or מְרוֹרָה; from מָרַר; properly, bitterness; concretely, a bitter thing; specifically bile; also venom (of a serpent); bitter (thing), gall.
Transliteration:mᵉrôrâh
Pronunciation:mer-o-raw'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term `{{H4846}}` (מְרֹרָה, *mᵉrôrâh*), often appearing also as מְרוֹרָה, derives from the root `{{H4843}}` (מָרַר, *marar*), meaning "to be bitter," "to be strong," or "to be rebellious." At its most fundamental level, `{{H4846}}` denotes the sensory experience of *bitterness*, a taste that is sharp, unpleasant, and often associated with poison or decay.
Beyond this literal gustatory sense, the semantic range of `{{H4846}}` expands to encompass several concrete and abstract meanings:
1. **Literal Bitterness:** The direct taste sensation, as implied in the context of food or drink.
2. **Concrete Substances:**
* **Bile/Gall:** The bitter digestive fluid, often associated with physical suffering or death when "poured out" ([[Job 16:13]]).
* **Venom/Poison:** Specifically, the toxic secretion of serpents, signifying deadly, corrupting, or destructive power ([[Job 20:14]], [[Job 20:25]]).
3. **Metaphorical Bitterness:**
* **Severe Affliction/Sorrow:** Deep emotional distress, hardship, or suffering, often divinely inflicted or experienced as a consequence of sin ([[Lamentations 3:15]], [[Lamentations 3:19]]).
* **Harshness/Cruelty:** Actions or words that are severe, oppressive, or destructive ([[Job 13:26]]).
* **Destructive Outcome of Sin:** The bitter and ruinous consequences of wickedness or disobedience, akin to poison ([[Deuteronomy 29:18]], [[Proverbs 5:4]]).
Thus, `{{H4846}}` is a multifaceted word that vividly portrays not only a physical sensation but also the profound spiritual and existential realities of suffering, judgment, and the destructive nature of evil.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term `{{H4846}}` appears eight times in the Masoretic Text, primarily in poetic and wisdom literature, underscoring its evocative power:
* **[[Deuteronomy 29:18]]**: "lest there should be among you a root bearing poison and wormwood." Here, `{{H4846}}` (מְרֹרָה) is used metaphorically to describe the destructive potential of idolatry and apostasy within the community. It signifies a source of spiritual corruption that will yield bitter and harmful fruit.
* **[[Job 13:26]]**: "For You write bitter things against me and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth." Job laments that God's treatment of him is harsh and severe, like a written indictment filled with bitter accusations (מְרֹרוֹת). This points to the experience of divine judgment as deeply painful and difficult to bear.
* **[[Job 16:13]]**: "His archers surround me; He pierces my kidneys without mercy; He pours out my gall on the ground." In this visceral depiction of suffering, `{{H4846}}` (מְרֹרָתִי, "my gall") refers to the literal bile, symbolizing the extreme physical and existential agony that Job endures, nearing death.
* **[[Job 20:14]]**: "Yet his food in his stomach turns; It is the venom of cobras within him." Here, `{{H4846}}` (מְרוֹרַת, "venom") describes the internal, corrupting nature of ill-gotten gain for the wicked. What they consume for pleasure turns to deadly poison, illustrating the inherent destructiveness of their actions.
* **[[Job 20:25]]**: "He draws it out and it comes from his body; Even the glittering point from his gall." Similar to [[Job 20:14]], `{{H4846}}` (מְרוֹרַת, "gall" or "venom") again refers to the deadly poison of a serpent, emphasizing the fatal consequences that await the unrighteous.
* **[[Lamentations 3:15]]**: "He has filled me with bitterness; He has made me drink wormwood." The prophet, personifying Jerusalem, expresses profound sorrow and affliction. `{{H4846}}` (מְרוֹרִים, "bitterness") here signifies overwhelming grief and hardship, experienced as a divine chastisement.
* **[[Lamentations 3:19]]**: "Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and the gall." Again, `{{H4846}}` (מְרוֹרָה, "gall") is paired with "wormwood" to collectively represent the deep and painful suffering endured by the people of God.
* **[[Proverbs 5:4]]**: "But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword." This proverb warns against the allure of the adulteress. While her initial appeal may be sweet, her ultimate outcome is `{{H4846}}` (מְרוֹרָה, "bitter"), leading to destruction and ruin for those who pursue her.
Across these contexts, `{{H4846}}` consistently conveys a sense of severe unpleasantness, pain, and destructive consequence, whether as a result of divine judgment, the nature of sin, or human suffering.
### Related Words & Concepts
The word `{{H4846}}` is deeply interconnected with its root and other derivatives, forming a semantic field related to bitterness and its implications:
* **Root `{{H4843}}` (מָרַר, *marar*):** "to be bitter," "to be strong," "to be rebellious." This is the foundational verb from which `{{H4846}}` is derived. It captures the essence of bitterness, both literally and metaphorically (e.g., a bitter spirit, a bitter cry).
* **`{{H4751}}` (מַר, *mar*):** An adjective meaning "bitter," "unhappy," or "fierce." It describes the quality of something being bitter, whether taste, experience, or emotion (e.g., bitter waters, bitter weeping).
* **`{{H4844}}` (מֹרָה, *morah*):** "bitterness," "rebellion." This noun emphasizes the aspect of bitterness as a state of mind or an act of defiance.
* **`{{H4845}}` (מְרֹאשׁ, *mero'sh*):** "poison," "venom." This term is often used synonymously or in parallel with `{{H4846}}` when referring to the deadly substances of serpents or the destructive nature of evil. It highlights the toxic and fatal aspect of bitterness.
Conceptually, `{{H4846}}` is linked to:
* **Suffering and Affliction:** Often paired with "wormwood" (`{{H3938}}`, לַעֲנָה, *la'anah*), `{{H4846}}` denotes intense sorrow, hardship, and divine chastisement.
* **Divine Judgment:** The "bitter things" written against Job or the "gall and wormwood" that result from idolatry illustrate God's righteous, though painful, judgment upon sin.
* **The Nature of Sin:** Sin's initial allure may be deceptive, but its ultimate fruit is `{{H4846}}`, a bitter and destructive outcome, akin to poison.
* **Moral Corruption:** The presence of `{{H4846}}` within a person or community signifies deep-seated spiritual sickness and defilement.
* **Death and Decay:** The association with bile and venom directly links `{{H4846}}` to the processes of physical decline and mortality.
These related words and concepts collectively paint a comprehensive picture of bitterness as a multifaceted reality in the biblical worldview, encompassing physical sensation, emotional distress, moral consequence, and divine action.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H4846}}` (מְרֹרָה) is profound, serving as a powerful descriptor for the consequences of sin, the nature of divine judgment, and the reality of human suffering.
Firstly, `{{H4846}}` frequently appears in contexts where it signifies **the bitter fruit of disobedience and idolatry**. In [[Deuteronomy 29:18]], the "root bearing gall and wormwood" warns of the spiritual poison that will infect a community turning away from God. This highlights the inherent destructiveness of sin; though it may promise pleasure or gain, its ultimate yield is always bitter, leading to spiritual decay and divine displeasure. The proverb in [[Proverbs 5:4]] similarly uses `{{H4846}}` to describe the ruinous end of illicit relationships, emphasizing that sin's pleasure is fleeting, while its consequences are enduring and painful.
Secondly, `{{H4846}}` is a potent symbol of **divine judgment and affliction**. Job's lament in [[Job 13:26]]—that God "writes bitter things against me"—and his visceral description of his "gall" being poured out in [[Job 16:13]] illustrate the profound pain and desolation experienced under God's chastening hand. Similarly, in [[Lamentations 3:15]] and [[Lamentations 3:19]], `{{H4846}}` is used to articulate the overwhelming sorrow and suffering inflicted upon Jerusalem as a consequence of her rebellion. This demonstrates that God's justice, while righteous, can be experienced as intensely bitter by those who endure it. Yet, even in this bitterness, there is an underlying theological purpose: to bring about repentance and restoration.
Thirdly, the association of `{{H4846}}` with **venom and poison** ([[Job 20:14]], [[Job 20:25]]) underscores the insidious and deadly nature of wickedness. The ill-gotten gains of the wicked are not truly nourishing but turn to poison within them, leading to their ultimate destruction. This serves as a theological warning that sin, like a serpent's venom, works from within to corrupt and ultimately destroy.
In summary, `{{H4846}}` is more than a descriptor of taste; it is a theological metaphor for the painful and destructive outcomes of human sin, the severity of God's righteous judgment, and the deep suffering that can accompany both. It serves as a stark reminder of the gravity of moral choices and the just consequences that flow from them, while also acknowledging the profound depths of human anguish under divine hand.
### Summary
The Hebrew word `{{H4846}}` (מְרֹרָה, *mᵉrôrâh*) is a rich and multifaceted term primarily signifying "bitterness." Derived from the root `{{H4843}}` ("to be bitter"), its semantic range extends beyond a mere taste sensation to encompass concrete substances like bile and venom, and profound metaphorical meanings.
Biblical occurrences of `{{H4846}}` consistently highlight its association with **severe affliction and suffering** ([[Lamentations 3:15]], [[Lamentations 3:19]]), often experienced as **divine judgment** ([[Job 13:26]]). It powerfully describes the **destructive consequences of sin and wickedness**, likening them to a "root bearing gall" ([[Deuteronomy 29:18]]) or the "venom of cobras" ([[Job 20:14]], [[Job 20:25]]), which ultimately lead to ruin ([[Proverbs 5:4]]). In some instances, it depicts **extreme physical agony** leading to death ([[Job 16:13]]).
Related terms like `{{H4751}}` (bitter) and `{{H4845}}` (poison) further flesh out this semantic field, emphasizing the pervasive and often fatal nature of bitterness in the biblical narrative. Theologically, `{{H4846}}` serves as a potent symbol of the gravity of human disobedience, the just yet painful hand of God's discipline, and the inherent corruption and destruction that sin brings. It is a word that confronts the reader with the harsh realities of a fallen world and the severe consequences that flow from unrighteousness, underscoring the deep wisdom and justice embedded within the divine order.
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