Naomi (biblical figure)

Naomi (Hebrew: נָעֳמִי, Modern: Noʻomī, Tiberian: Nā‘omī) is Ruth's mother-in-law in the Old Testament Book of Ruth. The etymology of her name is not certain, but it is possible that it means "good, pleasant, lovely, winsome."

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 1:11

Quotes

• Two sad-faced women, haggard, worn, and wan,
  Passed wearily through Bethlehem’s sun-scorched street;
  The city, moved to pity, round them ran,
  And some with wondering cry the strangers greet,
  “What! Is this Naomi?” She quickly broke
  Upon them trembling, as they thus began,—
  “Call me not Naomi,” she weeping spoke,
  “For Naomi is numbered with the dead;
  My name is Mara, for, O friends, with me
  The Lord hath dealt exceeding bitterly!
  “The hand of God has touched me, and I mourn;
  Has robbed me both of husband and of son;
  Woe worth the bitter day that I was born!
  My prop, my stay, my life of life, is gone;
  I went out full, empty come back to you,
  A widow, childless, desolate, and forlorn;
  The graves in Moab hold my dead heart too,
  I left it with them where they sleep in peace.
  So from my years has gone the sun, the light;
  I grope as one through some dark dreary night.”
  • Charles D. Bell, "Naomi"

Bible

• 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.
  The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband.
  • Book of Ruth 1:8–9 (KJV)

• 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?
  Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;
  Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.
  • Book of Ruth 1:11–12 (KJV)

• 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?
  And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.
  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?
  • Book of Ruth 1:19–21 (KJV)

• 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.
  • Book of Ruth 2:20 (KJV)

• 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?
  And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor.
  Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.
  And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.
  • Book of Ruth 3:1–4 (KJV)

• 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.
  And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.
  And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it.
  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.
  • Book of Ruth 4:14–17 (KJV)