In brief
Naomi is a woman of Bethlehem in Judah during the time of the judges. Driven out by famine, she moves to Moab with her husband Elimelech and their two sons. There she loses all three men in her life, then returns in bitterness, accompanied by her daughter-in-law Ruth the Moabitess. God then works quietly: Ruth meets Boaz, who redeems the family inheritance. Naomi takes Obed, the grandfather of David, into her arms. Her story shows that God restores those who return to him, even with a broken heart.
What does the name Naomi mean?
The name Naomi is generally linked to a Hebrew word meaning pleasant or sweet. Back in Bethlehem, she asks to be called Mara, meaning bitter, because the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with her (Ruth 1:20).
The story of Naomi
Famine and exile in Moab
Ruth 1:1-5In the days of the judges, a famine strikes the land. Elimelech leaves Bethlehem in Judah with his wife Naomi and their sons Mahlon and Chilion to live in Moab. Elimelech dies, and then the sons, who had married Orpah and Ruth, also die after about ten years. Naomi is left bereaved of her sons and her husband.
The return to Bethlehem
Ruth 1:6-18Naomi hears that Yahweh has visited his people and given them bread. She sets out and urges her daughters-in-law to return to their mothers' homes. Orpah goes back, but Ruth clings to Naomi and declares that her people will be her people and her God her God. Naomi then stops pressing her.
Mara, the bitter woman
Ruth 1:19-22When she arrives in Bethlehem, the whole city is stirred and the women ask whether this is really Naomi. She answers that she should be called Mara: she went out full and Yahweh brings her back empty. The two women arrive in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.
Ruth gleans in Boaz's field
Ruth 2:1-23Ruth goes to glean in the fields and ends up in the field of Boaz, a relative of Elimelech. Boaz protects her and gives her food. When Ruth brings her grain home, Naomi recognizes the kindness of Yahweh and explains that this man is one of those who have the right of redemption over them.
Naomi's counsel
Ruth 3:1-18Naomi looks for a home for Ruth and advises her to go to Boaz's threshing floor at night. Ruth follows her instructions. Boaz promises to act as redeemer, while pointing out that a closer relative exists. Naomi then tells Ruth to wait: this man will not rest until he has settled the matter.
Obed in Naomi's arms
Ruth 4:1-17At the city gate, the closer relative gives up his right, and Boaz acquires the inheritance of Elimelech from Naomi and takes Ruth as his wife. Ruth bears a son. The women bless Yahweh, Naomi takes the child to her bosom, and he is named Obed, father of Jesse and grandfather of David.
What Naomi teaches us
- God hears bitterness without rejecting the one who voices it: Naomi speaks her pain without a filter and remains at the heart of God's story.
- It is always possible to return to where God is at work: Naomi gets up as soon as she hears that Yahweh has visited his people.
- God often works through the ordinary, like a gleaning field, before revealing the full extent of his restoration.
- A faithful friendship like Ruth's is a gift from God in seasons of grief.
- A loss is not the last page of your story: God is writing a sequel that you cannot see yet.
Key verses
Naomi asks to be called Mara and pours out her pain before the women of Bethlehem. This passage shows that we can tell God our sorrow honestly without it pushing us away from him.
Ruth declares to Naomi: “Your people will be my people, and your God my God.” This pledge of faithfulness is one of the most quoted texts on loyalty and on choosing the God of Israel.
The women of Bethlehem bless Yahweh, who has not left Naomi without a redeemer. The child will restore her life and sustain her in old age, for her daughter-in-law is better to her than seven sons.
Sermons about Naomi
- Boaz Pictures Christ: The Redeemer the Law Could Never BeThis sermon looks at Boaz, the redeemer of Naomi and Ruth, as a picture of Christ, the redeemer the law could not be.
- Jesus, the Kinsman-Redeemer: The Close Relative Who Paid Your RansomThe goel, the kinsman who redeems, is at the heart of the book of Ruth. The sermon discovers in it Jesus, who paid the ransom.
- Three Women, Three Destinies Linked to Christ: Leah, Rahab, and RuthA sermon on three women, including Ruth, Naomi's daughter-in-law, to see how God ties broken journeys to the line of Christ.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Naomi in the Bible?
Naomi is a woman of Bethlehem in Judah, wife of Elimelech and mother of Mahlon and Chilion. Widowed and bereaved of her sons in Moab, she returns to her country with her daughter-in-law Ruth. She later becomes the adoptive grandmother of Obed, grandfather of King David.
What does the name Naomi mean?
The name Naomi is generally linked to a Hebrew word evoking sweetness or what is pleasant. In the story, Naomi asks to be called Mara, which expresses bitterness, because the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with her (Ruth 1:20).
Where can I find Naomi's story in the Bible?
Naomi's story is found in the book of Ruth, chapters 1 to 4. Chapter 1 tells of her exile and return, chapters 2 and 3 of the meeting with Boaz, and chapter 4 of the redemption of the inheritance and the birth of Obed.