Lexical Summary meriruth: Bitterness Original Word: מְרִירוּת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance bitterness From marar; bitterness, i.e. (figuratively) grief -- bitterness. see HEBREW marar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom marar Definition bitterness NASB Translation bitter grief (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [מְרִירוּת] noun feminine bitterness; — תֵּאָנַח ׳וּבִמ Ezekiel 21:11 and in bitterness (bitterly) shalt thou groan. Topical Lexicon Overview Strong’s Hebrew 4814, מְרִירוּת (meriruth), appears only once in the Hebrew Scriptures, in Ezekiel 21:6. The term conveys an intense, inward “bitterness” or “grief,” the kind that seizes the whole person in the face of God’s impending judgment. Biblical Usage Ezekiel 21:6: “Therefore, son of man, groan! Groan before their eyes with a broken heart and bitter grief.” In this prophetic sign-act, Ezekiel must embody the anguish that soon will overtake Judah. מְרִירוּת captures more than sadness; it points to a deep, acrid sorrow that wells up from the soul when confronted with divine wrath. Historical Setting in Ezekiel • Date: Early sixth century BC, shortly before Jerusalem’s destruction. Theological Themes 1. The Bitterness of Sin’s Consequences Judah’s covenant infidelity produces a grief so sharp that common terms for sorrow prove inadequate; מְרִירוּת communicates the poisonous aftertaste of rebellion against God (compare Numbers 5:18; Isaiah 24:9, where related roots portray moral bitterness). 2. Prophetic Identification with Divine Pathos Ezekiel’s enacted lament mirrors the Lord’s own sorrow over judgment (Ezekiel 18:23, 32). The prophet does not stand aloof; he feels what the people will feel, modeling authentic pastoral empathy. 3. A Call to Repentance By displaying מְרִירוּת before judgment falls, the Lord extends mercy. If the people heed the warning, the bitterness can be exchanged for healing (cf. Joel 2:12–13). Intertextual Echoes Although מְרִירוּת occurs only here, Scripture often links “bitterness” with covenant breach and divine visitation: Together these passages frame bitterness as the tragic but avoidable fruit of unbelief. Ministry Significance • Pastoral Care: Ezekiel shows that leaders may need to embody grief to awaken hardened hearts. Grief expressed biblically can catalyze repentance. Christological Perspective Ezekiel’s groaning foreshadows the Man of Sorrows who “offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears” (Hebrews 5:7). At Gethsemane Jesus drank the cup of wrath, tasting the full מְרִירוּת of judgment so that those who trust Him might receive “the cup of salvation” (Psalm 116:13). Homiletical Insights 1. Judgment Is Bitter, but Repentance Is Still Possible (Ezekiel 18:30–32). Reflection Questions 1. Where might unacknowledged sin be brewing bitterness in my life or community? Summary מְרִירוּת in Ezekiel 21:6 crystallizes the piercing sorrow tied to divine judgment. By grasping its depth, believers today are moved to flee sin’s poison, embrace the Savior who drank the bitter cup, and minister God’s warning and comfort with earnest, Christ-like compassion. Forms and Transliterations וּבִמְרִיר֔וּת ובמרירות ū·ḇim·rî·rūṯ ūḇimrîrūṯ uvimriRutLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezekiel 21:6 HEB: בְּשִׁבְר֤וֹן מָתְנַ֙יִם֙ וּבִמְרִיר֔וּת תֵּֽאָנַ֖ח לְעֵינֵיהֶֽם׃ NAS: heart and bitter grief, groan KJV: of [thy] loins; and with bitterness sigh INT: breaking heart and bitter groan their sight 1 Occurrence |
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