מַמְרֹר
𐤌𐤌𐤓𐤓
mamrôr
H4472 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A state or quality of bitterness, especially emotional or existential distress, often associated with grief, suffering, or calamity. In certain contexts, mamrôr denotes deep personal anguish or a bitter experience that affects one's spirit or condition, not merely a physical taste but a metaphor for human experience of adversity.
Semantic Range
bitterness (emotional), state of anguish, calamity, suffering, bitterness (metaphorical or existential), distress
Root / Etymology
From the root מָרַר (marar), meaning 'to be bitter' or 'to make bitter,' indicating an intensification or embodiment of the state of bitterness. Mamrôr is a nominal form that abstracts the quality of being bitter, both literally and metaphorically.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Mamrôr appears rarely in the Hebrew Bible, principally in poetic or highly emotional contexts (e.g., Job 13:26, Ezekiel 21:6), denoting profound internal suffering or anguish rather than simply physical bitterness. The abstract noun form moves beyond the literal meaning (e.g., bitter food or drink) to capture existential agony or the psychological impact of calamity. While later translations sometimes render this term as 'bitterness of soul' or simply 'bitterness,' the Hebrew usage underscores a condition of ongoing distress, especially in response to tragic circumstances. It is distinct from more common terms like מָרוֹר (maror, commonly used for physical 'bitter herbs'). In post-exilic and later Jewish tradition, maror becomes associated with Passover rituals, but mamrôr in biblical usage is not a cultic or ritual term but an expression of emotional state. English translations may not always capture the full sense of existential anguish embedded in this word.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from מָרַר; a bitterness, i.e. (figuratively) calamity; bitterness.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
מרר (m-r-r) — to be bitter, to make bitter, to embitter
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4751 | מַר | in bitterness |
| H4752 | מַר | like a drop |
| H4753 | מֹר | the myrrh resin |
| H4755 | מָרָא | Bitter-One |
| H4785 | מָרָה | in Marah |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4472-01 |
מַמְּרֹרִֽים | mamerorim | HNcmpa |
with bitterness | bitternesses | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4472-01 |
Job 9:18 | מַמְּרֹרִֽים | mamerorim | HNcmpa |
with bitterness | bitternesses |