Greek word · G4088

πικρία

pikria

bitterness

Literally the bitter taste of plants like wormwood or gall. Used figuratively for (1) an embittered, resentful inner state, and (2) harsh, cutting speech that comes from it. BDAG: "state of being bitter, bitterness," figuratively "animosity, anger, harshness."

Appears 4 times in 4 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

πικρία, -ας, ἡ

(πικρός), [in LXX chiefly for מַר and cognate forms ;]

bitterness;

(a) of taste (Arist., Jeremiah 15:17, al.);

(b) metaphorically, of temper, character, etc.: Romans 3:14 (LXX), Ephesians 4:31; ῥίζα πικρίας, Hebrews 12:15; χολὴ π., a malignant disposition, Acts 8:23.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Ephesians 4:31

Range of meaning

Literally the bitter taste of plants like wormwood or gall. Used figuratively for (1) an embittered, resentful inner state, and (2) harsh, cutting speech that comes from it. BDAG: "state of being bitter, bitterness," figuratively "animosity, anger, harshness."

Against the English

Every major English version says "bitterness," and that fits well. The English word can sound like private sadness or disappointment. The Greek word, especially in the Bible, also includes what bitterness does to other people: sharp, hostile speech.

Used elsewhere in the period

Aristotle (Nicomachean Ethics 4.5, 1126a) describes "the bitter" (hoi pikroi) as people who are hard to reconcile with and stay angry for a long time because they hold their anger in. In the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint), Deut 29:17 (29:18 in English Bibles) warns of a "root" bearing "gall and bitterness," an image picked up in Heb 12:15 ("root of bitterness") and Acts 8:23 ("gall of bitterness"). Rom 3:14, quoting Ps 10:7, says the mouths of the wicked are "full of cursing and bitterness," which ties pikria to speech.

Where it appears

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 8:23 πικρίας of bitterness

    For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and captive to iniquity.”

Romans · 1

  1. Romans 3:14 πικρίας of bitterness

    “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”

Ephesians · 1

  1. Ephesians 4:31 πικρία bitterness

    Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice.

    Here: A sour, resentful spirit that holds on to a grievance and comes out as harsh words. It is the first item because it is the inner root the rest grows from.

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 12:15 πικρίας of bitterness

    See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many.

    Here: Works like an adjective, 'a bitter root'. In the Deuteronomy source it stands for a plant that bears poison and wormwood. 'Bitter' here means toxic, deadly fruit, and the emotion of resentment is at most a secondary note.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.