The Hebrew word Mârâʼ, represented by H4755, is the feminine form for bitter and is used as a symbolic name. It appears just 1 time in 1 unique verse in the Bible, specifically as the name Naomi adopts to reflect her suffering.
The single use of H4755 occurs when Naomi returns to her homeland. She declares to the people, "Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me" Ruth 1:20. In this context, the name is not a given name but a chosen one, a direct expression of the immense sorrow and loss she has endured. The name Mârâʼ becomes a public testimony of her bitter circumstances.
Several related words in the original text clarify the meaning and context of Mârâʼ:
- H4843 mârar (to be... bitter): This is the root from which Mârâʼ derives its meaning. Naomi uses this exact word to explain her new name, stating the Almighty "hath dealt very bitterly" with her Ruth 1:20. It is used elsewhere to describe lives made "bitter" by bondage Exodus 1:14 and a soul that is "grieved" 1 Samuel 30:6.
- H7121 qârâʼ (to call out to... give name): This is the action word used for the naming itself. Naomi instructs the people, "call me Mara" Ruth 1:20. This verb is frequently used for the act of naming, such as when it is said "his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor" Isaiah 9:6.
- H559 ʼâmar (to say... declare): This word signifies Naomi's verbal declaration of her identity. The verse begins, "And she said unto them" Ruth 1:20, establishing her statement as a formal announcement of her new reality.
The theological weight of H4755 is concentrated in its singular, powerful use:
- A Name Reflecting Experience: Mârâʼ demonstrates how a name can define a person's state of being in relation to God. It is a raw expression of personal suffering, transforming an identity from "Naomi" (pleasantness) to Mârâʼ (bitterness).
- Articulating Grief: The name serves as a vessel for profound grief and sorrow. The root word is associated with the bitterness of a nation in affliction Lamentations 1:4 and the deep mourning for a pierced son Zechariah 12:10, situating Naomi's personal pain within a larger biblical theme of suffering.
- Theological Confession: By choosing the name Mârâʼ, Naomi makes a direct theological statement. She attributes her circumstances to the sovereign hand of God, declaring that "the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me" Ruth 1:20, framing her suffering as an act of divine dealing.
In summary, H4755 is a deeply personal and symbolic name. Though used only once, Mârâʼ provides a poignant biblical example of how a name can be chosen to articulate an experience of profound bitterness and loss. It powerfully illustrates an individual's attempt to make sense of their suffering by renaming themselves in accordance with what they perceive to be God's actions in their life.
TRV