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People of the Bible
Who Was Naomi?
In short
Naomi was an Israelite woman who lost her husband and both sons in a foreign land and returned home in bitter grief, even asking to be called 'Mara,' meaning bitter.
Yet through the fierce loyalty of her daughter-in-law Ruth, God restored her joy and wove her into the family line of King David, and of Jesus.
“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.”
Ruth 4:15 · King James Version (public domain)
Naomi at a glance
| Name | Naomi |
|---|---|
| Where to read about them | Ruth |
| Key passage on this page | Ruth 4:15 |
| Passages linked to that verse | 8 |
| Translation on this page | King James Version (public domain) |
Read it in context
Read it beside its neighbours. These are the passages readers most often set next to this one.
- Isaiah 46:4
- Psalms 55:22
- Genesis 45:11
- Ruth 2:11-12
- 1 Samuel 1:8
- Proverbs 18:24
- Genesis 47:12
- Ruth 1:16-18
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY.
Questions people ask
Where can I read about Naomi in the Bible?
Naomi appears in Ruth. Start with the key passage on this page, then read the whole chapter around it.
What other passages sit beside Ruth 4:15?
Readers most often set it next to Isaiah 46:4, Psalms 55:22, Genesis 45:11, Ruth 2:11-12.
Why does Naomi matter to Christians today?
Because the story of Naomi is told to point to Christ and to teach us to love one another. Read it as part of the one story of Scripture, not as a stand-alone biography.
Pray this
Jesus, our Shepherd, nothing about Naomi is hidden from you. We bring you Naomi, Ruth. Let your Body in that place love one another and be one. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Live this
Three small things you can do this week.
- Read the key passage, Ruth 4:15, aloud once today.
- Write one sentence about what Naomi's story says about God, not only about Naomi.
- Tell one person what you noticed, and ask what Bible story has stayed with them.
Where this fits in the walk with Christ
Nothing here is a finish line. It is one door into a life with Christ and with His people.
Read the story of Naomi
You can read the story of Naomi in Ruth on The Living Bread, free, with audio, and with Simon to answer your questions along the way.
