מָרַר

mârar /maw-rar'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root · properly, to trickle (see מַר)
Meaningbut 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.
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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.

Grammatical Forms

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 17 occurrences, inflected in 10 grammatical forms.

  • Qal Perfect 3rd Singular Masculine 4×
  • Hiphil Infinitive Construct 2×
  • Hiphil Perfect 3rd Singular Masculine 2×
  • Piel Consecutive Imperfect 3rd Plural Masculine 2×
  • Qal Perfect 3rd Singular Feminine 2×
  • Hiphil Imperfect 2nd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Hithpael Conjunction+Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Hithpael Consecutive Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Piel Imperfect 1st Singular common gender 1×
  • Qal Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 1×
Singular
One.
Plural
More than one.
Masculine
Masculine grammatical gender.
Feminine
Feminine grammatical gender.
common gender
Either gender — the form does not distinguish.
1st
First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
2nd
Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd
Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Imperfect
Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Perfect
A completed act whose results continue.
Infinitive
The verb as a noun — "to do".
Qal
The simple, basic stem — plain action in the active voice.
Piel
The intensive stem — strengthened or emphatic action.
Hiphil
The causative stem — the subject causes the action.
Hithpael
Reflexive-intensive — the subject acts upon itself.
Consecutive Imperfect
Imperfect with vav — carries narrative forward ("and he…").
Conjunction+Imperfect
Imperfect joined by a simple "and".
Construct
Bound to a following noun — "the X of…".

Theographic Context

Biblical Distribution

Appears in 15 verses across 10 books. Most frequent in Isaiah (3 verses).

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

Verse Explorer

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