What does מַר (mar) mean in the Bible?
מַר (mar): Bitter connotes emotional anguish and divine judgment; spans physical taste to inner suffering and divine wrath.
Hebrew · H4751
מַר
Bitter (literally or figuratively); also (as noun) bitterness , or (adverbially) bitterly
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.
מַרH4751
Pronunciationmar
What does מַר (mar) mean in the Bible?
מַר (mar): Bitter connotes emotional anguish and divine judgment; spans physical taste to inner suffering and divine wrath.
Full entry for מַר (H4751) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H4751?
The BSB source-word alignment has 39 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include in the bitterness (3), the bitter (3), and bitter (2), bitter (2), bitterly (2).
Where does מַר (mar) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 27:34. Its strongest book concentrations include Numbers (6), Isaiah (5), Ezekiel (4), Job (4).
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 the bitterness3×Job 7:11, Job 10:1, Job 21:25
the bitter3×Numbers 5:18, Numbers 5:23, Numbers 5:24
and bitter2×Genesis 27:34, Ezekiel 27:31
bitter2×Numbers 5:19, Isaiah 5:20
bitterly2×Isaiah 33:7, Ezekiel 27:30
in bitterness2×2 Samuel 2:26, Ezekiel 3:14
to the bitter2×Job 3:20, Proverbs 31:6
and as fierce1×2 Samuel 17:8
and bitter it is1×Jeremiah 2:19
and bitterly1×Esther 4:1
and cause bitter suffering1×Numbers 5:27
and may cause her bitter1×Numbers 5:24
angry1×Judges 18:25
bitter thing1×Proverbs 27:7
how bitter it is1×Jeremiah 4:18
I had such great1×Isaiah 38:17
In her bitter distress1×1 Samuel 1:10
is bitter with anguish1×Lamentations 1:4
like a bitter1×Amos 8:10
more bitter1×Ecclesiastes 7:26
or discontented1×1 Samuel 22:2
she is bitter1×Proverbs 5:4
that ruthless1×Habakkuk 1:6
the anguish1×Isaiah 38:15
the bitterness1×1 Samuel 15:32
their bitter1×Psalms 64:3
was bitter1×Exodus 15:23
will be bitter1×Zephaniah 1:14
with anguish1×Ezekiel 27:31
with bitter1×Isaiah 5:20
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 27:34וּמָרָ֖הtoand bitterConjunctive waw | Adjective - feminine singularExodus 15:23מָרִ֖יםtowas bitterAdjective - masculine pluralNumbers 5:18הַמָּרִ֖יםtothe bitterArticle | Adjective - masculine pluralNumbers 5:19הַמָּרִ֥יםtobitterArticle | Adjective - masculine pluralNumbers 5:23הַמָּרִֽים׃tothe bitterArticle | Adjective - masculine pluralNumbers 5:24הַמָּרִ֖יםtothe bitterArticle | Adjective - masculine pluralNumbers 5:24לְמָרִֽים׃toand may cause her bitterPreposition-l | Adjective - masculine pluralNumbers 5:27לְמָרִ֔יםtoand cause bitter sufferingPreposition-l | Adjective - masculine pluralJudges 18:25מָ֣רֵיtoangryAdjective - masculine plural construct1 Samuel 1:10מָ֣רַתtoIn her bitter distressAdjective - feminine singular construct
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 27:34
Aligned rows39
Books represented18
Genesis1Exodus1Numbers6Judges11 Samuel32 Samuel2Esther1Job4Psalms1Proverbs3Ecclesiastes1Isaiah5Jeremiah2Lamentations1Ezekiel4Amos1Habakkuk1Zephaniah1
Source forms
מַר־4xmar-1 Samuel 15:32, 1 Samuel 22:2, Isaiah 38:17, Lamentations 1:4
מַ֥ר3xmarProverbs 27:7, Isaiah 38:15, Zephaniah 1:14
מָֽר׃3xmārPsalms 64:3, Ezekiel 27:31, Amos 8:10
בְּמַ֣ר2xbə·marJob 7:11, Job 10:1
הַמָּרִ֖ים2xham·mā·rîmNumbers 5:18, Numbers 5:24
לְמָ֣רֵי2xlə·mā·rêJob 3:20, Proverbs 31:6
מָרָ֑ה2xmā·rāhJob 21:25, Ezekiel 27:30
בְּמַר־1xbə·mar-Ezekiel 27:31
Parsing patterns
Adjective - masculine singular11xPsalms 64:3, Proverbs 27:7, Ecclesiastes 7:26, Isaiah 5:20
Adjective - feminine singular4x2 Samuel 2:26, Job 21:25, Proverbs 5:4, Ezekiel 27:30
Article | Adjective - masculine plural4xNumbers 5:18, Numbers 5:19, Numbers 5:23, Numbers 5:24
Adjective - masculine singular construct3x1 Samuel 15:32, 1 Samuel 22:2, Isaiah 38:15
Preposition-b | Adjective - masculine singular construct3xJob 7:11, Job 10:1, Ezekiel 27:31
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - feminine singular2xGenesis 27:34, Esther 4:1
Preposition-l | Adjective - masculine plural2xNumbers 5:24, Numbers 5:27
Preposition-l | Adjective - masculine plural construct2xJob 3:20, Proverbs 31:6
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Bitter connotes emotional anguish and divine judgment; spans physical taste to inner suffering and divine wrath.
Strong'sH4751
Lexical occurrences39 versesWord forms1 form22 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkProverbs 14:10Source Gloss
bitter (literally or figuratively); also (as noun) bitterness , or (adverbially) bitterly
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Bitter connotes emotional anguish and divine judgment; spans physical taste to inner suffering and divine wrath.
bitter (literally or figuratively); also (as noun) bitterness, or (adverbially) bitterly BDB: bitter Usage: angry, bitter(-ly, -ness), chafed, discontented, × great, heavy.
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 groups1Aligned forms22
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense1×
PerfectLam 1:41×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Emotional distress and sorrow known only to the individual experiencing it
Something unpalatable or disagreeable in contrast to what is sweet
The painful, destructive consequences of pursuing forbidden relationships
Showing 3 selected witnesses from 39 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
מַר is built from this root:
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.