πικρός (pikros)
pikros
bitter
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective pikros describes something sharply bitter to the taste, standing in direct contrast to sweetness (glykys). In Scripture, this physical quality serves as a vivid metaphor for moral and spiritual decay. The word appears only twice in the New Testament, both within James chapter 3, where it illustrates the destructive power of uncontrolled speech.
James uses pikros to describe water that springs up from the same source but tastes bitter, an impossibility in nature that highlights human hypocrisy. He applies this image to words that are harsh, acrid, or malignant toward others. The lexical roots suggest a sense of piercing or stinging, which aligns with how such speech wounds relationships and disrupts community peace.
Translators typically render pikros as "bitter" or "harsh," capturing the idea that malicious talk is not merely incorrect but toxic to the soul. By linking taste to truthfulness, the text emphasizes that genuine wisdom produces gentle words, while envy breeds a sharpness that corrodes integrity.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word pikros describes a sharp, stinging bitterness that ruins what it touches. In James chapter 3, this term highlights how destructive uncontrolled speech can be to our relationships. Just as a spring cannot produce both fresh and bitter water, our lives should not yield words that wound others. This imagery reminds us that genuine wisdom produces gentle communication, while envy leads to harshness that corrodes integrity.
When we encounter bitterness in our own hearts or hear it from others, we are invited to pause and reflect on the source of such words. James challenges us to examine whether our speech aligns with the truth we claim to hold. By recognizing the toxic nature of malicious talk, we can strive toward a more peaceful and truthful way of living together.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- bitter?1×
- bitter1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- πικρόν;1×
- πικρὸν1×
Key Verses
-
James 3:11
Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water?
This verse uses the metaphor of a spring to show that fresh and bitter water cannot come from the same source, illustrating the inconsistency of claiming wisdom while speaking harshly.
-
James 3:14
But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and don’t lie against the truth.
Here, bitter jealousy is linked to selfish ambition, showing how internal attitudes manifest in outward actions that lie against the truth.