Bible Word Study
מָרָא
Mârâʼ · Mara, a symbolic name of Naomi
מָרָא
Mara, a symbolic name of Naomi
Definition
Mara is a proper name meaning 'bitter' or 'bitterness,' used symbolically by Naomi in Ruth 1:20. After returning to Bethlehem following the deaths of her husband and sons, Naomi asks to be called Mara, stating, 'for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.' This name is not a personal identifier but a profound expression of her grief and perceived divine judgment. It contrasts sharply with the meaning of her original name, Naomi ('pleasant'), highlighting the drastic change in her life circumstances.
Biblical Usage
The word Mara is used only once in the Old Testament, in Ruth 1:20. It functions exclusively as a symbolic name adopted by Naomi to encapsulate her experience of profound loss and suffering. Its usage is deeply personal and theological, serving as a direct lament to her community about her affliction.
Etymology
Mara (מָרָא) is the feminine form of the Hebrew adjective mar (מַר, H4751), meaning 'bitter.' It is directly derived from the root מרר (m-r-r), which conveys bitterness, sharpness, or grief. This root is also the source for the noun merorah ('bitterness') and is famously connected to the name of the bitter waters at Marah (מָרָה, H4785) in Exodus 15:23.
Semantic Range
The name Mara is theologically significant as a raw, human expression of grief and perceived abandonment by God. It presents a model for faithful lament, where deep sorrow is voiced directly to the Almighty ('Shaddai'). This moment in Ruth 1:20 enriches the biblical theme of God's redemption, as Naomi's story of 'bitterness' is ultimately transformed through Ruth's loyalty and God's providence, leading to the lineage of King David and Jesus Christ. In ancient Israelite culture, names held deep significance, often describing a person's character or destiny. For Naomi to publicly request a name change was a powerful, culturally understood act of declaring a fundamental shift in her identity and fate due to tragedy. It communicated her social and emotional state to the entire community. mar (מַר, H4751) — the masculine adjective meaning 'bitter.' Merorah (מְרֹרָה, H4787) — a noun meaning 'bitterness' or 'bitter thing,' often used for literal bitter herbs. Marah (מָרָה, H4785) — a place name meaning 'bitterness,' as in the waters of Marah (Exodus 15:23).
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]