King James Version

What Does Ruth 1:20 Mean?

Ruth 1:20 in the King James Version says “And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. Naomi: that ...” — study this verse from Ruth chapter 1 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. Naomi: that is, Pleasant Mara: that is, Bitter”

Ruth 1:20 · KJV

Context

18

When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her. was: Heb. strengthened herself

19

So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?

20

And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. Naomi: that is, Pleasant Mara: that is, Bitter

21

I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?

22

So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Naomi's response reveals her spiritual state: "Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me." She rejects her given name "Naomi" (Na'omi, נָעֳמִי, "pleasant/lovely") and requests instead "Mara" (Mara, מָרָא, "bitter"). This name change expresses her perception that God has transformed her life from pleasant to bitter. The wordplay is deliberate—her name no longer fits her experience.

Significantly, Naomi attributes her suffering to "the Almighty" (Shaddai, שַׁדַּי), a divine name emphasizing God's power and sovereign control. This title appears frequently in Job, another biblical book wrestling with suffering's theological meaning. By using "Shaddai" rather than the covenant name "Yahweh," Naomi may be emphasizing God's overwhelming power that has crushed her, or simply using the traditional patriarchal name for God that expresses His absolute sovereignty.

The phrase "dealt very bitterly" translates hemar li Shaddai me'od (הֵמַר לִי שַׁדַּי מְאֹד), literally "has made very bitter to me the Almighty." The causative form of marar (מָרַר, to be bitter) indicates God actively caused her bitterness. Naomi doesn't see her suffering as random tragedy but as divine action. While her theology is incomplete (she fails to see God's redemptive purposes already working through Ruth), her honesty about feeling that God has dealt harshly with her represents authentic lament found throughout Psalms and biblical prayer.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Name changes in biblical narrative often signal identity transformation—Abram to Abraham, Jacob to Israel, Saul to Paul. Naomi's request for name change reflects ancient Near Eastern understanding that names express identity and destiny. By requesting "Mara," she declares that her identity has been fundamentally altered by suffering—she is no longer the pleasant woman who left but a bitter widow who returns empty.

The use of "Shaddai" (Almighty) connects Naomi's experience to patriarchal narratives where this divine name appears (Genesis 17:1; 28:3; 35:11; 43:14; 48:3). God introduced Himself as "El Shaddai" to Abraham, emphasizing His power to fulfill promises despite impossible circumstances. Ironically, Naomi invokes this name while feeling that God has failed her, yet the same Almighty power that seemed to destroy her family will restore her line through Ruth's child.

The community's response to Naomi's suffering illustrates ancient Middle Eastern communal grieving practices. Her tragedy would have been shared by the entire village through ritual mourning and practical support. The question "Is this Naomi?" wasn't cruel incredulity but shocked compassion at how drastically suffering had changed her. Her altered appearance testified to genuine grief's physical and emotional toll.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does Naomi's honest expression of bitterness teach about the legitimacy of bringing raw emotions to God rather than pretending everything is fine?
  2. How does Naomi's incomplete theological perspective (seeing only God's affliction, missing His provision through Ruth) warn against interpreting circumstances without patience for God's full story?
  3. In what ways might suffering legitimately make us feel that God has dealt bitterly with us, and how can we maintain faith while experiencing such feelings?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 14 words
וַתֹּ֣אמֶר1 of 14

“And she said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֲלֵיהֶ֔ן2 of 14
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

אַל3 of 14
H408

not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing

קְרֶ֤אןָ4 of 14

“call”

H7121

to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)

לִ֖י5 of 14
H0
נָֽעֳמִ֑י6 of 14

“me not Naomi”

H5281

noomi, an israelitess

קְרֶ֤אןָ7 of 14

“call”

H7121

to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)

לִי֙8 of 14
H0
מָרָ֔א9 of 14

“me Mara”

H4755

mara, a symbolic name of naomi

כִּֽי10 of 14
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

הֵמַ֥ר11 of 14

“bitterly”

H4843

to be (causatively, make) bitter (literally or figuratively)

שַׁדַּ֛י12 of 14

“for the Almighty”

H7706

the almighty

לִ֖י13 of 14
H0
מְאֹֽד׃14 of 14

“hath dealt very”

H3966

properly, vehemence, i.e., (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Ruth. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Ruth 1:20 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Ruth 1:20 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Job 6:4Hebrews 12:11Job 19:6Psalms 88:15Lamentations 3:1-20Psalms 73:14

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