נׇעֳמִי (no.o.mi)
no.o.mi
Naomi
N:N-F-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 20 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-F-P
Word Overview
The name Naomi comes from a Hebrew root meaning "pleasantness" or "delight." In the Book of Ruth, she appears as the wife of Elimelech and mother to Mahlon and Chilion. Her story is central to the narrative, as she moves with her family from Bethlehem to Moab during a famine, only to return later with her daughter-in-law Ruth.
Her identity shifts significantly within the text. When she returns to Bethlehem after losing her husband and sons, she asks those who knew her not to call her Naomi. Instead, she insists on being called Mara, which means "bitter," reflecting her perception that the Almighty has dealt harshly with her (Ruth 1:20). This change highlights how her circumstances have transformed her sense of self.
Despite this period of bitterness, the narrative arc restores her name. After Ruth marries Boaz and bears a son, the women of Bethlehem declare that he will restore Naomi’s life and sustain her in old age (Ruth 4:15). By holding the child, Naomi experiences a restoration of joy, moving from the title of Mara back to the meaning of her original name.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Naomi means pleasantness, yet her story in Scripture begins with loss. She leaves Bethlehem for Moab during a famine and returns empty-handed after losing her husband and sons. This shift from fullness to emptiness shows that our circumstances can change how we see ourselves. Even when life feels bitter, God’s presence remains steady.
Ruth’s loyalty and Boaz’s kindness bring restoration. The women of Bethlehem declare that Naomi’s joy is renewed through the child Obed. Her name returns to its original meaning, not because her pain disappears, but because God weaves redemption from broken pieces. This reminds us that our current struggles do not define our final story.
When you face seasons of loss or confusion, remember that God sees your emptiness and can fill it with purpose. Naomi’s journey invites hope for those who feel far from home or forgotten. Trust that God is working behind the scenes, turning bitterness into a testimony of His faithfulness and care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 20 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Naomi18×
- to/ Naomi1×
- and/ [belonged] to/ Naomi1×
- [was] Naomi1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נָעֳמִ֗י3×
- נָעֳמִ֔י3×
- נָעֳמִ֑י3×
- נָעֳמִי֙2×
- נָעֳמִֽי\׃2×
- נָעֳמִ֜י2×
- נָעֳמִ֖י2×
- נָעֳמִ֤י1×
- נָעֳמִ֣י1×
- לְ/נָעֳמִ֑י1×
- וּֽ/לְ/נָעֳמִ֞י1×
Key Verses
-
Ruth 1:20
She said to them, “Don’t call me Naomi. Call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.
Naomi rejects her name to express how deeply she feels afflicted by God.
-
Ruth 4:16
Naomi took the child, laid him in her bosom, and became nurse to him.
Naomi holds the child, showing the physical and emotional restoration of her role as a mother.
-
Ruth 1:22
So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, who returned out of the country of Moab. They came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.
This verse marks the return to Bethlehem, setting the stage for God’s redemptive work through Ruth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Naomi mean?
Why did Naomi change her name to Mara?
How is Naomi connected to King David?
Every Occurrence (20 verses across 1 books)
Ruth 20 verses
The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi. The names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion,…
Ruth 1:3Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left with her two sons.
Ruth 1:8Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May Yahweh deal kindly with you,…
Ruth 1:11Naomi said, “Go back, my daughters. Why do you want to go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb, that they may be…
Ruth 1:19So they both went until they came to Bethlehem. When they had come to Bethlehem, all the city was excited about them,…
Ruth 1:20She said to them, “Don’t call me Naomi. Call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.
Ruth 1:21I went out full, and Yahweh has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since Yahweh has testified…
Ruth 1:22So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, who returned out of the country of Moab. They…
Ruth 2:1Naomi had a relative of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech, and his name was Boaz.
Ruth 2:2Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Let me now go to the field, and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose…
Ruth 2:6The servant who was set over the reapers answered, “It is the Moabite lady who came back with Naomi out of the country…
Ruth 2:20Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by Yahweh, who has not abandoned his kindness to the living and…
Ruth 2:22Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his maidens, and that they not…
Ruth 3:1Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?
Ruth 4:3He said to the near kinsman, “Naomi, who has come back out of the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land, which…
Ruth 4:5Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must buy it also from Ruth the Moabitess, the…
Ruth 4:9Boaz said to the elders and to all the people, “You are witnesses today, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s,…
Ruth 4:14The women said to Naomi, “Blessed be Yahweh, who has not left you today without a near kinsman. Let his name be famous…
Ruth 4:16Naomi took the child, laid him in her bosom, and became nurse to him.
Ruth 4:17The women, her neighbors, gave him a name, saying, “A son is born to Naomi”. They named him Obed. He is the father of…