Word study · Hebrew

Mara

bitter

Say it: mah-RAH (approximate)

מָרָא

What it means

"Naomi" sounds like the word for "pleasant." Back in Bethlehem she asks to be called Mara, "bitter," to match her grief. The idea of bitterness runs through her words in Chapter 1.

Range of meaning

Bitter to the tasteAs in bitter water or bitter herbs.
Bitter griefDeep sorrow or a hard lot in life.

In Ruth

Chapter 1
The name Naomi asks for, in place of "pleasant."

Every verse (1)

Ruth 1:20

Verses where H4755 is tagged in the Hebrew text: STEPBible Data (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. About our sources

From the lexicon

מָרָאma.ra · H4755

A woman living before Israel's Monarchy, first mentioned at Rut.1.2; married to Elimelech (H0458); mother of: Mahlon (H4248) and Chilion (H3630); also called Mara at Rut.1.20; Another name of no.o.mi (נׇעֳמִי "Naomi" H5281) § Mara = "bitterness" a name that Naomi called herself due to her calamities

Used in 1 verse of the Hebrew Bible.

Brief lexicon entry and counts: STEPBible Data (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. About our sources

Elsewhere in the Bible

Exodus 15:23
Marah, the place of bitter water, from the same root.
1 Samuel 1:10
Hannah prays "in bitterness of soul," the same root.

In English Bibles

Common ways translations render it:

Mara
Bitter