### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **mâʼar**, represented by `{{H3992}}`, is a primitive root meaning **to be bitter or (causatively) to embitter, i.e. be painful; fretting, picking**. It appears **4 times** across **4 unique verses** in the Bible. The term is used to describe a persistent, spreading, and irritating condition, both in a literal and a figurative sense.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In scripture, `{{H3992}}` is primarily used within the legal texts of Leviticus to identify a specific type of destructive malady. It is repeatedly translated as "fretting" in the context of leprosy found in garments or houses, indicating a condition that spreads and is deeply unclean ([[Leviticus 13:51]], [[Leviticus 14:44]]). The prescribed remedy for this "fretting leprosy" is complete destruction by fire, highlighting its severe nature [[Leviticus 13:52]]. Figuratively, the term is used in Ezekiel to describe the antagonistic nations surrounding Israel as a "pricking" brier, a source of constant irritation and pain [[Ezekiel 28:24]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the contexts in which `{{H3992}}` is used:
* `{{H6883}}` **tsâraʻath** (leprosy): The word `{{H3992}}` is used almost exclusively to qualify this term, forming the phrase "fretting leprosy" to denote a particularly persistent and spreading form of the disease [[Leviticus 13:51]].
* `{{H5061}}` **negaʻ** (plague, sore, stricken): This word refers to the infliction or spot of leprosy. The "plague" is identified as a "fretting leprosy" `{{H3992}}` when it spreads in a garment or house [[Leviticus 14:44]].
* `{{H5544}}` **çillôwn** (brier, thorn): This word is used in conjunction with `{{H3992}}` in Ezekiel's prophecy, where Israel's enemies are called a "pricking brier," emphasizing their role as a painful irritant [[Ezekiel 28:24]].
* `{{H6975}}` **qôwts** (thorn): Used in parallel with `{{H5544}}` in the same verse, a "grieving thorn" further illustrates the painful nature of the opposition faced by Israel [[Ezekiel 28:24]].
* `{{H3510}}` **kâʼab** (grieving, have pain, sorrowful): In [[Ezekiel 28:24]], this word is paired with "thorn" just as `{{H3992}}` is paired with "brier," creating a parallel that links the concepts of physical pricking and emotional grief caused by antagonistic forces.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H3992}}` is centered on the concepts of persistent corruption and vexing antagonism.
* **Destructive Uncleanness:** In its Levitical context, the "fretting" `{{H3992}}` nature of leprosy symbolizes a corrupting influence that cannot be cleansed but must be entirely eradicated by fire [[Leviticus 13:52]]. It represents a contagion that defiles objects and dwellings.
* **Figurative Antagonism:** Ezekiel employs `{{H3992}}` metaphorically to describe the pain caused by hostile nations. These enemies are not just a military threat but a "pricking brier," a constant, irritating source of trouble that prevents Israel from living in peace [[Ezekiel 28:24]].
* **Divine Judgment and Restoration:** The term appears in contexts of divine judgment, whether defining a plague that renders things unclean or describing enemies God will eventually remove. The promise to eliminate the "pricking brier" is an act of God's restoration for Israel [[Ezekiel 28:24]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H3992}}` is a highly specific term conveying the idea of a "fretting" or "pricking" affliction. While its usage is infrequent, it powerfully connects the literal idea of a spreading, destructive leprosy in the Law with the figurative pain of a persistent, hostile enemy in the Prophets. The word illustrates how a physical malady can serve as a potent metaphor for national suffering and the need for divine intervention to remove a source of constant irritation.
TRV