Lexical Summary Noomi: Naomi, Naomi's Original Word: נָעֱמִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Naomi From no'am; pleasant; Noomi, an Israelitess -- Naomi. see HEBREW no'am NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom naem Definition mother-in-law of Ruth NASB Translation Naomi (20), Naomi's (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs נָעֳמִי proper name, feminine mother-in-law of Ruth, Ruth 1:2,3,8 18t. Ruth; ᵐ5B Νωεμειν; A Νωεμμειν Ruth 1:2, Νοεμμειν Ruth 1:3, usually Νοομει(ν); ᵐ5L Νοομι. Topical Lexicon Canonical Placement and Narrative Setting Naomi’s name appears only in the Book of Ruth, a narrative set “in the days when the judges ruled” (Ruth 1:1). Her account frames the book’s movement from famine and loss to harvest and restoration, functioning as the hinge on which the plot turns. Biographical Sketch The wife of Elimelech, Naomi departs famine-stricken Bethlehem with her husband and sons, Mahlon and Chilion, to sojourn in Moab (Ruth 1:2). Bereaved of husband and sons (Ruth 1:3–5), she determines to return to Bethlehem after hearing “the LORD had attended to His people by providing them food” (Ruth 1:6). Her candor before God and people—“Do not call me Naomi… call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me” (Ruth 1:20)—displays a faith that wrestles but does not withdraw. Major Episodes 1. Farewell on the Moabite Road (Ruth 1:8–18) – Naomi urges Orpah and Ruth to remain in Moab, revealing a selfless ḥesed that mirrors the covenant love later shown to her. Ruth’s famous vow (Ruth 1:16–17) testifies to Naomi’s spiritual influence. Theological Themes Providence – Naomi’s journey shows God’s unseen hand turning famine into harvest and widowhood into lineage. Suffering and Lament – Her honest lament legitimizes grief while trusting divine sovereignty (“the hand of the LORD has gone out against me,” Ruth 1:13). Covenant Loyalty – Naomi’s, Ruth’s, and Boaz’s actions embody ḥesed, anticipating the steadfast love of God revealed in Christ. Redemption – The kinsman-redeemer motif finds immediate fulfillment in Boaz and ultimate fulfillment in Jesus, descendant of the very line Naomi helps preserve. Typological Significance Naomi mirrors Israel—displaced, disciplined, yet destined for restoration through a Redeemer born in Bethlehem. Ruth’s grafting into Naomi’s family foreshadows Gentile inclusion, while Obed’s birth points forward to David and, ultimately, to the Messiah (Matthew 1:5–6). Naomi in Salvation History Obed, whom Naomi nurses (Ruth 4:16), fathers Jesse, who fathers David. Thus her personal redemption is woven into the larger tapestry that culminates in Jesus Christ, “the Root and the Offspring of David” (Revelation 22:16). Practical Ministry Lessons • Grief expressed within faith communities invites God’s healing. Related Persons and Concepts Elimelech, Ruth, Boaz, Obed; Kinsman-Redeemer; Bethlehem Ephrathah; Famine and Harvest; Davidic Line; Divine Sovereignty. Forms and Transliterations וּֽלְנָעֳמִ֞י ולנעמי לְנָעֳמִ֑י לנעמי נָעֳמִ֑י נָעֳמִ֔י נָעֳמִ֖י נָעֳמִ֗י נָעֳמִ֜י נָעֳמִ֣י נָעֳמִ֤י נָעֳמִֽי׃ נָעֳמִי֙ נעמי נעמי׃ lə·nā·‘o·mî lənā‘omî lenooMi nā‘omî nā·‘o·mî nooMi ū·lə·nā·‘o·mî ūlənā‘omî ulenooMiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ruth 1:2 HEB: וְשֵׁם֩ אִשְׁתּ֨וֹ נָעֳמִ֜י וְשֵׁ֥ם שְׁנֵֽי־ NAS: of his wife, Naomi; and the names KJV: of his wife Naomi, and the name INT: and the name of his wife Naomi and the names of his two Ruth 1:3 Ruth 1:8 Ruth 1:11 Ruth 1:19 Ruth 1:20 Ruth 1:21 Ruth 1:22 Ruth 2:1 Ruth 2:2 Ruth 2:6 Ruth 2:20 Ruth 2:20 Ruth 2:22 Ruth 3:1 Ruth 4:3 Ruth 4:5 Ruth 4:9 Ruth 4:14 Ruth 4:16 Ruth 4:17 21 Occurrences |
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