18 When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped talking to her.

19 The two of them traveled until they came to Bethlehem. When they entered Bethlehem, the whole town was excited about their arrival[a](A) and the local women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?”

20 “Don’t call me Naomi. Call me Mara,”[b] she answered, “for the Almighty(B) has made me very bitter.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. 1:19 Lit excited because of them
  2. 1:20 = Bitter; see v. 2

18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.(A)

19 So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem.(B) When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred(C) because of them, and the women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?”

20 “Don’t call me Naomi,[a]” she told them. “Call me Mara,[b] because the Almighty[c](D) has made my life very bitter.(E)

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Footnotes

  1. Ruth 1:20 Naomi means pleasant.
  2. Ruth 1:20 Mara means bitter.
  3. Ruth 1:20 Hebrew Shaddai; also in verse 21