Who was Naomi in the Bible?
Lived before Israel had a king
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. Naomi appears in 20 verses of the Bible.
What does the Bible say about Naomi?
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 (Rut.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 (Rut.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" (Rut.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 (Rut.2.1-3). Later, Naomi encouraged Ruth to seek marriage with Boaz as a kinsman-redeemer, following Israelite custom (Rut.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" (Rut.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.
Definition text: STEPBible · Tyndale House Cambridge. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Lightly edited for length and formatting.
Compiled by Protos: the verse list on this page. Where one name belongs to more than one person or place, each of them gets a separate entry.
Where does Naomi appear in the Bible?
Naomi is referenced in 20 verses. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.
- Ruth 1:2
- Ruth 1:3
- Ruth 1:8
- Ruth 1:11
- Ruth 1:19
- Ruth 1:20
- Ruth 1:21
- Ruth 1:22
- Ruth 2:1
- Ruth 2:2
- Ruth 2:6
- Ruth 2:20
- Ruth 2:22
- Ruth 3:1
- Ruth 4:3
- Ruth 4:5
- Ruth 4:9
- Ruth 4:14
- Ruth 4:16
- Ruth 4:17
What else appears in these passages?
These turn up in the same passages as Naomi.
Common questions
How many times does the Bible mention Naomi?
Naomi appears in 20 verses, all of them in Ruth.
Which books of the Bible mention Naomi?
Just one: Ruth.
Where can I read every verse about Naomi?
This page lists 20 of them. Protos carries all 20, and opens this entry on the verse you are reading rather than in a separate tab.
