מֶ֫מֶר (me.mer)
me.mer
bitterness
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun memer carries the straightforward meaning of bitterness. In the Bible, this term is rare, appearing only once in the entire Old Testament. It is found in Proverbs 17:25, where it describes the emotional state of a foolish son who causes grief to his parents.
Its usage here links the concept directly to relational pain rather than physical taste or abstract suffering. The word highlights how specific actions can create a sharp, lingering sense of distress within a family. This single instance anchors the term in the context of personal relationships and the consequences of unwise behavior.
Because memer appears so infrequently, it does not develop a wide range of theological nuances across Scripture. Instead, its value lies in its precise application to the sting of disappointment caused by those closest to us. Translators typically render it as "bitterness" or "grief," capturing the sharp emotional quality that arises from familial conflict.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word memer appears just once in Scripture, nestled in Proverbs 17:25. It describes the sharp sting of disappointment a parent feels when a child acts foolishly. This is not about physical taste but the emotional ache that comes from broken trust within a family.
For those who have experienced this pain, the word validates your grief. It shows that such sorrow is real and recognized by wisdom literature. You are not alone in feeling the weight of relational hurt. God sees the quiet tears shed over unwise choices by those you love.
While the text does not offer a quick fix, it invites us to hold space for this pain without letting it harden our hearts. We can bring this bitterness to God in prayer, trusting Him with the complex dynamics of family life. His comfort meets us in the midst of our deepest relational wounds.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ bitterness1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וּ֝/מֶ֗מֶר1×
Key Verses
-
Proverbs 17:25
A foolish son brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.
This verse uniquely links memer to the specific grief caused by a foolish son, highlighting the relational pain parents endure.