Strong's Lexicon mar or marah: Bitter, bitterness Original Word: מַר or מָרָה Word Origin: Derived from a root word meaning "to be bitter" Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G4088 (pikria): bitterness - G4089 (pikros): bitter Usage: The Hebrew words "mar" and "marah" are used to describe a state of bitterness, both in a literal and metaphorical sense. Literally, it can refer to a bitter taste, as in the case of water or food. Metaphorically, it often describes a state of emotional distress, grief, or rebellion. The term can also denote a sense of harshness or severity in circumstances or relationships. Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Hebrew culture, bitterness was often associated with suffering and hardship. The Israelites' experiences in the wilderness, where they encountered bitter waters at Marah (Exodus 15:23), highlight the physical and spiritual challenges they faced. Bitterness also symbolized the emotional pain of individuals, such as Naomi, who described her life as bitter due to personal loss (Ruth 1:20). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom marar Definition bitter, bitterness NASB Translation bitter (15), bitter thing (1), bitterly (4), bitterness (11), discontented* (1), embittered (1), fierce (1), fierce* (2), great bitterness (1), greatly distressed (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. מַר adjective and substantive bitter, bitterness; — absolute ׳מ Proverbs 27:7 +, הַמַּר Habakkuk 1:6, מָ֑ר Psalm 64:4 +; construct מַר 1 Samuel 22:2 +; feminine מָרָה Genesis 27:34 +, מָרָא Ruth 1:20; construct מָרַת 1 Samuel 1:10; masculine plural מָרִים Exodus 15:23 +; construct מָרֵי Judges 18:25; Proverbs 31:6; — bitter: 1 literally, of water Exodus 15:23 (J); food Proverbs 27:7 (opposed to מָתוֺק); wormwood (לַעֲנָה Proverbs 5:4 (in simile of end of harlot, compare Ecclesiastes 7:26 below); as substantive plural, of physical pain, result of curse לְמָרִים Numbers 5:24,27, whence מֵי הַמָּרִים Numbers 5:18 (compare Di) Numbers 5:19; Numbers 5:23; Numbers 5:24; of harmful result of ruthless fighting 2 Samuel 2:26; of wickedness Jeremiah 2:19; Jeremiah 4:18; = injurious, hurtful Isaiah 5:20 (twice in verse) (opposed to מָתוֺק). 2 figurative, a. of cry (צְעָקָה, זְעָקָה) Genesis 27:34 (J), Esther 4:1; מִסְמֵּד מָ֑ר Ezekiel 27:31 (strike out Co); דָּבָר מָ֑ר Psalm 64:4; as adverb (cry, weep) bitterly Ezekiel 27:30 (מָרָה), Zephaniah 1:14; Isaiah 33:7 (both מַר). b. of feeling, temper, especially with נֶפֶשׁ: אֲנָשִׁים מָרֵי נֶפֶשׁ Judges 18:25 men fierce (GFM acrid) of temper, so 2 Samuel 17:8 (like a bear robbed of whelps); הַגּוֺי הַמַּר Habakkuk 1:6 the fierce nation; מַרנֶֿפֶשׁ = discontented 1 Samuel 22:2; מַרֵי נֶפֶשׁ = the bitterly wretched Job 3:20; Proverbs 31:6, so ׳מָרַת נ 1 Samuel 1:10; compare יוֺם מָ֑ר Amos 8:10; as substantive abstract מַרנֶֿפֶשׁ bitterness of soul Isaiah 38:15; Ezekiel 27:31 (strike out Co), Job 7:11; Job 10:1 = נפשׁ מָרָה Job 21:25; compare מָרָא Ruth 1:20 (name given to Naomi by herself); מַרהַֿמָּוֶת 1 Samuel 15:32 the bitterness of death; מַרמִֿמָּוֶת Ecclesiastes 7:26 (metaphor of harlot); in Ezekiel 3:14 I went bitterly, strike out מַר Co. — Isaiah 38:17 see מרר. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance angry, bitterly chafed, discontented, great, heavy Or (feminine) marah {maw-raw'}; from marar; bitter (literally or figuratively); also (as noun) bitterness, or (adverbially) bitterly -- + angry, bitter(-ly, -ness), chafed, discontented, X great, heavy. see HEBREW marar Forms and Transliterations בְּמַ֣ר בְּמַר־ במר במר־ הַמַּ֣ר הַמָּרִ֖ים הַמָּרִ֥ים הַמָּרִֽים׃ המר המרים המרים׃ וָמָ֔ר וּמָרֵ֥י וּמָרָ֖ה וּמָרָֽה׃ ומר ומרה ומרה׃ ומרי לְמָ֣רֵי לְמָֽר׃ לְמָרִ֔ים לְמָרִֽים׃ למר׃ למרי למרים למרים׃ מַ֖ר מַ֛ר מַ֣ר מַ֥ר מַר֙ מַר־ מָ֑ר מָ֔ר מָ֣רֵי מָ֣רַת מָֽר׃ מָרִ֖ים מָרַּ֣ת מָרָ֑ה מָרָ֣ה מָרָ֥ה מר מר־ מר׃ מרה מרי מרים מרת bə·mar bə·mar- beMar bəmar bəmar- ham·mā·rîm ham·mar hammar hammaRim hammārîm lə·mā·rê lə·mā·rîm lə·mār leMar ləmār ləmārê leMarei lemaRim ləmārîm mā·rāh mā·raṯ mā·rê mā·rîm mar mār mar- mār·raṯ maRah mārāh Marat māraṯ mārê Marei maRim mārîm marRat mārraṯ ū·mā·rāh ū·mā·rê umaRah ūmārāh ūmārê umaRei vaMar wā·mār wāmārLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 27:34 HEB: צְעָקָ֔ה גְּדֹלָ֥ה וּמָרָ֖ה עַד־ מְאֹ֑ד NAS: great and bitter cry, KJV: and exceeding bitter cry, INT: cry great and bitter with an exceedingly Exodus 15:23 Numbers 5:18 Numbers 5:19 Numbers 5:23 Numbers 5:24 Numbers 5:24 Numbers 5:27 Judges 18:25 1 Samuel 1:10 1 Samuel 15:32 1 Samuel 22:2 2 Samuel 2:26 2 Samuel 17:8 Esther 4:1 Job 3:20 Job 7:11 Job 10:1 Job 21:25 Psalm 64:3 Proverbs 5:4 Proverbs 14:10 Proverbs 27:7 Proverbs 31:6 Ecclesiastes 7:26 41 Occurrences |