### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb pikraínō (`{{G4087}}`) is derived directly from the adjective pikrós (`{{G4088}}`), meaning "bitter." Its fundamental semantic range encompasses both a literal and a figurative sense. Literally, it means "to make bitter" or "to become bitter" in taste, rendering something unpalatable or noxious. Figuratively, and more commonly in the New Testament, it denotes the act of causing emotional bitterness, resentment, or deep sorrow in another, or the state of oneself becoming embittered due to various negative experiences such as disappointment, anger, or perceived injustice. The nuance can therefore be active (to make bitter) or passive/reflexive (to become bitter).
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
Pikraínō (`{{G4087}}`) appears four times in the New Testament, with significant contextual implications:
* **[[Revelation 10:9]] and [[Revelation 10:10]]:** "Take it and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey." And I took the small scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it. It was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter."
* Here, the word describes a literal yet symbolic experience. The scroll, representing divine revelation, is initially pleasant to consume (sweet in the mouth), signifying the inherent goodness and desirability of God's word. However, its full ingestion leads to internal bitterness (in the stomach). This bitterness symbolizes the painful, difficult, and often sorrowful nature of the prophetic message, which includes divine judgment, suffering, and the harsh realities of human sin. The prophet must internalize this difficult truth to proclaim it.
* **[[Colossians 3:19]]:** "Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them."
* This is a crucial ethical injunction within the context of Christian household codes. Pikraínō (`{{G4087}}`) is used figuratively to warn against a destructive relational dynamic. For a husband to "be bitter" toward his wife implies a sustained attitude of harshness, resentment, unforgiveness, or a general sour disposition that erodes love and intimacy. It suggests a spirit of acrimony or severity that is antithetical to the self-sacrificial love (agapē) commanded of husbands. This bitterness can manifest in critical words, unexpressed anger, or a lack of tenderness, leading to a breakdown in marital harmony.
* **[[Revelation 8:11]]:** "The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the waters, because they were made bitter."
* In this apocalyptic vision, pikraínō (`{{G4087}}`) describes the literal corruption of waters, rendering them undrinkable and deadly. This event is a direct manifestation of divine judgment, where natural elements are supernaturally altered to bring about suffering and death. The bitterness here is both a physical characteristic of the poisoned water and a symbol of the severe consequences of God's wrath upon humanity.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **Pikrós (`{{G4088}}`):** The root adjective meaning "bitter," describing the quality itself.
* **Pikría (`{{G4089}}`):** The noun form, meaning "bitterness." This often refers to a deep-seated resentment, malice, or ill will, particularly in ethical contexts (e.g., [[Ephesians 4:31]], where it is listed among vices to be put away).
* **Cholē (`{{G5514}}`):** Gall or bile, a substance often associated with bitterness or poison, as seen in the wine mixed with gall offered to Jesus ([[Matthew 27:34]]).
* **Anger and Malice:** In its figurative use, pikraínō (`{{G4087}}`) is closely linked to concepts of anger (orgē `{{G3709}}`), wrath (thymos `{{G2372}}`), and malice (kakia `{{G2549}}`), especially when these emotions are allowed to fester and become a chronic disposition rather than a fleeting reaction.
* **Divine Judgment and Suffering:** In Revelation, the use of pikraínō (`{{G4087}}`) connects it to the broader themes of divine wrath, eschatological woes, and the suffering that accompanies God's righteous judgment upon a rebellious world.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of pikraínō (`{{G4087}}`) is multifaceted, touching upon both divine action and human responsibility:
1. **The Nature of Divine Revelation and Judgment:** In the book of Revelation, pikraínō (`{{G4087}}`) underscores the sobering reality of God's prophetic word and His righteous judgments. The "bitterness" experienced by John after eating the scroll (Revelation 10) signifies that while God's word is inherently sweet and desirable, its full implications—especially concerning sin, judgment, and suffering—can be profoundly difficult and painful to internalize and proclaim. The bitter waters of Wormwood (Revelation 8) vividly portray the destructive and deadly consequences of divine wrath, manifesting as a direct judgment upon the earth. This highlights God's sovereign power and the severe repercussions of rejecting His authority.
2. **The Peril of Human Sin and Relational Corruption:** The ethical injunction in [[Colossians 3:19]] against husbands being bitter toward their wives carries immense theological weight for Christian living and relationships. Bitterness, in this context, is presented as a spiritual poison that corrodes love, fosters resentment, and destroys unity within the most intimate human bond. It is a manifestation of unaddressed sin—such as pride, unforgiveness, or unresolved anger—that stands in stark contrast to the Christ-like love, patience, and grace to which believers are called. This command emphasizes the transformative power of the Gospel in shaping personal character and familial dynamics, urging believers to actively resist destructive attitudes and instead cultivate virtues that reflect God's own loving and forgiving nature.
### Summary
The Greek verb pikraínō (`{{G4087}}`), meaning "to make or become bitter," carries significant theological weight in the New Testament. In the apocalyptic visions of Revelation, it vividly portrays the severe and often painful reality of divine judgment ([[Revelation 8:11]]) and the challenging, even sorrowful, nature of prophetic truth when fully internalized ([[Revelation 10:9-10]]). Beyond these eschatological contexts, pikraínō (`{{G4087}}`) serves as a critical ethical warning in [[Colossians 3:19]], admonishing husbands against cultivating a spirit of bitterness towards their wives. This highlights the destructive power of resentment and harshness within relationships, underscoring the imperative for believers to embody Christ-like love, forgiveness, and gentleness, thereby resisting attitudes that undermine the sacred bonds of covenant. Thus, pikraínō (`{{G4087}}`) illuminates both the solemnity of God's righteous dealings and the call for profound personal and relational transformation in the lives of His people.
TRV