Ruth 1:21

KJV

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?

KJV (with Strong's)

I went out {H1980} full {H4392}, and the LORD {H3068} hath brought me home again {H7725} empty {H7387}: why then call {H7121} ye me Naomi {H5281}, seeing the LORD {H3068} hath testified {H6030} against me, and the Almighty {H7706} hath afflicted {H7489} me?

Complete Jewish Bible

I went out full, and ADONAI has brought me back empty. Why call me Na'omi? ADONAI has testified against me, Shaddai has afflicted 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.”

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?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ruth 1:21 captures Naomi's raw and poignant lament upon her return to Bethlehem, a declaration born from profound grief and a deep sense of divine abandonment. Having left her homeland "full" with a husband and two sons, she returns "empty," a widow who has also buried both her children in Moab. Her bitter plea to be called "Mara" instead of "Naomi" encapsulates her conviction that the LORD, the Almighty, has directly afflicted her, transforming her pleasant identity into one defined by suffering and loss.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ruth 1:21 marks the climax of Naomi's initial return to Bethlehem, following a decade of hardship in Moab. The preceding verses (Ruth 1:1-5) establish the famine that drove Elimelech's family to Moab, their subsequent losses (husband and sons), and Naomi's decision to return to Judah (Ruth 1:6-7). Ruth's unwavering loyalty is declared in Ruth 1:16-18, setting her apart from Orpah. Upon their arrival in Bethlehem, the entire town is stirred, recognizing Naomi (Ruth 1:19). This verse is Naomi's direct, unvarnished response to their recognition, expressing the stark contrast between her departure and her current state. It serves as a narrative pivot, setting the stage for God's redemptive work through Ruth, which will slowly unfold to counter Naomi's despair.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The narrative is set "in the days when the judges ruled" (Ruth 1:1), a period often characterized by instability and spiritual decline in Israel. Famine, as experienced by Naomi's family, was a common and devastating occurrence, often interpreted as divine judgment. The move to Moab, a foreign land, highlights the desperation of Elimelech's family. Widowhood in ancient Israel was a precarious state, as women relied on male family members for provision and protection. Naomi's return "empty" signifies not only the loss of her immediate family but also the loss of social standing and economic security. Her reference to "the LORD" (Yahweh) and "the Almighty" (Shaddai) reflects a deep-seated Israelite understanding of God's sovereignty over all life, including misfortune, even if her interpretation is clouded by personal anguish.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully articulates themes of profound **grief and loss**, showcasing a raw human response to cumulative tragedy. Naomi's declaration highlights the theme of **divine sovereignty**, as she directly attributes her suffering to God's hand, believing He has "testified against" and "afflicted" her. This perspective, while understandable in her pain, sets up a tension that the rest of the book will resolve, demonstrating God's hidden, faithful work even amidst apparent abandonment. The verse also introduces the theme of **identity and naming**, as Naomi attempts to redefine herself from "pleasant" (Naomi) to "bitter" (Mara), reflecting her internal state. This identity crisis foreshadows the eventual restoration of her joy and purpose, as seen in [Ruth 4:14-17](/ruth/4-14 "Ruth 4:14-17 - Naomi's Restoration"). Her lament echoes the cries found in many [Psalms of lament](/psalms/42 "Psalm 42 - A Soul Thirsting for God"), where the suffering individual pours out their heart to God, questioning His ways while still acknowledging His ultimate power.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **"Full" (Hebrew, _mālē'_):** This word signifies completeness, abundance, or a state of being filled. In Naomi's context, it refers to her departure from Bethlehem with her husband and two sons, representing a family unit that was whole, prosperous, and secure, embodying the blessings of lineage and provision. Her memory of this "fullness" sharpens the pain of her current "emptiness."
* **"Empty" (Hebrew, _rêqām_):** This adverb means "empty-handed," "without anything," or "in vain." It starkly contrasts with "full," vividly portraying Naomi's desolate state. She has lost her husband, her two sons, and any material wealth they might have accumulated. Her return is not just a lack of possessions but a profound void in her life, a complete reversal of her former state, symbolizing the crushing weight of her losses.
* **"Almighty" (Hebrew, _Shaddai_):** This divine name, frequently translated as "Almighty," emphasizes God's power, self-sufficiency, and often, His provision and blessing, particularly in the patriarchal narratives (e.g., [Genesis 17:1](/genesis/17-1 "Genesis 17:1 - God Appears to Abram as El Shaddai")). Naomi's use of "Shaddai" here is significant; she invokes the name of the powerful, all-sufficient God, but she perceives Him not as her provider but as the source of her affliction, highlighting the depth of her despair and her wrestling with divine sovereignty.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty:"** Naomi vividly contrasts her past prosperity with her present destitution. "Full" refers to her departure from Bethlehem with her husband and two sons, representing a complete family unit and a sense of security. "Empty" signifies the loss of all three, leaving her widowed and childless. The direct attribution, "the LORD hath brought me home again empty," reveals her conviction that her circumstances are not mere misfortune but the direct, sovereign act of God. She sees His hand, albeit through the lens of severe suffering.
* **"why [then] call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me,"** Naomi challenges her townswomen to stop calling her by her name, "Naomi" (meaning "pleasant" or "my pleasantness"). Her identity, she believes, has been irrevocably altered by her suffering. The phrase "the LORD hath testified against me" suggests a legal or judicial context, implying that God has acted as a witness or even a prosecutor against her, confirming her guilt or condemning her to this fate. This reflects a deep theological understanding of God's active involvement in human affairs, even if her interpretation is one of judgment rather than discipline or testing.
* **"and the Almighty hath afflicted me?"** Reinforcing her previous statement, Naomi uses another divine name, "the Almighty" (Shaddai), to underscore the power and totality of her suffering. "Afflicted" (Hebrew, _ra'a'_) means to do evil, harm, or cause distress. By invoking "Shaddai," the all-powerful God, Naomi emphasizes that her suffering is not random but a deliberate, powerful act of God. Her lament is not a denial of God's existence or power, but a raw, honest wrestling with His perceived harshness and a profound expression of her pain.

#### Literary Devices
Ruth 1:21 is rich with **Contrast**, most notably between "full" and "empty," which powerfully encapsulates Naomi's tragic journey and loss. This **Juxtaposition** highlights the profound reversal of her circumstances. The verse also employs **Irony**, as her name "Naomi" (pleasant) stands in stark contrast to her current reality and her desired name "Mara" (bitter), creating a poignant commentary on the disjunction between identity and experience. Naomi's direct attribution of her suffering to "the LORD" and "the Almighty" exemplifies **Anthropomorphism**, as she portrays God as an active agent, almost a legal adversary who has "testified against" and "afflicted" her. This is a classic form of **Lament**, a common biblical genre where an individual pours out their grief, complaint, and questions to God, often expressing a sense of abandonment or divine judgment. The repetition of the divine names ("the LORD" and "the Almighty") in close proximity also serves as a form of **Emphasis**, underscoring her conviction about God's direct involvement in her plight.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Naomi's lament in Ruth 1:21 is a profound expression of raw human suffering and a wrestling with divine sovereignty. Her conviction that God has actively brought her to this state of "emptiness" highlights a deep-seated biblical understanding that God is intimately involved in the affairs of humanity, even in hardship. While her perspective is limited by her pain and immediate circumstances, the book of Ruth ultimately reveals God's faithful and redemptive hand at work behind the scenes, transforming her bitterness into blessing. This verse validates the human experience of lament, demonstrating that it is permissible to express profound grief, even questioning, to God without denying His existence or power. It underscores the tension between human perception of suffering and God's overarching, often hidden, purposes.

* [Job 1:21](/job/1-21 "Job 1:21 - Job's Response to Loss")
* [Psalm 42:11](/psalms/42-11 "Psalm 42:11 - Why are you cast down, O my soul?")
* [Lamentations 3:1-20](/lamentations/3 "Lamentations 3 - The Prophet's Lament")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Naomi's raw honesty in Ruth 1:21 offers a profound validation for our own experiences of grief, loss, and disillusionment. It reminds us that faith does not preclude pain, and that it is not only permissible but often necessary to express our deepest anguish and even our questions to God. In moments when life feels "empty" and we perceive God's hand as one of affliction, Naomi's lament gives us permission to name our pain, to cry out, and to wrestle with the seeming harshness of our circumstances. While her immediate perspective is one of despair, the broader narrative of Ruth beautifully illustrates that God's purposes extend far beyond our immediate suffering. He is at work even when we cannot see it, orchestrating redemption and bringing unexpected blessing out of the bitterest experiences. This encourages us to hold onto hope, trusting that even in our darkest valleys, God is faithful and His ultimate plan is for our good and His glory, even if it is not immediately apparent. We are called to lament honestly, yet to also look for the subtle ways God is working to bring new life and restoration.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **When have you felt "empty" or that God has "afflicted" you, similar to Naomi's experience?**
* **How do you typically express your grief or disillusionment to God? Does Naomi's example encourage you to be more honest?**
* **How can we reconcile Naomi's perception of God's affliction with the understanding of God's love and faithfulness?**
* **What does Naomi's story teach us about God's hidden work and His ability to bring good out of seemingly insurmountable circumstances?**

### FAQ
**Did God truly afflict Naomi, or was it simply a series of unfortunate events?**

Answer: From Naomi's perspective, God absolutely afflicted her. Her language ("the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me") indicates a strong theological conviction that God was directly responsible for her suffering. In the ancient Israelite worldview, there was a profound sense of divine sovereignty, where God was seen as active in all aspects of life, including both blessings and misfortunes. While modern perspectives might attribute some events to natural causes or human choices, the biblical narrative often presents God as the ultimate orchestrator of circumstances, even if His reasons are not immediately clear to the suffering individual. The book of Ruth, while starting with Naomi's lament, ultimately reveals God's redemptive plan unfolding through Ruth's loyalty and Boaz's kindness, demonstrating that God's purposes are often far grander and more loving than our limited, pain-filled perspectives can initially grasp (see [Ruth 4:14-17](/ruth/4-14 "Ruth 4:14-14 - Naomi's Restoration and Blessing")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Naomi's profound lament of emptiness in Ruth 1:21, attributing her suffering to the Almighty, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus. Her experience of leaving "full" and returning "empty" foreshadows the divine condescension of Christ, who, though "full" of divine glory and power, "emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant" ([Philippians 2:7](/philippians/2-7 "Philippians 2:7 - Christ's Humiliation")). Jesus, the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), willingly bore the ultimate affliction and judgment, becoming "empty" on the cross, so that humanity, once empty and alienated from God by sin, might be made "full" in Him ([Colossians 2:9-10](/colossians/2-9 "Colossians 2:9-10 - Fullness in Christ")). Naomi's bitterness (Mara) points to the bitter cup of suffering Christ drank in Gethsemane ([Matthew 26:39](/matthew/26-39 "Matthew 26:39 - Jesus' Prayer in Gethsemane")), enduring the Father's perceived abandonment ("My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" - [Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")). Yet, through His "emptying" and suffering, Christ secured our "fullness," bringing us into an inheritance of life, hope, and eternal pleasantness, transforming our "Mara" into true "Naomi" through His resurrection and the promise of a new creation where all tears are wiped away ([Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No More Death or Mourning")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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.

1 Samuel 2:7

The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.

1 Samuel 2:8

He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, [and] lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set [them] among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth [are] the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them.

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.

Job 10:17

Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, and increasest thine indignation upon me; changes and war [are] against me.

Malachi 3:5

And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in [his] wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger [from his right], and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.