πικραίνω
pikraínō
G4087 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To make bitter; to render something or someone harsh, unpleasant, or filled with bitterness either physically (in taste) or metaphorically (in emotion or attitude). In metaphorical contexts, to provoke irritation, resentment, or harshness in social or emotional relationships; to embitter or exasperate.
Semantic Range
to render bitter in taste, to embitter or exasperate (emotionally or relationally), to provoke resentment or harshness, to irritate, to cause acrimony
Root / Etymology
From the adjective πικρός (pikros), meaning 'bitter' or 'sharp', with the verbal suffix -αίνω forming a causative verb. Thus, πικραίνω literally means 'to make (something) bitter'.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Attested in classical Greek literature with the basic sense of 'to make bitter' (of taste) but more often used in figurative senses by the Hellenistic and Roman periods. In the Septuagint and New Testament, the verb commonly denotes a metaphorical embittering, such as arousing anger, resentment, or harsh feelings (e.g., Colossians 3:19, where it refers to relational irritation). The physical sense ('to make taste bitter') is less common in Koine Greek. The verb is related to πικρία (bitterness, acridity) and πικρός (bitter, sharp). Standard English translations such as 'embitter,' 'irritate,' or 'provoke' reflect the common figurative uses but can miss the word's emotional and relational nuances, especially in ancient contexts where 'bitterness' connoted both affective states and relational disharmony. The metaphor is frequently applied to social, familial, and communal settings, particularly emphasizing the way harsh attitudes or speech can 'embitter' relationships.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from πικρός; to embitter (literally or figuratively):--be (make) bitter.
Root Family
πικραίνω (pikrainō) — to make bitter, to embitter, to provoke
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4087-01 |
ἐπικράνθη | epikranthe | V AOR PASS IND 3P SG |
was made bitter | was made bitter | was made bitter | 1 |
G4087-02 |
ἐπικράνθησαν | epikranthesan | V AOR PASS IND 3P PL |
they were made bitter | they were embittered | they were made bitter | 1 |
G4087-03 |
πικραίνεσθε | pikrainesthe | V PRS PASS IMP 2P PL |
be bitter | be embittered | be embittered | 1 |
G4087-04 |
πικρανεῖ | pikranei | V FUT ACT IND 3P SG |
it will make bitter | he/she/it will embitter | it will make bitter | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4087-03 |
Colossians 3:19 | πικραίνεσθε | pikrainesthe | V PRS PASS IMP 2P PL |
be bitter | be embittered | be embittered |
G4087-02 |
Revelation 8:11 | ἐπικράνθησαν | epikranthesan | V AOR PASS IND 3P PL |
they were made bitter | they were embittered | they were made bitter |
G4087-04 |
Revelation 10:9 | πικρανεῖ | pikranei | V FUT ACT IND 3P SG |
it will make bitter | he/she/it will embitter | it will make bitter |
G4087-01 |
Revelation 10:10 | ἐπικράνθη | epikranthe | V AOR PASS IND 3P SG |
was made bitter | was made bitter | was made bitter |