מְרִירִי
me.ri.ri
bitter
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredAccording to Strong's number H4815, the Hebrew word "meriri" (מְרִירִי) has a short definition of "bitter" in the semantic domain of "Food & Drink". With only one occurrence in the Bible, its usage is limited to this single instance, where its meaning is straightforwardly related to the characteristics of something consumed. As an adjective describing the quality of a substance, "meriri" suggests that its bitter taste was either pleasant or unpleasant to the person experiencing it. Since the occurrences in the Bible are minimal, we cannot derive a full range of usage for this word. Nonetheless, its association with consumption implies a role in the daily life or cultural practices of ancient Hebrew society, possibly tied to agricultural produce, medicinal remedies, or culinary preparations. The significance of "meriri" lies in its simple yet evocative meaning, conveying a sense of intensity or potency that is immediately recognizable to anyone familiar with the sensation of bitter flavors. Its unique occurrence in the Bible underscores the richness and variability of the Hebrew lexicon, highlighting the nuances of language that helped shape the cultural identity and worldview of ancient Israelites.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence across the text