מֹר (H4753) — Hebrew Lexicon — Scattered Israelites

מֹר

𐤌𐤓

môr

H4753 noun

SILEX Entry

Root מרר to be bitter, to make bitter

Definition

An aromatic gum or resin obtained from certain plants (Commiphora species), used as a perfume, incense, or in embalming; refers to both the raw substance and preparations derived from it. In biblical contexts, môr denotes a valuable fragrance integral to ritual, cosmetic, and funerary practices. Its meaning ranges from the material myrrh itself to metaphorical uses for pleasant aromas or costly gifts.

Semantic Range

myrrh resin, aromatic gum, perfume ingredient, embalming spice, metaphor for fragrance or attractiveness, precious or valuable commodity

Root / Etymology

Root/etymology: Derived from the root מרר (to be bitter), reflecting the characteristic bitterness of the resin. The form מֹר is a substantive indicating the substance itself. While the root emphasizes bitterness, the lexical meaning is the aromatic gum/resin, not bitterness per se.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, מֹר appears in poetic and ritual contexts, such as the anointing oil (Exodus 30:23), the Song of Songs (as a symbol of allure and desirability), and burial spices (e.g., John 19:39 in post-biblical contexts). Myrrh held significant economic and ritual value in the ancient Near East, listed among commodities imported from Arabia and Africa. Unlike other Hebrew terms for perfumes or incense (e.g., קְטֹרֶת, 'incense'), מֹר denotes a specific substance and its direct derivatives. English Bible translations render it consistently as 'myrrh,' but may not convey its cultural significance or varied uses beyond perfume, as in healing or ritual anointing. Later translation traditions sometimes connect מֹר to symbolic meanings, but in biblical Hebrew the focus remains on the material and its sensory qualities.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or מוֹר; from מָרַר; myrrh (as distilling in drops, and also as bitter); myrrh.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

מרר (m-r-r) — to be bitter, to make bitter

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H4472	מַמְרֹר	bitternesses
H4751	מַר	in bitterness
H4752	מַר	like a drop
H4755	מָרָא	Bitter-One
H4785	מָרָה	in Marah
H4786	מֹרָה	bitterness-of
H4787	מׇרָּה	bitterness of
H4814	מְרִירוּת	and in bitterness
H4815	מְרִירִי	poisonously bitter
H4843	מָרַר	I will embitter
H4844	מְרֹר	bitter herbs
H4845	מְרֵרָה	my bile
H4846	מְרֹרָה	bitterness of
H4847	מְרָרִי	to Bitter-One
H4848	מְרָרִי	the Merari-descendant
H8563	תַּמְרוּר	bitter griefs

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H4753-03`	מֹר	mor	`HNcmsa`	myrrh	myrrh resin	7
`H4753-01`	הַ/מֹּ֤ר	hamor	`HTd/Ncmsa`	of myrrh	the myrrh resin	3
`H4753-02`	מָר	mar	`HNcmsc`	bitter	myrrh of	1
`H4753-04`	מוֹרִ/י֙	mori	`HNcmsc/Sp1cs`	my myrrh	my myrrh-resin	1

Occurrences in Scripture

12 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H4753-02`	Exodus 30:23	מָר	mar	`HNcmsc`	bitter	myrrh of
`H4753-03`	Psalms 45:9	מֹר	mor	`HNcmsa`	myrrh	myrrh resin
`H4753-03`	Proverbs 7:17	מֹ֥ר	mor	`HNcmsa`	with myrrh	myrrh resin
`H4753-01`	Song of Songs 1:13	הַ/מֹּ֤ר	hamor	`HTd/Ncmsa`	of myrrh	the myrrh resin
`H4753-03`	Song of Songs 3:6	מוֹר֙	mor	`HNcmsa`	myrrh	myrrh resin
`H4753-01`	Song of Songs 4:6	הַ/מּ֔וֹר	hamor	`HTd/Ncmsa`	of myrrh	the myrrh resin
`H4753-03`	Song of Songs 4:14	מֹ֚ר	mor	`HNcmsa`	myrrh	myrrh resin
`H4753-04`	Song of Songs 5:1	מוֹרִ/י֙	mori	`HNcmsc/Sp1cs`	my myrrh	my myrrh-resin
`H4753-03`	Song of Songs 5:5	מ֗וֹר	mor	`HNcmsa`	with myrrh	myrrh resin
`H4753-03`	Song of Songs 5:5	מ֣וֹר	mor-2	`HNcmsa`	with myrrh	myrrh resin
`H4753-03`	Song of Songs 5:13	מ֥וֹר	mor	`HNcmsa`	myrrh	myrrh resin
`H4753-01`	Esther 2:12	הַ/מֹּ֔ר	hamor	`HTd/Ncmsa`	of myrrh	the myrrh resin

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