What does מָרַר (mārar) mean in the Bible?
מָרַר (mārar): Bitterness moves from taste to emotional anguish; God's grief over sin provokes divine judgment and human rebellion.
Hebrew · H4843
מָרַר
To be (causatively, make ) bitter (literally or figuratively)
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מָרַרH4843
Pronunciationmārar
What does מָרַר (mārar) mean in the Bible?
מָרַר (mārar): Bitterness moves from taste to emotional anguish; God's grief over sin provokes divine judgment and human rebellion.
Full entry for מָרַר (H4843) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H4843?
The BSB source-word alignment has 14 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include in a rage (2), [is] in deep distress (1), and grieve bitterly (1), anguish (1), as one grieves (1).
Where does מָרַר (mārar) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 49:23. Its strongest book concentrations include Isaiah (3), Daniel (2), Exodus (2), Ruth (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itin a rage2×Daniel 8:7, Daniel 11:11
[is] in deep distress1×2 Kings 4:27
and grieve bitterly1×Zechariah 12:10
anguish1×Isaiah 38:17
as one grieves1×Zechariah 12:10
attacked him with bitterness1×Genesis 49:23
bitter1×Exodus 1:14
bitterly1×Isaiah 22:4
defy1×Exodus 23:21
has dealt quite bitterly1×Ruth 1:20
is bitter1×Isaiah 24:9
it is much more bitter1×Ruth 1:13
who has embittered1×Job 27:2
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 49:23וַֽיְמָרֲרֻ֖הוּtoattacked him with bitternessConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine singularExodus 1:14וַיְמָרְר֨וּtobitterConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralExodus 23:21תַּמֵּ֣רtodefyVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singularRuth 1:13מַר־toit is much more bitterVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularRuth 1:20הֵמַ֥רtohas dealt quite bitterlyVerb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular2 Kings 4:27מָֽרָה־to[is] in deep distressVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singularJob 27:2הֵמַ֥רtowho has embitteredVerb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singularIsaiah 22:4אֲמָרֵ֣רtobitterlyVerb - Piel - Imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singularIsaiah 24:9יֵמַ֥רtois bitterVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularIsaiah 38:17מָ֑רtoanguishVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 49:23
Aligned rows14
Books represented8
Genesis1Exodus2Ruth22 Kings1Job1Isaiah3Daniel2Zechariah2
Source forms
הֵמַ֥ר2xhê·marRuth 1:20, Job 27:2
אֲמָרֵ֣ר1x’ă·mā·rêrIsaiah 22:4
וְהָמֵ֥ר1xwə·hā·mêrZechariah 12:10
וַֽיְמָרֲרֻ֖הוּ1xway·mā·ră·ru·hūGenesis 49:23
וַיְמָרְר֨וּ1xway·mā·rə·rūExodus 1:14
וְיִתְמַרְמַר֙1xwə·yiṯ·mar·marDaniel 11:11
וַיִּתְמַרְמַ֤ר1xway·yiṯ·mar·marDaniel 8:7
יֵמַ֥ר1xyê·marIsaiah 24:9
Parsing patterns
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular2xRuth 1:20, Job 27:2
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular2xRuth 1:13, Isaiah 38:17
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute1xZechariah 12:10
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular1xDaniel 11:11
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular1xDaniel 8:7
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural1xExodus 1:14
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine singular1xGenesis 49:23
Preposition-k | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct1xZechariah 12:10
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Bitterness moves from taste to emotional anguish; God's grief over sin provokes divine judgment and human rebellion.
Source Gloss
to be (causatively, make ) bitter (literally or figuratively)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Bitterness moves from taste to emotional anguish; God's grief over sin provokes divine judgment and human rebellion.
to be (causatively, make) bitter (literally or figuratively) BDB: be bitter Usage: (be, be in, deal, have, make) bitter(-ly, -ness), be moved with choler, (be, have sorely, it) grieved(-eth), provoke, vex.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups3Aligned forms8
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense4×
PerfectIsa 38:17 · Ruth 1:13 · 2Kgs 4:273×
ImperfectIsa 24:91×
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action3×
PerfectJob 27:2 · Ruth 1:202×
JussiveExod 23:211×
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action1×
ImperfectIsa 22:41×
Word Origins
מָרַר is built from these roots: