Ruth 1:21 I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? After all, the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me."

◄ Ruth 1:21 ►

New International Version
I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.”

New Living Translation
I went away full, but the LORD has brought me home empty. Why call me Naomi when the LORD has caused me to suffer and the Almighty has sent such tragedy upon me?”

English Standard Version
I went away full, and the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the LORD has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?”

Berean Standard Bible
I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? After all, the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me.”

King James Bible
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?

New King James Version
I went out full, and the LORD has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?”

New American Standard Bible
I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has testified against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?”

NASB 1995
“I went out full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has witnessed against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?”

NASB 1977
“I went out full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has witnessed against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?”

Legacy Standard Bible
I went out full, but Yahweh has caused me to return empty. Why do you call me Naomi? Yahweh has answered against me, and the Almighty has brought calamity against me.”

Amplified Bible
I left full [with a husband and two sons], but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, since the LORD has testified against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?”

Christian Standard Bible
I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has opposed me, and the Almighty has afflicted me? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has pronounced judgment on me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?”

American Standard Version
I went out full, and Jehovah hath brought me home again empty; why call ye me Naomi, seeing Jehovah hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?

Contemporary English Version
I had everything when I left, but the LORD has brought me back with nothing. How can you still call me Naomi, when God has turned against me and made my life so hard?"

English Revised Version
I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi when the LORD has tormented me and the Almighty has done evil to me?"

Good News Translation
When I left here, I had plenty, but the LORD has brought me back without a thing. Why call me Naomi when the LORD Almighty has condemned me and sent me trouble?"

International Standard Version
I left here full, but the LORD brought me back empty. So why call me 'Naomi'? After all, the LORD is against me, and the Almighty has broken me."

Majority Standard Bible
I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? After all, the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me.”

NET Bible
I left here full, but the LORD has caused me to return empty-handed. Why do you call me 'Naomi,' seeing that the LORD has opposed me, and the Sovereign One has caused me to suffer?"

New Heart English Bible
I went out full, and the LORD has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has testified against me, and Shaddai has afflicted me?"

Webster's Bible Translation
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?

World English Bible
I went out full, and Yahweh has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since Yahweh has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
I went out full, and YHWH has brought me back empty, why do you call me Naomi, and YHWH has testified against me, and the Almighty has done evil to me?”

Young's Literal Translation
I went out full, and empty hath Jehovah brought me back, why do ye call me Naomi, and Jehovah hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath done evil to me?'

Smith's Literal Translation
I went away full, and Jehovah turned me back empty; wherefore will ye call to me Naomi, and Jehovah humbled me, and the Almighty did evil to me?

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me back empty. Why then do you call me Noemi, whom the Lord hath humbled and the Almighty hath afflicted?

Catholic Public Domain Version
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?”

New American Bible
I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why should you call me ‘Sweet,’ since the LORD has brought me to trial, and the Almighty has pronounced evil sentence on me.”

New Revised Standard Version
I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty; why call me Naomi when the LORD has dealt harshly with me, and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
For I went forth from here full, and the LORD has brought me back empty; why then call me Naomi, seeing the LORD has humbled me, and has sorely afflicted me?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
For I went from here full and LORD JEHOVAH has returned me empty, and why therefore do you call you me Namei, for LORD JEHOVAH has humbled me, and from what opportunity he has had, he has afflicted me!”

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me back home empty; why call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
I went out full, and the Lord has brought me back empty: and why call ye me Noemin, whereas the Lord has humbled me and the Mighty One has afflicted me?

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Return to Bethlehem
…20“Do not call me Naomi,” she replied. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has dealt quite bitterly with me. 21I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? After all, the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me.” 22So Naomi returned from the land of Moab with her daughter-in-law Ruth the Moabitess. And they arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Job 1:21
saying: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

Job 30:15-16
Terrors are turned loose against me; they drive away my dignity as by the wind, and my prosperity has passed like a cloud. / And now my soul is poured out within me; days of affliction grip me.

Lamentations 3:17-20
My soul has been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what prosperity is. / So I say, “My strength has perished, along with my hope from the LORD.” / Remember my affliction and wandering, the wormwood and the gall. ...

2 Kings 4:27
When she reached the man of God at the mountain, she clung to his feet. Gehazi came over to push her away, but the man of God said, “Leave her alone, for her soul is in deep distress, and the LORD has hidden it from me and has not told me.”

Psalm 88:3-7
For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. / I am counted among those descending to the Pit. I am like a man without strength. / I am forsaken among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom You remember no more, who are cut off from Your care. ...

Psalm 102:9-10
For I have eaten ashes like bread and mixed my drink with tears / because of Your indignation and wrath, for You have picked me up and cast me aside.

Jeremiah 20:14-18
Cursed be the day I was born! May the day my mother bore me never be blessed. / Cursed be the man who brought my father the news, saying, “A son is born to you,” bringing him great joy. / May that man be like the cities that the LORD overthrew without compassion. May he hear an outcry in the morning and a battle cry at noon, ...

Isaiah 49:14
But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me; the Lord has forgotten me!”

Exodus 15:22-24
Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the Desert of Shur. For three days they walked in the desert without finding water. / And when they came to Marah, they could not drink the water there because it was bitter. (That is why it was named Marah.) / So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?”

1 Samuel 1:10-11
In her bitter distress, Hannah prayed to the LORD and wept with many tears. / And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever touch his head.”

Philippians 4:12
I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. In any and every situation I have learned the secret of being filled and being hungry, of having plenty and having need.

James 1:9-10
The brother in humble circumstances should exult in his high position. / But the one who is rich should exult in his low position, because he will pass away like a flower of the field.

2 Corinthians 6:10
sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

2 Corinthians 8:9
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

Luke 1:53
He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.

Treasury of Scripture

I went out full and the LORD has brought me home again empty: why then call you me Naomi, seeing the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?

and the

1 Samuel 2:7,8
The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up…

Job 1:21
And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

the Lord

Job 10:17
Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, and increasest thine indignation upon me; changes and war are against me.

Job 13:26
For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.

Job 16:8
And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.

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Ruth 1

1. Elimelech, driven by famine into Moab, dies there
4. Mahlon and Chilion, having married wives of Moab, die also
6. Naomi, returning homeward
8. dissuades her two daughters-in-law from going with her
14. Orpah leaves her, but Ruth with great constancy accompanies her
19. The two come to Bethlehem, where they are gladly received

Berean Study Bible

I went away full
The phrase "I went away full" reflects Naomi's past state of abundance and contentment. In Hebrew, the word for "full" is "מָלֵא" (male), which conveys a sense of completeness and satisfaction. Naomi's departure from Bethlehem to Moab was under circumstances where she felt secure and blessed, with her family intact. This fullness is not merely material but also relational and emotional, highlighting the stark contrast to her current state. Historically, this reflects the initial hope and expectation that Moab would provide sustenance during the famine in Bethlehem.

but the LORD has brought me back empty
The word "empty" in Hebrew is "רֵיקָם" (reqam), indicating a state of void or lack. Naomi attributes her current destitution to the LORD, acknowledging His sovereignty over her life's circumstances. This reflects a deep theological understanding that God is in control, even in adversity. Theologically, this speaks to the belief in God's providence and the testing of faith through trials. Naomi's return to Bethlehem "empty" signifies not just the loss of material wealth but the profound grief of losing her husband and sons.

Why call me Naomi?
Naomi's name means "pleasant" in Hebrew, derived from "נָעִים" (na'im). By questioning why she should still be called Naomi, she is expressing the incongruity between her name and her current bitter experience. This rhetorical question underscores her identity crisis and the transformation of her life circumstances. It invites reflection on the significance of names in Hebrew culture, where names often reflect character or destiny.

The LORD has testified against me
The phrase "testified against me" uses the Hebrew root "עָנָה" (anah), which can mean to answer, respond, or testify. Naomi feels that God has borne witness to her sins or shortcomings, resulting in her suffering. This reflects a common biblical theme where personal or communal sin is believed to result in divine retribution. It also highlights the belief in a personal God who is actively involved in the lives of His people, holding them accountable.

and the Almighty has afflicted me
The term "Almighty" is translated from the Hebrew "שַׁדַּי" (Shaddai), a name for God that emphasizes His power and sovereignty. The word "afflicted" comes from the Hebrew "רָעַע" (ra'a), meaning to break or shatter. Naomi perceives her suffering as a direct act of God, who in His omnipotence has allowed her to be broken. This reflects the ancient Near Eastern understanding of divine justice and the belief that God disciplines those He loves. Naomi's lament is a poignant expression of faith, acknowledging God's ultimate authority even in her distress.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 21. - I went forth full, and Yahveh has caused me to return in emptiness. Why should you call me Naomi, and Yahveh has testified against me, and the Almighty has brought evil upon me? She went forth "full," with husband and sons, not to speak of goods. She was under the necessity of returning in emptiness, or with empty hands. The Hebrew word רֵיקָם does not exactly mean empty, as it is rendered in the Septuagint, the Vulgate, and King James's version. It is not an adjective, but an adverb, emptily. This lamentable change of circumstances she attributed to the action of Yahveh. He had, she believed, been testifying against her by means of the trials through which she had passed. She was right in a certain conditional acceptation of her language; but only on condition of that condition. And, let us condition her declarations as we may, she was probably in danger of making the same mistake concerning herself and her trials which was made by Job's comforters in reference to the calamities by which he was overwhelmed. In so far as penal evil is concerned, it may be traced directly or circuitously to the will and government of God. "Shall there be evil - that is, penal evil - in a city, and the Lord hath not done it?" (Amos 3:6). But there are many sufferings that are not penal. The evil that is penal is only one segment of physical evil; and then there is besides, metaphysical evil, or the evil that consists in the inevitable imperfection of finite being. It is noteworthy that the participle of the Hiphilic verb הֵרַע employed by Naomi is always translated in King James s version evil doer, or wicked doer, or evil, or wicked, Naomi, in using such a term, and applying it to Yahveh, was walking on a theological precipice, where it is not needful that we should accompany her. Instead of the literal expression, 'and Yahveh, we may, with our English wealth of conjunctions freely say, 'when Yahveh. There is a charm in the original simplicity. There is likewise a charm in the more complex structure of the free translation.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

I
אֲנִי֙ (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

went away
הָלַ֔כְתִּי (hā·laḵ·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

full,
מְלֵאָ֣ה (mə·lê·’āh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 4390: To fill, be full of

but the LORD
יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

has brought me back
הֱשִׁיבַ֣נִי (hĕ·šî·ḇa·nî)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

empty.
וְרֵיקָ֖ם (wə·rê·qām)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 7387: Emptily, ineffectually, undeservedly

Why
לָ֣מָּה (lām·māh)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

call
תִקְרֶ֤אנָה (ṯiq·re·nāh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine plural
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

me Naomi,
נָעֳמִ֔י (nā·‘o·mî)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 5281: Naomi -- mother-in-law of Ruth

since the LORD
וַֽיהוָה֙ (Yah·weh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

has testified
עָ֣נָה (‘ā·nāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6030: To answer, respond

against me,
בִ֔י (ḇî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew

and the Almighty
וְשַׁדַּ֖י (wə·šad·day)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7706: The Almighty

has afflicted
הֵ֥רַֽע (hê·ra‘)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7489: To spoil, to make, good for, nothing, bad

me?”
לִֽי׃ (lî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew

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OT History: Ruth 1:21 I went out full and Yahweh has (Ru Rut.)