3939. laanah

Lexicon

laanah: Wormwood

Original Word: לַעֲנָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: la`anah
Pronunciation: lah-an-AH
Phonetic Spelling: (lah-an-aw')
Definition: Wormwood
Meaning: wormwood

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

hemlock, wormwood

From an unused root supposed to mean to curse; wormwood (regarded as poisonous, and therefore accursed) -- hemlock, wormwood.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
wormwood
NASB Translation
wormwood (8).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

לַעֲנָה noun feminine wormwood (Late Hebrew id.; Arabic is curse (verb id.), so Nabataean לצנת (verb לען) compare Cook^Glossary); — only figurative of bitter things: — of perverted justice, Amos 5:7; Amos 6:12 ("" ראֹשׁ; of result of idolatry, Deuteronomy 29:17 ("" id.); of ׳יs chastisement Jeremiah 9:14 ("" מֵ֯ירֿאֹשׁ, Jeremiah 23:15 ("" id.), Lamentations 3:15 ("" מְרוֺרִים), Lamentations 3:19 ("" ראֹשׁ); simile of bitter (מָרָה) result of intercourse with strange woman Proverbs 5:4. — On wormwood (Artemisia absinthium, etc., Greek ἀψίθιον) compare Löw^{80f. 401, 421} Tristr^{Nat, Hist. Bib. 493}.

לָעַע see לוע

לפד (√ of following; meaning unknown).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from an unused root meaning to curse.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G318 (ἀγγαρεύω • angareuō): While not directly related to wormwood, this term involves compulsion or pressing into service, which can metaphorically relate to the burdensome nature of bitterness.
• G3601 (ὀξύς • oxys): Meaning sharp or swift, this term can metaphorically relate to the piercing nature of bitterness.
• G4088 (πικρία • pikria): Directly related to bitterness, this term captures the essence of wormwood's symbolic meaning in the New Testament.
• G5521 (χολή • cholē): Meaning gall or bile, this term is often associated with bitterness and is used in contexts similar to wormwood.

In summary, לַעֲנָה (la'anah) serves as a powerful symbol in the Hebrew Bible, representing the bitterness and sorrow that accompany spiritual and moral failure. Its usage underscores the importance of faithfulness to God and the dire consequences of turning away from His ways.

Usage: The term "wormwood" is used metaphorically in the Hebrew Bible to describe bitterness, sorrow, and divine judgment. It appears in contexts that convey the consequences of turning away from God and the resulting bitterness of life.

Context: • Biblical Context: The term לַעֲנָה (la'anah) appears in several passages throughout the Old Testament, often symbolizing the bitterness and sorrow that accompany divine judgment or moral corruption. It is frequently used in prophetic literature to illustrate the consequences of Israel's unfaithfulness to God.
• Key Verses:
• Deuteronomy 29:18: "Make sure there is no man or woman, clan or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the LORD our God to go and worship the gods of those nations; make sure there is no root among you bearing poisonous and bitter fruit."
• Proverbs 5:4: "But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a double-edged sword."
• Jeremiah 9:15: "Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: 'Behold, I will feed this people wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink.'"
• Lamentations 3:19: "Remember my affliction and wandering, the wormwood and the gall."
• Symbolism: Wormwood is emblematic of the bitterness and suffering that result from sin and disobedience. It serves as a warning of the spiritual and physical consequences of turning away from God's commandments.
• Cultural and Historical Background: Wormwood is a plant known for its intensely bitter taste. In ancient times, it was often associated with medicinal uses but also with the idea of bitterness and poison. The metaphorical use in the Bible draws on these associations to convey the severity of divine retribution.

Forms and Transliterations

וְלַעֲנָֽה׃ ולענה׃ כַֽלַּעֲנָ֑ה כלענה לְלַעֲנָ֖ה לְלַעֲנָֽה׃ לַֽעֲנָ֑ה לַֽעֲנָ֔ה לַעֲנָ֥ה לַעֲנָֽה׃ ללענה ללענה׃ לענה לענה׃ challaaNah ḵal·la·‘ă·nāh ḵalla‘ănāh la‘ănāh la·‘ă·nāh laaNah lə·la·‘ă·nāh ləla‘ănāh lelaaNah velaaNah wə·la·‘ă·nāh wəla‘ănāh

Englishman's Concordance

Deuteronomy 29:18
HEB: פֹּרֶ֥ה רֹ֖אשׁ וְלַעֲנָֽה׃
NAS: poisonous fruit and wormwood.
KJV: that beareth gall and wormwood;
INT: bearing poisonous and wormwood

Proverbs 5:4
HEB: וְֽ֭אַחֲרִיתָהּ מָרָ֣ה כַֽלַּעֲנָ֑ה חַ֝דָּ֗ה כְּחֶ֣רֶב
NAS: she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp
KJV: is bitter as wormwood, sharp
INT: the end is bitter wormwood Sharp sword

Jeremiah 9:15
HEB: הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה לַֽעֲנָ֑ה וְהִשְׁקִיתִ֖ים מֵי־
NAS: people, with wormwood and give
KJV: them, [even] this people, with wormwood, and give them water
INT: people this wormwood and give water

Jeremiah 23:15
HEB: מַאֲכִ֤יל אוֹתָם֙ לַֽעֲנָ֔ה וְהִשְׁקִתִ֖ים מֵי־
NAS: I am going to feed them wormwood And make them drink
KJV: Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink
INT: I am going to feed wormwood drink water

Lamentations 3:15
HEB: בַמְּרוֹרִ֖ים הִרְוַ֥נִי לַעֲנָֽה׃ ס
NAS: He has made me drunk with wormwood.
KJV: he hath made me drunken with wormwood.
INT: bitterness has made wormwood

Lamentations 3:19
HEB: עָנְיִ֥י וּמְרוּדִ֖י לַעֲנָ֥ה וָרֹֽאשׁ׃
NAS: and my wandering, the wormwood and bitterness.
KJV: and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
INT: my affliction and my wandering the wormwood and bitterness

Amos 5:7
HEB: הַהֹפְכִ֥ים לְלַעֲנָ֖ה מִשְׁפָּ֑ט וּצְדָקָ֖ה
NAS: justice into wormwood And cast
KJV: judgment to wormwood, and leave off
INT: turn wormwood justice righteousness

Amos 6:12
HEB: וּפְרִ֥י צְדָקָ֖ה לְלַעֲנָֽה׃
NAS: of righteousness into wormwood,
KJV: of righteousness into hemlock:
INT: and the fruit of righteousness wormwood

8 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 3939
8 Occurrences

ḵal·la·‘ă·nāh — 1 Occ.
la·‘ă·nāh — 4 Occ.
lə·la·‘ă·nāh — 2 Occ.
wə·la·‘ă·nāh — 1 Occ.