Durruck
Pirate!
Ruth 1:20-21, NIV
20 “Don’t call me Naomi,(b)” she told them. “Call me Mara,(c) because the Almighty(d) has made my life very bitter. 21 I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted(e) me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.”
(b) Ruth 1:20 Naomi means pleasant.
(c) Ruth 1:20 Mara means bitter.
(d) Ruth 1:20 Hebrew Shaddai; also in verse 21
(e) Ruth 1:21 Or has testified against
Something interesting to keep in mind while reading the Bible is that people then did not necessarily keep their names for a lifetime, and all names mean something. They are descriptive of a person's behavior, calling, or personality. It is quite the opposite of our culture in which we officially retain our birth names (given names) for a lifetime, with the obvious exceptions of legal name changes and marriage. In a way, it would be similar to someone acquiring a new nickname (called name)
We see the same thing happen in the NT when Simon ("Reed") is called Peter ("Rock"). The implication is that he is not strong-willed when he is younger, perhaps even flexible or bending in his faith. But once he grows, he becomes solid, strong, inflexible - the unyielding faith and personality that Jesus uses to solidify the early church.
As you read, watch for names of people, places or things. The names, (especially for Hebrew people and places) describe something important about them.
If you read the rest of Ruth's account, you'll notice that Naomi is never called Mara again. Even though she is discontented for the time, others still perceive her as pleasant. It is likely that her personality did not change in the long-run because of a short-term unhappiness. The same is not true in accounts of Simon called Peter. He is labeled as Simon early on, but later only called Peter. His personality was changed by his time with Jesus.
20 “Don’t call me Naomi,(b)” she told them. “Call me Mara,(c) because the Almighty(d) has made my life very bitter. 21 I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted(e) me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.”
(b) Ruth 1:20 Naomi means pleasant.
(c) Ruth 1:20 Mara means bitter.
(d) Ruth 1:20 Hebrew Shaddai; also in verse 21
(e) Ruth 1:21 Or has testified against
Something interesting to keep in mind while reading the Bible is that people then did not necessarily keep their names for a lifetime, and all names mean something. They are descriptive of a person's behavior, calling, or personality. It is quite the opposite of our culture in which we officially retain our birth names (given names) for a lifetime, with the obvious exceptions of legal name changes and marriage. In a way, it would be similar to someone acquiring a new nickname (called name)
We see the same thing happen in the NT when Simon ("Reed") is called Peter ("Rock"). The implication is that he is not strong-willed when he is younger, perhaps even flexible or bending in his faith. But once he grows, he becomes solid, strong, inflexible - the unyielding faith and personality that Jesus uses to solidify the early church.
As you read, watch for names of people, places or things. The names, (especially for Hebrew people and places) describe something important about them.
If you read the rest of Ruth's account, you'll notice that Naomi is never called Mara again. Even though she is discontented for the time, others still perceive her as pleasant. It is likely that her personality did not change in the long-run because of a short-term unhappiness. The same is not true in accounts of Simon called Peter. He is labeled as Simon early on, but later only called Peter. His personality was changed by his time with Jesus.
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