English · KJV
H4843

מָרַר

mârar /maw-rar'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningproperly, to trickle (see מַר); but used only as a denominative from מַר; to be (causatively, make) bitter (literally or figuratively)
KJV usage(be, be in, deal, have, make) bitter(-ly, -ness), be moved with choler, (be, have sorely, it) grieved(-eth), provoke, vex.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of mârar — 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 mârar, represented by H4843, is a primitive root used to convey the concept of being or making something bitter, both literally and figuratively. It appears 17 times across 15 unique verses in the Bible. Its meaning extends beyond simple taste to encompass deep emotional states such as being grieved, vexed, provoked, or moved with choler.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical usage, H4843 describes various forms of suffering and intense emotion. It is used to characterize the oppressive conditions of the Israelites in Egypt, where their captors "made their lives bitter with hard bondage" Exodus 1:14. It also captures profound personal grief, as when Naomi, experiencing great loss, tells the people to call her Mara because the Almighty "hath dealt very bitterly with me" Ruth 1:20. The term can also signify a state of rage or aggressive anger, such as when kings are "moved with choler" before entering battle (Daniel 8:7, Daniel 11:11). In other instances, it refers to a collective sorrow, as when the "soul of all the people was grieved" 1 Samuel 30:6.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help illustrate the semantic range of bitterness and grief:

  • H4751 mar (bitter): As the noun from which H4843 is derived, this word signifies bitterness itself. The two appear together to express intense feeling, as in "I had great bitterness" Isaiah 38:17.
  • H3334 yâtsar (be distressed, be narrow): This term is used alongside H4843 to describe a state of severe anguish. David was "greatly distressed" because the people were "grieved," showing a close relationship between external pressure and internal bitterness 1 Samuel 30:6.
  • H5315 nephesh (soul, person): This word for the inner self is often the subject of the bitterness. The experience is deeply personal, as when the Shunammite woman's "soul is vexed" 2 Kings 4:27 or when Job claims the Almighty has "vexed my soul" Job 27:2.
  • H6531 perek (cruelty, rigour): This term describes the harsh treatment that causes bitterness. The service the Egyptians forced upon the Israelites was with "rigour," which in turn "made their lives bitter" Exodus 1:14.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H4843 is evident in its connection to suffering, sin, and divine interaction.

  • Response to Hardship: Bitterness is often a direct human response to tragedy and oppression. Naomi attributes her bitter state to the hand of the Almighty Ruth 1:20, and the people are grieved by the loss of their families 1 Samuel 30:6. This bitterness is a mark of profound suffering.
  • Provocation and Anger: The word is used to warn against inciting divine anger, as the Israelites were told not to provoke the angel of the Lord Exodus 23:21. It is also the word used to describe the rage of aggressors, such as the archers who "sorely grieved" Joseph and hated him Genesis 49:23.
  • Mourning for Sin: In a prophetic context, the word is linked to mourning over sin. Zechariah foretells a time when the inhabitants of Jerusalem will look upon him whom they pierced and "shall be in bitterness for him," connecting deep sorrow to the recognition of a great transgression Zechariah 12:10.

Summary

In summary, H4843 is a powerful word that captures a spectrum of intense negative experiences. It moves from the literal bitterness of strong drink Isaiah 24:9 to the depths of personal anguish Ruth 1:20, the pain of oppression Exodus 1:14, and the fury of conflict Daniel 8:7. It illustrates how experiences of grief, vexation, and provocation are woven into the fabric of human suffering and the biblical narrative of sin and redemption.

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 17 occurrences, inflected in 10 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.

  • מַר
  • הָמֵר
  • הֵמַר
  • יְמָרֲרֻ
  • מָרָה
  • תַּמֵּר
  • יִתְמַרְמַר
  • יִּתְמַרְמַר
  • אֲמָרֵר
  • יֵמַר

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H4751 מַר or (feminine) מָרָה; from מָרַר; bitter (literally or figuratively); also (as noun) bitterness, or (adverbially) bitterl H3334 יָצַר a primitive root; to press (intransitive), i.e. be narrow; figuratively, be in distress; be distressed, be narrow, be st H5315 נֶפֶשׁ from נָפַשׁ; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accomm H6531 פֶּרֶךְ from an unused root meaning to break apart; fracture, i.e. severity; cruelty, rigour.

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 15 verses across 10 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Isaiah (3 verses); never once in the other 29.

1
Genesis
2
Exodus
2
Ruth
1
1 Samuel
1
2 Kings
1
Job
3
Isaiah
1
Lamentations
2
Daniel
1
Zechariah

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.