Naomi (Bible)

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Naomi entreating Ruth and Orpah to return to the land of Moab, by William Blake
Naomi entreating Ruth and Orpah to return to the land of Moab, by William Blake

Naomi (נָעֳמִי "Pleasant;agreeable", Standard Hebrew Naʿomi, Tiberian Hebrew Noʿŏmî) is Ruth's mother-in-law in the Old Testament Book of Ruth. Later, she called herself Mara, or "bitter" (Ruth 1:20-21): "She said to them, 'Do not call me Naomi call me "Mara" (מרה), for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.'" referring to the death of her husband (Elimelech) and her two sons (Maklon and Chilion). She had with her a very faithful daughter-in-law named Ruth who decided to follow her. Ruth would later become the great-grandmother of David, the future king.