### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **morrâh**, represented by `{{H4787}}`, signifies **trouble** or **bitterness**. It appears only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the Bible, making its sole usage particularly significant for understanding a specific dimension of personal suffering.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its single biblical appearance, `{{H4787}}` describes an internal and deeply personal reality. The verse in [[Proverbs 14:10]] states, "The heart knoweth his own **bitterness**; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy." This usage places **bitterness** squarely within the domain of the heart, portraying it as an experience that is intimately known by the individual but fundamentally inaccessible to others. It is set in direct contrast to joy, highlighting the two poles of private emotional experience.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words in its context illuminate the meaning of **morrâh**:
* `{{H3820}}` **lêb** (the heart): This word, defined as the heart and figuratively the feelings, will, and intellect, is the subject that experiences **bitterness** [[Proverbs 14:10]]. The dossier shows its importance as the source of life's issues [[Proverbs 4:23]] and the focus of God's renewal [[Psalms 51:10]].
* `{{H3045}}` **yâdaʻ** (to know): This term means to know, ascertain, or recognize. In [[Proverbs 14:10]], it is the heart that **knows** its own bitterness. This intimate knowledge is personal, but other passages show that God also **knows** the thoughts of humanity [[Jeremiah 29:11]].
* `{{H8057}}` **simchâh** (blithesomeness or glee): This word for **joy**, gladness, or mirth stands as the direct counterpart to **bitterness** in [[Proverbs 14:10]]. It is often depicted as a gift from God and a result of His presence ([[Zephaniah 3:17]], [[Psalms 16:11]]).
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H4787}}` is concentrated in its solitary context, providing insight into the nature of human suffering and the inner life.
* **The Privacy of Pain:** The core teaching of its use in [[Proverbs 14:10]] is that certain sorrows are intensely personal. The **bitterness** of the heart `{{H3820}}` is known to the self in a way that it cannot be fully shared, creating a sense of isolation in suffering.
* **The Inner World:** The concept centers on the **heart** `{{H3820}}` as the vessel of profound emotion. Scripture emphasizes the need to guard it above all else, as it is the wellspring of life [[Proverbs 4:23]].
* **A Known Condition:** While a stranger cannot "intermeddle" with one's inner state, the Bible affirms that God **knows** `{{H3045}}` and searches all hearts [[1 Chronicles 28:9]]. This suggests that even the most private **bitterness** is not hidden from God, who is able to bind up the brokenhearted [[Isaiah 61:1]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4787}}` **morrâh** offers a focused look at the concept of **bitterness** as a private, internal experience. Its single use in [[Proverbs 14:10]], framed by the concepts of the **heart** `{{H3820}}` that **knows** `{{H3045}}` and its contrast with **joy** `{{H8057}}`, establishes a poignant truth about the human condition. It illustrates a sorrow so personal it can be isolating, while other scriptures remind us that this inner world is fully known and accessible to God.
TRV