

Na’omi or Nao’mi. (my delight). The wife of Elimelech, and mother-in-law of Ruth. Rth 1:2; etc.; Rth 2:1; etc.; Rth 3:1; Rth 4:3; etc. (B.C. 1363). The name is derived from a root signifying sweetness or pleasantness. Naomi left Judea with her husband and two sons, in a time of famine, and went to the land of Moab. Here, her husband and sons died; and on her return to Bethlehem, she wished to be known as Mara, bitterness, instead of Naomi, sweetness. See Mara.

("sweetness".) Mother-in-law of Ruth. Rth 1:20-21; "call me not Naomi, call me Mara ("bitterness"), for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me." Elimelech’s wife; lost her two sons and husband in Moab. (See BOAZ.) Ruth her daughter in law returned with her to Israel, and married Boaz. (See RUTH.)

Naomi (na-ô’mî or nâ’o-mî), my delight. The wife of Elimelech, and the mother-in-law of Ruth, and who moved with their two sons from Judæa to Moab in the time of a famine. Rth 1:2. Elimelech died, and also his two sons, each leaving a widow; Naomi, thus bereaved, started back to her native country. Orpah remained behind, but Ruth accompanied her. Once back in Bethlehem, she wished to be known by the name Mara—"bitterness." She thenceforth acted the part of a faithful mother to Ruth.

[Na’omi]

Wife of Elimelech, mother of Mahlon and Chilion, and mother-in-law of Ruth. After dwelling ten years in the country of Moab, when her husband and sons were dead, she returned to the land of Judah, with the widowed Ruth. She asked to be called no more Naomi, ’pleasant,’ but Mara, ’bitter,’ saying "for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me." She sought the welfare of Ruth, whose marriage with Boaz comforted her, and she became nurse to their son Obed. Ruth 1 - Ruth 4. Typically she represents desolate Israel, as Ruth does the despised but pious remnant brought into full blessing at the end on the ground of sovereign mercy, even as Gentiles, yet casting themselves on the goodness of the Kinsman-Redeemer: see Isa 63:16.

By: Emil G. Hirsch, M. Seligsohn

Wife of Elimelech and mother-in-law of Ruth. Naomi accompanied her husband and two sons into the land of Moab; but after the death of her husband and sons she returned to Bethlehem with her daughter-in-law Ruth, whom she vainly endeavored to dissuade from following her. Naomi was so much changed by poverty and affliction that those who had known her there exclaimed, "Is this Naomi?" She answered that instead of Naomi ("pleasant") she should be called rather Mara ("bitter"), for the Almighty had dealt bitterly with her. Naomi contributed to bring about the marriage of Boaz and Ruth and became the nurse of their child (Ruth i. 1 et seq.; iii. 1 et seq.; iv. 16, 17). See Ruth.

NAOMI.—The wife of Elimelech the Ephrathite, of Beth-lehem-judah, who was driven by famine into the land of Moab. After the death of her husband and her two sons, she returned, accompanied by Ruth, to her own land. Her return was a matter of surprise to the people of Bethlehem, and they said, ‘Is this Naomi?’ Her answer included a double play of words on her own name, ‘Call me not Naomi (‘pleasant’), call me Mara (‘bitter’): for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me … why call ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath testified (’ânâh) against me?’ (Rth 1:2-21).

(Hebrew: beautiful)

Wife of Elimelech and mother-in-law of Ruth, related to Booz (Ruth 1 and 2). She had migrated to Moab in a time of famine, and returned to Bethlehem after her husband’s death.

nā´ṓ-mı̄, nā́-ō´mı̄, nā́-ō´-mi (נעמי, no‛ŏmı̄, probably = “pleasantness”; Septuagint. Codex Vaticanus Μωεμείν, Nōemeı́n; Codex Alexandrinus Νοεμμεί(ν), Noemmeı́(n)): Wife of Elimelech and mother-in-law of Ruth (Ruth 1:2 through 4:17). She went with her husband to the land of Moab, and after his death returned to Bethlehem. When greeted on her return, she told the women of the town to call her, not no‛ŏmı̄ (“pleasantness”), but mārāh (“bitterness”), “for,” she said, “the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.” She advised Ruth in her dealings with Boaz, and afterward nursed their child.

The name may mean “my joy,” “my bliss,” but is perhaps better explained according to the traditional interpretation as “the pleasant one.”

Rth 1:2, Rth 1:20 (c) This is the type of a backslider who, having enjoyed the blessing of GOD, leaves the fellowship of GOD to go into the world. Afterward she returns from the far country suffering the consequences of disobedience In the beginning she is the backslider going away, but in the end she is the backslider restored to the fellowship of GOD.