Ruth 1:20
What does Ruth 1:20 mean?
A plain-English look at Ruth 1:20 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ruth 1:20 means
Naomi asks not to be called Naomi (“pleasant”) but Mara (“bitter”), because the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with her. She voices her pain without masking it, interpreting her life under God’s sovereign name. Naomi’s theology is raw yet reverent; she does not deny God or His rule, but she cannot yet see sweetness in what He has allowed. This name-change request is a lament, not a final verdict on God’s character. It helps us hear her story from within, reminding us that faith can tell the truth about sorrow even while remaining under the Almighty’s hand.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara; for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara; for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And she said to them, Do not let my name be Naomi, but Mara, for the Ruler of all has given me a bitter fate.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And she saith unto them, `Call me not Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly to me,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But she said to them: Call me not Noemi (that is, beautiful,) but call me Mara (that is, bitter), for the Almighty hath quite filled me with bitterness.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And she said to them, Call me not Naomi — call me Mara; for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.
Context
In response to the town’s reaction (verse 19), Naomi explains her inner state. Verse 20 sets the tone for her fuller statement in verse 21, where she contrasts former fullness with present emptiness. These verses deepen the theme of providence and suffering, against which the quiet hope of verse 22 will begin to glimmer.
v.19So they two went until they came to Beth-lehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Beth-lehem, that all the city was moved about them, and the women said, Is this Naomi?
v.20This passage
v.21I went out full, and Jehovah hath brought me home again empty; why call ye me Naomi, seeing Jehovah hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Job 5:17
Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: Therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty.
- Job 6:4
For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, The poison whereof my spirit drinketh up: The terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.
- Psalms 88:15
I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: While I suffer thy terrors I am distracted.
- Job 11:7
Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
- Lamentations 3:1
I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.
- Isaiah 38:13
I quieted myself until morning; as a lion, so he breaketh all my bones: From day even to night wilt thou make an end of me.
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