Word Study for H3992 (מָאַר) | Strong's Concordance

mâʼar /maw-ar'/ Ask about this word

Roota primitive root

Meaningto be bitter or (causatively) to embitter, i.e. be painful

KJV usagefretting, picking.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of mâʼar — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

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.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 4 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

מַמְאֶרֶת
מַמְאִיר

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 4 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Leviticus (3 verses); never once in the other 37.

Leviticus

Ezekiel

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.