πικρός
pikrós
G4089 substantive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Having a bitter or sharp taste or quality; characterized by physical bitterness (as of substances or flavors) or, in extended figurative usage, by harshness, severity, or emotional acerbity. Contextually, can denote something unpleasant, painful, or causing affliction. The primary sense is the sensory experience of bitterness, with figurative application to emotions, speech, or circumstances.
Semantic Range
bitter to the sense of taste, acrid, pungent, sharp, harsh (of words or experiences), severe, painful, grievous, emotionally resentful, harsh in tone or attitude
Root / Etymology
From the root πικρ-; the etymology is uncertain, though there has been speculation about a connection with πήγνυμι ('to fasten, to fix'), conceived through the idea of something that 'pierces' or 'stabs', but this is not widely accepted. The origin is most likely pre-Greek or otherwise non-Indo-European.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, πικρός primarily denoted something bitter to the taste (as food, drink, or medicine), and by extension, anything physically sharp, pungent, or acrid. Its sensory meaning was extended figuratively to describe harsh or painful experiences, severe conditions, or emotionally 'bitter' attitudes and words. From the Hellenistic period onward (including the Septuagint and New Testament), πικρός retains these connotations, describing literal bitterness (as in water or gall) as well as figurative bitterness, such as emotional resentment, harsh speech, or severe circumstances. In some contexts, especially in the New Testament (e.g., James 3:11, 3:14), it characterizes negative inner qualities such as jealousy, animosity, or malevolent intent. English translations often use 'bitter', but in modern English, 'bitter' may underplay the severity or breadth of figurative usage in Greek, which ranges from physical description to inner moral character or experience.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
perhaps from πήγνυμι (through the idea of piercing); sharp (pungent), i.e. acrid (literally or figuratively):--bitter.
Root Family
πικρός (pikrós) — bitter, sharp, acrid
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4089-01 |
πικρόν | pikron | ADJ.S ACC N SG |
bitter | bitter thing | bitter | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4089-01 |
James 3:11 | πικρόν | pikron | ADJ.S ACC N SG |
bitter | bitter thing | bitter thing |
G4089-01 |
James 3:14 | πικρὸν | pikron | ADJ.A ACC M SG |
bitter | bitter thing | bitter |