recognizing her, though the experiences through which she had passed may have appreciably affected her appearance. In her reply Naomi spoke of the bitterness (v. 20) of her affliction (v. 21), particularly with respect to the fact that she “went out full” and returned “home again empty” (v. 21). Naomi was not so much concerned with material possessions as with the fact that she returned alone. Therefore when the townsfolk asked, “Is this Naomi?” they were in effect exclaiming, “Is this Naomi, returning