Dictionary of Bible Themes » 5000 Humanity » 5760 Human attitudes and behaviour » 5799 bitterness
A feeling of anger and resentment, caused particularly by perceived unfairness in suffering or by adverse circumstances.
The causes of bitterness
Adverse personal circumstances
Job 10:1 See also Genesis 27:34; Ruth 1:20 “Mara” means “bitter”; 1 Samuel 30:6; 2 Samuel 13:36; 2 Kings 4:27; Psalm 55:4-14; Proverbs 17:25; Jeremiah 6:26
External circumstances
Ezekiel 3:14 Because of the exiles' hardness of heart. See also Job 21:25; Job 27:2; Lamentations 3:1-20; Ezekiel 21:6
Human failure
Matthew 26:75 pp Luke 22:61-62 See also Ezra 10:1; Jeremiah 2:19; Jeremiah 4:18; Lamentations 1:4
Bitterness is evidence of a sinful heart
Acts 8:23 See also Romans 3:10-18
Bitterness is to be avoided
Hebrews 12:15 See also Ephesians 4:31; James 3:14
The remedy for bitterness
Forgiveness
Genesis 33:1-11; Luke 15:25-32; Ephesians 4:31-32
The causes of bitterness will pass away
Psalm 37:1-2
Examples of bitterness in people's lives
See also
Ruth 1:19-21; 2 Samuel 13:22; Esther 5:9; Luke 15:30
4452 gall 4500 poison 5494 revenge 5560 suffering 5875 hatred 5927 resentment 5952 sorrow 6178 hardness of heart 6227 regret 6652 forgiveness
