מְרִירוּת
𐤌𐤓𐤉𐤓𐤅𐤕
mᵉrîyrûwth
H4814 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A state or quality of strong bitterness, either in taste or as a metaphor for severe emotional distress such as grief or anguish. The term denotes intense bitterness, often as a reaction to hardship, suffering, or alienation.
Semantic Range
bitterness (literal or metaphorical), grief, anguish, extreme sorrow, distress, acrimony, emotional pain
Root / Etymology
Root: מָרַר (marar) meaning 'to be bitter.' מְרִירוּת (mᵉrîyrûwth) is a feminine noun formation from this root, indicating the state or condition (–ut ending) of being bitter or experiencing bitterness.
Historical & Contextual Notes
מְרִירוּת appears in poetic and prophetic texts to convey intense emotional or existential torment, not merely a physical taste. Its usage is relatively rare, with notable occurrences in Lamentations and Job, where it expresses deep anguish or suffering resulting from catastrophic events or divine affliction. The concept overlaps with but is more abstract than the concrete noun מָרוֹר (maror, 'bitter herbs'), which relates to physical bitterness (notably in connection to Passover rituals). מְרִירוּת thus is more focused on the internal, subjective state. In post-exilic and later usage, bitterness as an emotional or existential category expands, but in the biblical period, מְרִירוּת almost always refers to extreme grief, despair, or spiritual agony, rather than petty annoyance or resentment. English translations as 'bitterness' or 'grief' only partially capture its connotation—which is broader and more intense than common modern usage of either word.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from מָרַר; bitterness, i.e. (figuratively) grief; 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, make bitter, be grieved
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4472 | מַמְרֹר | bitternesses |
| H4751 | מַר | in bitterness |
| H4752 | מַר | like a drop |
| H4753 | מֹר | the myrrh resin |
| H4755 | מָרָא | Bitter-One |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4814-01 |
וּ/בִ/מְרִיר֔וּת | uvimerirut | HC/R/Ncfsa |
and with bitterness | and in bitterness | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4814-01 |
Ezekiel 21:11 | וּ/בִ/מְרִיר֔וּת | uvimerirut | HC/R/Ncfsa |
and with bitterness | and in bitterness |