Bible Strands
Ruth 1:20
“Do not call me Naomi,” she replied. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has dealt quite bitterly with me.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Naomi addresses the women of Bethlehem who have just asked, “Can this be Naomi?” upon her arrival. She responds to their inquiry by rejecting her former name and declaring her present condition of bitterness.
The words — The Hebrew אַל־תִּקְרֶ֥אנָה (al-tikrenah) literally means “do not call,” and קְרֶ֤אןָ (qerenah) means “call.” These verbs mark her active refusal to be identified by the name Naomi.
The thread — The motif of God’s bitter dealing appears in Job 6:4, where the arrows of the Almighty pierce him, and in Psalms 88:15, where the psalmist bears divine terrors. Hebrews 12:11 later notes that such painful discipline ultimately yields a harvest of righteousness.
Why it lands — The text records that divine sovereignty can strip away former identities and leave a person to name their own suffering. It requires the reader to acknowledge that God’s dealings are not always aligned with human expectations of blessing.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.
Cross-references
- Job 6:4 For the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; my spirit drinks in their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.
- Hebrews 12:11 No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it.
- Psalms 88:15 From my youth I was afflicted and near death. I have borne Your terrors; I am in despair.
- Job 19:6 then understand that it is God who has wronged me and drawn His net around me.
- Psalms 73:14 For I am afflicted all day long and punished every morning.
- Isaiah 38:13 I composed myself until the morning. Like a lion He breaks all my bones; from day until night You make an end of me.
- Lamentations 3:1 I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of God’s wrath.
- Job 5:17 Blessed indeed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
- Genesis 17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty. Walk before Me and be blameless.
- Genesis 43:14 May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother along with Benjamin. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.”