### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **mᵉrîyrîy**, represented by `{{H4815}}`, means **bitter** or **poisonous**. It is derived from the root word for bitter, מָרַר. Despite its potent meaning, this word is extremely rare, appearing only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the entire Bible, which underscores its specific and severe application.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole use of `{{H4815}}` is found in [[Deuteronomy 32:24]], within a prophecy of judgment. The verse describes a series of divine punishments: "They shall be burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with **bitter** destruction". In this context, **mᵉrîyrîy** is not a standalone concept but an adjective that intensifies the nature of the "destruction" `{{H6986}}`, framing it as a particularly grievous and painful end.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several words used alongside `{{H4815}}` in [[Deuteronomy 32:24]] illuminate its meaning:
* `{{H6986}}` **qeṭeb** (destruction): Directly modified by **mᵉrîyrîy**, this word means "ruin; destroying, destruction." Their pairing as "**bitter** destruction" forms a singular, devastating concept [[Deuteronomy 32:24]].
* `{{H7458}}` **râʻâb** (hunger): This term for "dearth, famine, hunger" is one of the calamities listed, showing that the "bitter destruction" is part of a broader context of extreme suffering [[Deuteronomy 32:24]].
* `{{H3898}}` **lâcham** (devour): Meaning to "feed on; figuratively, to consume," this word portrays a destructive force that consumes its victims, working in parallel with the burning heat and bitter ruin [[Deuteronomy 32:24]].
* `{{H2534}}` **chêmâh** (poison): This word, meaning "heat; figuratively, anger, poison," appears in the same verse in the phrase "poison of serpents." Its presence reinforces the poisonous undertone of **mᵉrîyrîy**.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H4815}}` is concentrated in its single, powerful usage.
* **Intensification of Divine Judgment:** The word functions to magnify the horror of God's judgment. It is not merely destruction, but a **bitter** and agonizing end, highlighting the severity of the consequences of disobedience.
* **Poisonous Calamity:** The base definition of `{{H4815}}` includes "poisonous." This is reinforced by its proximity to "poison `{{H2534}}` of serpents" in [[Deuteronomy 32:24]], linking the bitterness of the destruction to a fatal, venomous quality.
* **Component of Utter Ruin:** Its appearance alongside hunger `{{H7458}}`, being devoured `{{H3898}}`, and burning heat `{{H7565}}` places it within a comprehensive suite of punishments designed to convey total desolation.
### Summary
In summary, **mᵉrîyrîy** `{{H4815}}` is a highly specific term whose rarity enhances its impact. Used only once, it serves as a powerful descriptor for a form of destruction that is profoundly painful, grievous, and poisonous. Its context in [[Deuteronomy 32:24]] embeds it within a vision of catastrophic divine judgment, demonstrating how a single word can convey an immense weight of suffering and finality.
TRV