Original Word: מַר
Part of Speech: Adjective; substantive
Transliteration: mar
Pronunciation: mar or maw-raw'
Phonetic Spelling: (mar)
KJV: + angry, bitter(-ly, -ness), chafed, discontented, X great, heavy
NASB: bitter, bitterness, bitterly, bitter thing, embittered, fierce, great bitterness
Word Origin: [from H4843 (מָרַר - bitter)]

1. (literally or figuratively) bitter
2. (as noun) bitterness
3. (adverbially) bitterly

angry, bitterly chafed, discontented, great, heavy

Or (feminine) marah {maw-raw'}; from marar; bitter (literally or figuratively); also (as noun) bitterness, or (adverbially) bitterly -- + angry, bitter(-ly, -ness), chafed, discontented, X great, heavy.

see HEBREW marar

Word Origin
from marar
Definition
bitter, bitterness
NASB Translation
bitter (15), bitter thing (1), bitterly (4), bitterness (11), discontented* (1), embittered (1), fierce (1), fierce* (2), great bitterness (1), greatly distressed (1).

I. מַר adjective and substantive bitter, bitterness; — absolute ׳מ Proverbs 27:7 +, הַמַּר Habakkuk 1:6, מָ֑ר Psalm 64:4 +; construct מַר 1 Samuel 22:2 +; feminine מָרָה Genesis 27:34 +, מָרָא Ruth 1:20; construct מָרַת 1 Samuel 1:10; masculine plural מָרִים Exodus 15:23 +; construct מָרֵי Judges 18:25; Proverbs 31:6; — bitter:

1 literally, of water Exodus 15:23 (J); food Proverbs 27:7 (opposed to מָתוֺק); wormwood (לַעֲנָה Proverbs 5:4 (in simile of end of harlot, compare Ecclesiastes 7:26 below); as substantive plural, of physical pain, result of curse לְמָרִים Numbers 5:24,27, whence מֵי הַמָּרִים Numbers 5:18 (compare Di) Numbers 5:19; Numbers 5:23; Numbers 5:24; of harmful result of ruthless fighting 2 Samuel 2:26; of wickedness Jeremiah 2:19; Jeremiah 4:18; = injurious, hurtful Isaiah 5:20 (twice in verse) (opposed to מָתוֺק).

2 figurative,

a. of cry (צְעָקָה, זְעָקָה) Genesis 27:34 (J), Esther 4:1; מִסְמֵּד מָ֑ר Ezekiel 27:31 (strike out Co); דָּבָר מָ֑ר Psalm 64:4; as adverb (cry, weep) bitterly Ezekiel 27:30 (מָרָה), Zephaniah 1:14; Isaiah 33:7 (both מַר).

b. of feeling, temper, especially with נֶפֶשׁ: אֲנָשִׁים מָרֵי נֶפֶשׁ Judges 18:25 men fierce (GFM acrid) of temper, so 2 Samuel 17:8 (like a bear robbed of whelps); הַגּוֺי הַמַּר Habakkuk 1:6 the fierce nation; מַרנֶֿפֶשׁ = discontented 1 Samuel 22:2; מַרֵי נֶפֶשׁ = the bitterly wretched Job 3:20; Proverbs 31:6, so ׳מָרַת נ 1 Samuel 1:10; compare יוֺם מָ֑ר Amos 8:10; as substantive abstract מַרנֶֿפֶשׁ bitterness of soul Isaiah 38:15; Ezekiel 27:31 (strike out Co), Job 7:11; Job 10:1 = נפשׁ מָרָה Job 21:25; compare מָרָא Ruth 1:20 (name given to Naomi by herself); מַרהַֿמָּוֶת 1 Samuel 15:32 the bitterness of death; מַרמִֿמָּוֶת Ecclesiastes 7:26 (metaphor of harlot); in Ezekiel 3:14 I went bitterly, strike out מַר Co. — Isaiah 38:17 see מרר.

Overview

The Hebrew adjective מַר (mar) appears about forty-one times, describing literal bitterness in taste or drink and figurative bitterness in soul, speech, circumstance, and judgment. Its spectrum of meaning enables Scripture to move seamlessly from the physical sensation of something undrinkable to the moral and spiritual anguish that accompanies sin and suffering.

Distribution

Torah – Exodus; Numbers; Deuteronomy

Historical Books – Ruth; 2 Samuel

Wisdom/Poetry – Job; Psalms; Proverbs; Ecclesiastes

Major Prophets – Isaiah; Jeremiah; Ezekiel

Minor Prophets – Amos; Habakkuk

Literal Bitterness

• Bitter water at Marah (Exodus 15:23): the turning of undrinkable water into sweetness establishes God as the One who heals.
• Bitter water in the ordeal of jealousy (Numbers 5:18, 24, 27): ritual bitterness exposes concealed iniquity and vindicates innocence.
• Bitter clusters of fruit (Deuteronomy 32:32) and drink (Isaiah 24:9) reinforce the theme that rebellion produces corruption.

Emotional and Experiential Bitterness

• Naomi’s lament: “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara” (Ruth 1:20).
• Job’s cry: “I will speak in the bitterness of my soul” (Job 10:1).
• Hezekiah’s complaint turned praise (Isaiah 38:15–17).

Bitterness here registers grief, loss, and perplexity but ultimately directs sufferers toward prayer and faith.

Bitterness as Judgment

• “Your own conduct and actions have brought this upon you. This is your punishment; how bitter it is!” (Jeremiah 4:18).
• Habakkuk 1:6 calls the Babylonians “that bitter and hasty nation,” instruments of chastisement.

Bitterness becomes the palpable taste of covenant violation.

Bitter Words and Social Discord

• “Who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim bitter words like arrows” (Psalm 64:3).
• “In the end she is bitter as wormwood” (Proverbs 5:4).

The term exposes the corrosive nature of malicious speech and moral seduction.

Prophetic and Ethical Reversals

• Isaiah 5:20 condemns those who “put bitter for sweet,” indicting moral relativism.
• Amos 5:7 denounces those who “turn justice into bitterness,” linking societal injustice with an embittered culture.

Liturgical Resonances

Passover’s bitter herbs (Exodus 12:8, cognate term) and the bitter water ordeal set bitterness within worship and covenant contexts, reminding Israel of slavery’s pain and sin’s seriousness.

Theological Themes

1. Sin makes life bitter; only God can sweeten it.
2. Honest lament is permitted, but bitterness is never the believer’s final destination.
3. Unchecked bitterness spreads (cf. Hebrews 12:15) and must be addressed through repentance and grace.

Pastoral Applications

• Encourage transparent lament while steering saints toward hope, following Naomi’s and Job’s trajectories.
• Confront “bitter words” with gentleness and truth to preserve unity.
• Use the Marah narrative to counsel those who feel life has become undrinkable, pointing them to the healing work of the Lord.

Christological Foreshadowing

The tree cast into Marah’s waters anticipates the cross that turns the bitterness of sin into salvation. Jesus Himself tasted the gall (Matthew 27:34) so that His people might taste the sweetness of the New Covenant.

Conclusion

מַר functions as a vivid biblical motif: the sting of sin, the sorrow of affliction, and the sourness of judgment. Yet every occurrence, whether literal or figurative, ultimately highlights the Lord’s power to transform bitterness into blessing for those who trust in Him.

בְּמַ֣ר בְּמַר־ במר במר־ הַמַּ֣ר הַמָּרִ֖ים הַמָּרִ֥ים הַמָּרִֽים׃ המר המרים המרים׃ וָמָ֔ר וּמָרֵ֥י וּמָרָ֖ה וּמָרָֽה׃ ומר ומרה ומרה׃ ומרי לְמָ֣רֵי לְמָֽר׃ לְמָרִ֔ים לְמָרִֽים׃ למר׃ למרי למרים למרים׃ מַ֖ר מַ֛ר מַ֣ר מַ֥ר מַר֙ מַר־ מָ֑ר מָ֔ר מָ֣רֵי מָ֣רַת מָֽר׃ מָרִ֖ים מָרַּ֣ת מָרָ֑ה מָרָ֣ה מָרָ֥ה מר מר־ מר׃ מרה מרי מרים מרת bə·mar bə·mar- beMar bəmar bəmar- ham·mā·rîm ham·mar hammar hammaRim hammārîm lə·mā·rê lə·mā·rîm lə·mār leMar ləmār ləmārê leMarei lemaRim ləmārîm mā·rāh mā·raṯ mā·rê mā·rîm mar mār mar- mār·raṯ maRah mārāh Marat māraṯ mārê Marei maRim mārîm marRat mārraṯ ū·mā·rāh ū·mā·rê umaRah ūmārāh ūmārê umaRei vaMar wā·mār wāmārInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts