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לַעֲנָה

𐤋𐤏𐤍𐤄

laʻănâh

H3939 noun

SILEX Entry

Root uncertain uncertain (possibly: to be bitter; but unattested as a root)

Definition

A bitter and potentially toxic herbaceous plant, specifically 'wormwood,' associated with intense bitterness in taste and by extension used metaphorically to signify bitter experiences, calamity, affliction, or judgment. The term laʿănâh is used both as a literal plant name and as a symbolic representation of severe hardship or moral/spiritual corruption.

Semantic Range

wormwood (bitter plant), bitterness, bitter experience, calamity, affliction, metaphor for judgment or corruption

Root / Etymology

Root/etymology uncertain. Strong's assigns it to an 'unused root supposed to mean to curse,' but no Hebrew verbal root with these consonants is attested. The word is etymologically obscure and may be of non-Hebrew origin or an ancient term for a specific plant.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Linguistically, לַעֲנָה (laʿănâh) refers to the bitter herb known in English as 'wormwood.' The plant is used figuratively throughout the Hebrew Bible to denote extreme bitterness, sorrow, and consequences of divine punishment (e.g., Deut 29:17; Prov 5:4; Jer 9:14). There is no evidence that the term originally meant 'curse' or that it derives from a root meaning 'to curse.' Unlike other Hebrew terms for bitterness (e.g., מָרוֹר), לַעֲנָה is especially associated with judgment, perversion of justice, and the corruption of communal well-being. In prophetic and wisdom texts, it symbolizes the painful result of wrongful actions. Later English translations sometimes render it 'hemlock,' but this is botanically inaccurate; the reference is to 'wormwood' (Artemisia spp.), a plant known for its bitterness. Over time, the figurative sense dominated, particularly in post-exilic and Second Temple literature, where לַעֲנָה became an emblem of divine retribution and suffering.

Translation Consistency

primary "wormwood" 8 occurrences

H3939 is primarily the noun for the bitter plant and is overwhelmingly rendered as “wormwood” in the P2 forms; it also carries the metaphorical sense of bitterness/calamity, which is naturally conveyed by retaining the literal plant name. Choosing “wormwood” ensures consistency and preserves both literal and figurative uses.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from an unused root supposed to mean to curse; wormwood (regarded as poisonous, and therefore accursed); hemlock, wormwood.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

לענה (uncertain) (l-ʿ-n-h (uncertain)) — wormwood, bitterness, bitter plant

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H3939-02 לַֽעֲנָ֑ה laanah HNcfsa wormwood wormwood wormwood 4
H3939-03 לְ/לַעֲנָ֖ה lelaanah HR/Ncfsa to wormwood to wormwood to wormwood 2
H3939-01 כַֽ/לַּעֲנָ֑ה khalaanah HRd/Ncfsa as wormwood wormwood like wormwood 1
H3939-04 וְ/לַעֲנָֽה velaanah HC/Ncfsa and-wormwood wormwood and wormwood 1

Occurrences in Scripture

8 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H3939-04 Deuteronomy 29:17 וְ/לַעֲנָֽה velaanah HC/Ncfsa and-wormwood wormwood and wormwood
H3939-02 Jeremiah 9:14 לַֽעֲנָ֑ה laanah HNcfsa wormwood wormwood wormwood
H3939-02 Jeremiah 23:15 לַֽעֲנָ֔ה laanah HNcfsa wormwood wormwood wormwood
H3939-03 Amos 5:7 לְ/לַעֲנָ֖ה lelaanah HR/Ncfsa to wormwood to wormwood to wormwood
H3939-03 Amos 6:12 לְ/לַעֲנָֽה lelaanah HR/Ncfsa to wormwood to wormwood to wormwood
H3939-01 Proverbs 5:4 כַֽ/לַּעֲנָ֑ה khalaanah HRd/Ncfsa as wormwood wormwood like wormwood
H3939-02 Lamentations 3:15 לַעֲנָֽה laanah HNcfsa with wormwood wormwood wormwood
H3939-02 Lamentations 3:19 לַעֲנָ֥ה laanah HNcfsa the wormwood wormwood wormwood
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