Naomi is a significant figure in the Old Testament, primarily known from the Book of Ruth. Her account is a testament to faith, resilience, and divine providence. Naomi's life unfolds during the time of the judges, a period marked by social and religious upheaval in Israel.

Background and Family

Naomi was married to Elimelech, a man from Bethlehem in Judah. Due to a severe famine in their homeland, Naomi and Elimelech, along with their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, migrated to the land of Moab (Ruth 1:1-2). Moab was a neighboring nation often at odds with Israel, yet it provided refuge for Naomi's family during this difficult time.

Tragedy and Loss

While in Moab, Naomi faced profound personal loss. Her husband, Elimelech, died, leaving her a widow in a foreign land (Ruth 1:3). Her sons married Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth, but after about ten years, both Mahlon and Chilion also died (Ruth 1:4-5). Naomi was left without her husband and sons, a dire situation for a woman in the ancient Near East, where male relatives were crucial for protection and provision.

Return to Bethlehem

Hearing that the LORD had provided food for His people, Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem (Ruth 1:6). She urged her daughters-in-law to remain in Moab and remarry, as she felt she had nothing left to offer them (Ruth 1:8-13). Orpah eventually agreed, but Ruth clung to Naomi, expressing her loyalty with the famous words: "Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God" (Ruth 1:16).

Bitterness and Hope

Upon returning to Bethlehem, Naomi's presence stirred the town, and she expressed her bitterness, asking to be called Mara, meaning "bitter," because "the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me" (Ruth 1:20). Despite her grief, Naomi's return coincided with the barley harvest, a symbol of hope and renewal.

Role in Ruth's Life

Naomi played a pivotal role in Ruth's life, guiding her in the customs and laws of Israel. She instructed Ruth to glean in the fields of Boaz, a relative of Elimelech, which eventually led to Ruth's marriage to Boaz (Ruth 2:1-3, 3:1-4). Naomi's wisdom and understanding of her culture's redemption laws facilitated Ruth's integration into the community and ensured their mutual survival.

Legacy and Lineage

Through Ruth's marriage to Boaz, Naomi became the great-grandmother of King David, establishing her place in the Messianic lineage (Ruth 4:13-17). The women of Bethlehem celebrated Naomi, saying, "Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer" (Ruth 4:14). Naomi's account is a powerful narrative of God's faithfulness and the unexpected ways He fulfills His promises.

Naomi's life, marked by loss and restoration, highlights themes of loyalty, redemption, and divine providence. Her relationship with Ruth exemplifies the strength of familial bonds and the transformative power of faith and love.Ruth 1:1
Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.
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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.
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Ruth 3:1
Then Naomi her mother in law said to her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?
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Ruth 4:1
Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spoke came by; to whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.
Nave's Topical Index

5281. Noomi -- mother-in-law of Ruth
... Word Origin from naem Definition mother-in-law of Ruth NASB Word Usage Naomi (20),
Naomi's (1). Naomi. From no'am; pleasant; Noomi, an Israelitess -- Naomi. ...
/hebrew/5281.htm - 6k

Ruth and Naomi.
... After living there about ten years Naomi's sons died also, leaving Orpah
and Ruth widows, along with their widowed mother-in-law. ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the old testament/ruth and naomi.htm

Naomi is an Instance of a Widow Receiving Back from Her Daughter ...
... well instructed her daughter-in-law a Ruth will never ... will prefer the widowed life
of her mother-in-law to her ... So that Naomi, deprived of her husband and her ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter vi naomi is an.htm

Ruth, the Gleaner
... and one of the young women, weeping bitterly, kissed her mother-in-law and turned
to go back. But the other one, whose name was Ruth, clung to Naomi, and would ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/steedman/the babe in the bulrushes/ruth the gleaner.htm

Ruth and Naomi.
... Ruth wished to do something to help support herself and her mother-in-law, so she
begged Naomi to let her go into the fields and glean after the reapers"that ...
//christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/wee ones bible stories/ruth and naomi.htm

Ruth.
... maiden is this?" and he told him that she was the Moabitish girl who had come back
with her mother-in-law Naomi. Then Boaz spoke very kindly to Ruth, and told ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xvi ruth.htm

The Story of Ruth, the Gleaner
... Then Ruth bowed to Boaz, and thanked him for his kindness, all the more kind ... said:
"I have heard how true you have been to your mother-in-law Naomi, in leaving ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of ruth the.htm

The Devotion of Ruth
... Then he went into the city. When Ruth came to her mother-in-law, Naomi said, "Is
it you, my daughter?" Then Ruth told Naomi all that the man had done for her. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the devotion of ruth.htm

How under Eli's Government of the Israelites Booz Married Ruth ...
... 2. When Ruth was come with her mother-in-law to Bethlehem, Booz, who was near of
kin to Elimelech, entertained her; and when Naomi was so called by her fellow ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 9 how under elis.htm

Boaz and Ruth.
... with her because of her kindness to Naomi, so he ... me all that thou hast done unto
thy mother-in-law since the ... So Ruth gleaned that day quite a large quantity of ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the old testament/boaz and ruth.htm

Ruth
... how he dies, and his two sons; and how Naomi, his widow ... weep over each other; and
Orpah kisses her mother-in- law, and goes back; but Ruth cleaves unto her ...
/.../kingsley/the water of life and other sermons/sermon x ruth.htm

Why did Ruth and Orpah make different decisions? | GotQuestions.org

Summary of the Book of Ruth - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.org

Why did the first kinsman redeemer refuse to marry Ruth? | GotQuestions.org

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