Ruth 1:21

I went out full and the Lord led me back empty. So then, why call me Naomi, whom the Lord has humbled and the Almighty has afflicted?”

Catholic Public Domain Version

In The King James Version

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?

In Context

20But she said to them, “Do not call me Naomi (that is, beautiful), but call me Mara (that is, bitter). For the Almighty has greatly filled me with bitterness.

22Therefore, Naomi went with Ruth, the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, from the land of her sojourn, and returned to Bethlehem, at the time of the first reaping of the barley.

Read all of Ruth 1

Cross References

1 Samuel 2:7The Lord impoverishes, and he enriches. He humbles, and he lifts up.

Job 10:17You renew your testimony against me, and you multiply your wrath against me, and these punishments make war within me.

Job 16:8But now my grief has crushed me, and all my limbs have been reduced to nothing.

Malachi 3:5And I will approach you in judgment, and I will be a swift witness against evil-doers, and adulterers, and perjurers, and those who cheat the hired hand in his wages, the widows and the orphans, and who oppress the traveler, and who have not feared me, says the Lord of hosts.

Matthew Henry on Ruth 1:20-22

Naomi's Reception at Bethlehem. ( b. c. 1312.) 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. 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… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Ruth 1:21