מְרֹרָה
𐤌𐤓𐤓𐤄
mᵉrôrâh
H4846 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A bitter substance or condition; refers to literal physical bitterness—such as bitterness in taste or bile (gall), and also metaphorically to intense suffering or distress. In its physical sense, it can designate a bodily secretion (bile) or a poisonous substance associated with venom. In extended usage, it is applied to experiences of hardship, anguish, or emotional pain.
Semantic Range
bitterness (in taste), bile (body fluid), venom (serpent's poison), bitterness (of suffering or affliction), source of intense suffering, gall, bitter thing
Root / Etymology
From the root מרר (m-r-r), meaning 'to be bitter' or 'to make bitter.' The noun מְרֹרָה (merorah) is derived from this root with a suffix forming an abstract or concrete noun, referring to that which is bitter or brings bitterness. The root conveys the notion of sharpness, acute unpleasantness, and by extension, suffering or grievance.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, מְרֹרָה is used both for literal physical substances (such as bile or venom) and metaphorically to convey experiences of affliction or distress. The term overlaps in meaning with other Hebrew words for 'bitterness' (such as מרה, also from the same root). The usage as a physiological term (bile, gall) appears in Job 16:13 and Lamentations 3:15, indicating a bodily source of bitterness, commonly associated in ancient thought with emotions of anger or suffering. In Deuteronomy 32:33, it is linked with the venom of serpents, further connecting the idea of bitterness to substances that cause harm or death. English translations often render it as 'gall,' 'bile,' or 'bitterness,' but the range of meaning includes both literal and figurative bitterness. The term should not be confused with later theological uses of 'gall' or 'bile' in Christian tradition, nor with the more general sense of 'bitterness' in English. Its metaphorical usage emphasizes intense suffering or anguish rather than mere bad taste.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or מְרוֹרָה; from מָרַר; properly, bitterness; concretely, a bitter thing; specifically bile; also venom (of a serpent); bitter (thing), gall.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
מרר (m-r-r) — to be bitter, make bitter, provoke
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4472 | מַמְרֹר | bitternesses |
| H4751 | מַר | in bitterness |
| H4752 | מַר | like a drop |
| H4753 | מֹר | the myrrh resin |
| H4755 | מָרָא | Bitter-One |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4846-02 |
מְרֹרֹ֖ת | merorot | HNcfpa |
bitter | bitter things | 2 |
H4846-03 |
מִֽ/מְּרֹרָת֥/וֹ | mimerorato | HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms |
from his gallbladder | from his bitterness | 1 |
H4846-01 |
מְרוֹרַ֖ת | merorat | HNcfsc |
venom | bitterness of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4846-02 |
Deuteronomy 32:32 | מְרֹרֹ֖ת | merorot | HNcfpa |
bitter | bitter things |
H4846-02 |
Job 13:26 | מְרֹר֑וֹת | merorot | HNcfpa |
bitter things | bitter things |
H4846-01 |
Job 20:14 | מְרוֹרַ֖ת | merorat | HNcfsc |
venom | bitterness of |
H4846-03 |
Job 20:25 | מִֽ/מְּרֹרָת֥/וֹ | mimerorato | HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms |
from his gallbladder | from his bitterness |