What does מְרֹר (mĕrōr) mean in the Bible?
מְרֹר (mĕrōr): Bitter herb used ritually in Passover; symbolizes Israel's oppression and suffering under Egyptian bondage
Hebrew · H4844
מְרֹר
A bitter herb
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
מְרֹרH4844
Pronunciationmĕrōr
What does מְרֹר (mĕrōr) mean in the Bible?
מְרֹר (mĕrōr): Bitter herb used ritually in Passover; symbolizes Israel's oppression and suffering under Egyptian bondage
Full entry for מְרֹר (H4844) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H4844?
The BSB source-word alignment has 3 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and bitter herbs (2), with bitterness (1).
Where does מְרֹר (mĕrōr) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 12:8. Its strongest book concentrations include Exodus (1), Lamentations (1), Numbers (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itand bitter herbs2×Exodus 12:8, Numbers 9:11
with bitterness1×Lamentations 3:15
Show sample aligned rows
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowExodus 12:8
Aligned rows3
Books represented3
Exodus1Numbers1Lamentations1
Source forms
בַמְּרוֹרִ֖ים1xḇam·mə·rō·w·rîmLamentations 3:15
וּמְרֹרִ֖ים1xū·mə·rō·rîmNumbers 9:11
מְרֹרִ֖ים1xmə·rō·rîmExodus 12:8
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural1xNumbers 9:11
Noun - masculine plural1xExodus 12:8
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural1xLamentations 3:15
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Bitter herb used ritually in Passover; symbolizes Israel's oppression and suffering under Egyptian bondage
Source Gloss
a bitter herb
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Bitter herb used ritually in Passover; symbolizes Israel's oppression and suffering under Egyptian bondage
a bitter herb BDB: bitter thing Usage: bitter(-ness).
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Word Origins
מְרֹר is built from this root: