מַר (mar)
mar
bitter
H:A-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 30 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew word mar describes something intensely bitter, primarily referring to the sharp taste of water or food. In Numbers 5, it defines the "water of bitterness" used in a ritual to test for infidelity, grounding the term in a tangible, physical experience. This literal sense extends to describe the harsh reality of life, such as the "bitter" years of famine reported in Ruth 1:13.
Figuratively, mar captures deep emotional pain or distress. It appears in Job and Psalms to articulate the soul’s anguish, describing a cry that is bitter with grief. The term also conveys a state of being embittered or provoked, as seen when Saul’s anger makes him "bitter" toward David in 1 Samuel 18:8. Translators typically render it as "bitter," "bitterly," or "bitterness," preserving the sense of something that stings or causes suffering.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word mar captures a sharp, stinging bitterness that goes far beyond taste. In the Old Testament, it describes the physical shock of undrinkable water at Marah and the ritual waters that tested marital fidelity. Yet its most profound use appears in the raw cries of those suffering deep grief. Hannah prayed with bitterness of soul, Job complained from the bitterness of his spirit, and Esau let out a bitter cry when he realized his blessing was gone. This word validates the reality of human pain, showing that our deepest sorrows are known to God.
When life feels overwhelming, this term reminds us that honesty before God is part of faithful prayer. It does not ask us to hide our anguish behind polite words but invites us to bring our heavy hearts to Him. The Bible records these moments without shame, proving that spiritual integrity includes acknowledging when we are hurting. You do not need to mask your pain to be accepted in prayer.
Even in the darkest seasons, there is hope anchored in God’s presence. While mar describes the sting of loss or betrayal, it also points to a God who hears the cries of the afflicted. We can trust that He sees our struggles and offers comfort that surpasses our understanding. May you find peace in knowing that your tears are seen and your prayers are heard.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 30 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- bitter7×
- <the>/ bitter [things]4×
- and/ bitter3×
- to/ bitter [things]2×
- to/ [people] bitter of2×
- in/ [the] bitterness of2×
- bitter of2×
- [the] bitterness of2×
- into/ bitter1×
- bitterly1×
- bitter [thing]1×
- and/ [are] bitter of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַ֥ר3×
- מַר\־2×
- לְ/מָ֣רֵי2×
- הַ/מָּרִ֖ים2×
- בְּ/מַ֣ר2×
- מָרָ֥ה1×
- מָרָ֣ה1×
- מָרָ֑ה1×
- מָרִ֖ים1×
- מָֽר\׃1×
- מָ֣רַת1×
- מָ֣רֵי1×
Key Verses
-
I Samuel 1:10
She was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to Yahweh, weeping bitterly.
This verse shows Hannah using mar to describe her profound emotional distress, demonstrating that deep grief is a valid context for earnest prayer.
-
Job 7:11
“Therefore I will not keep silent. I will speak in the anguish of my spirit. I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
Here Job speaks in the bitterness of his soul, illustrating how the word articulates the intense anguish of a person questioning their suffering.
-
Exodus 15:23
When they came to Marah, they couldn’t drink from the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore its name was called Marah.
The waters at Marah were literally bitter, providing the tangible origin for the metaphor of life’s harsh and undrinkable circumstances.
-
Genesis 27:34
When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, “Bless me, even me also, my father.”
Esau’s bitter cry reveals the sharp regret and emotional pain that follows irreversible loss and deception.