### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **mᵉrôr**, represented by `{{H4844}}`, is used to denote a **bitter herb** or the state of **bitter(-ness)**. It appears a total of **3 times** in **3 unique verses**, carrying both a literal and a deeply metaphorical meaning. The word stems from a root signifying bitterness itself.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{H4844}}` appears in two distinct contexts. First, it is a key component of the Passover meal, where the Israelites are commanded to eat unleavened bread with **bitter** herbs to commemorate their suffering and deliverance ([[Exodus 12:8]], [[Numbers 9:11]]). Second, it is used figuratively to describe profound emotional and spiritual suffering. In Lamentations, the author expresses this anguish by stating, "He hath filled me with **bitterness**" [[Lamentations 3:15]], transforming the physical taste into an emblem of deep sorrow.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help illustrate the conceptual field of bitterness and saturation:
* `{{H3939}}` **laʻănâh** (wormwood (regarded as poisonous, and therefore accursed); hemlock, wormwood): This word appears directly alongside `{{H4844}}` in [[Lamentations 3:15]]. It is consistently associated with judgment, curse, and sorrow, as seen when God threatens to feed His people with **wormwood** [[Jeremiah 9:15]] or when injustice turns righteousness into **hemlock** [[Amos 6:12]].
* `{{H7301}}` **râvâh** (to slake the thirst (occasionally of other appetites); bathe, make drunk, (take the) fill, satiate, (abundantly) satisfy, soak, water (abundantly)): In [[Lamentations 3:15]], this word describes being "made **drunken**" with wormwood, indicating an overwhelming saturation with suffering. This contrasts with its positive uses, such as being **satiated** with goodness [[Jeremiah 31:14]] or **abundantly satisfied** with the blessings of God's house [[Psalms 36:8]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H4844}}` is demonstrated through its symbolic applications.
* **Ritual Remembrance:** As part of the Passover ordinance, the "bitter herbs" serve as a physical reminder of the bitterness of Egyptian bondage, embedding the memory of suffering and redemption into a national act of worship [[Exodus 12:8]].
* **Metaphor for Divine Chastisement:** In Lamentations, "bitterness" is not a random misfortune but an experience directly attributed to God. The line "He hath filled me with bitterness" [[Lamentations 3:15]] portrays a state of suffering administered as a form of divine judgment or discipline.
* **Experience of Profound Sorrow:** Paired with wormwood, `{{H4844}}` captures the essence of overwhelming grief and despair, showing how physical sensations are used in Scripture to articulate the deepest human emotions.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4844}}` is a potent word that bridges the gap between the physical and the spiritual. It begins as a literal "bitter herb" integral to the Passover ritual but is elevated to become a profound metaphor for the bitterness of suffering, sorrow, and divine judgment. Its limited use in Scripture is concentrated in these key contexts, making each appearance significant for understanding themes of remembrance and chastisement.
TRV