Bitterness (4088) pikría by Greek Word Studies

Bitterness (4088) (pikría from pikrós from pik- = to cut, prick) originally meant pointed or sharp, e.g., of arrows then more generally of what is “sharp” or “penetrating” to the senses, a bitter, pungent taste or smell and then what is “painful” to the feelings. Pikria was used literally to describe plants that produced inedible or poisonous fruit. Greeks defined this word as long-standing resentment, as the spirit which refuses to be reconciled. So many of us have a way of nursing our wrath to keep it warm, of brooding over the insults and the injuries which we have received. In the NT pikria is used in a metaphorical sense to describe animosity, resentfulness, harshness or an openly-expressed emotional hostility against an enemy. Pikria defines a settled hostility that poisons the whole inner man. Somebody does something we do not like, so we harbor ill will against him. Bitterness leads to wrath, which is the explosion on the outside of the feelings on the inside. Pikria is found 4 times in the NAS (Acts 8:23; Rom. 3:14; Eph. 4:31; Heb. 12:15) Pikria is used 27 times in the Septuagint (LXX) (Exod 15:23; Deut 29:18; 32:32; Job 3:20; 7:11; 9:18; 10:1; 21:25; Ps 10:7; 14:3; 28.21" class="scriptRef">Isa 28:21, 28; 37:29; Jer 2:21; 15:17; Lam 3:15, 19; Ezek 28:24; Amos 6:12) In the first use of pikria in the OT Moses records... And when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter (pikria); therefore it was named Marah. (Ex 15:23) Bitterness reflects a smoldering resentment, a brooding grudge–filled attitude, an unwillingness to forgive or a harsh feeling. Bitterness is the opposite of sweetness and kindness (cf. husbands toward wives in Colossians 3:19 - see note). It harbors resentment and keeps score of wrongs (cf 1Cor 13:5) Pikría or bitterness is It is the spirit of irritability that keeps a person in perpetual animosity, making him sour and venomous. Bitterness applies to the bitterness of spirit to which men give vent by bitter words. Barclay adds that "the Greeks defined (pikría ) as long-standing resentment, as the spirit which refuses to be reconciled. So many of us have a way of nursing our wrath to keep it warm, of brooding over the insults and the injuries which we have received. Every Christian might well pray that God would teach him how to forget." (Barclay, W: The Daily Study Bible Series, Rev. ed. Philadelphia: The Westminster Press) Eadie says that pikria is... A figurative term denoting that fretted and irritable state of mind that keeps a man in perpetual animosity, that inclines him to harsh and uncharitable opinions of men and things, that makes him sour, crabby and repulsive in his general demeanor, that brings a scowl over his face & infuses venom into the words of his tongue. Newell adds that their "Bitterness is ever ready! What fearful folly for a race speaking thus to imagine that by "being baptized, " and "joining the church" they are ready to "go to heaven, " and be in the holy company on high, with the meek and lowly Son of God and the holy angels, -and all this without a thought of being forgiven, washed, born again!" (Romans 3: Devotional and Expositional) Wiersbe has this practical comment on "bitterness" to which even believers can fall prey (although here in Ro 3:14, the reference is of course referring to an unsaved individual): "An unforgiving spirit is the devil’s playground and before long it becomes the Christian’s battleground. If somebody hurts us, either deliberately or unintentionally, and we do not forgive him, then we begin to develop bitterness within, which hardens the heart. We should be tenderhearted and kind, but instead we are hardhearted and bitter. Actually, we are not hurting the person who hurt us; we are only hurting ourselves. Bitterness in the heart makes us treat others the way Satan treats them, when we should treat others the way God has treated us. In His gracious kindness, God has forgiven us, and we should forgive others. We do not forgive for our sake (though we do get a blessing from it) or even for their sake, but for Jesus’ sake. Learning how to forgive and forget is one of the secrets of a happy Christian life." (Wiersbe, W: Bible Exposition Commentary. 1989. Victor) In Acts Peter confronts Simon the sorcerer declaring "I see that you (Simon) are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity" (Acts 8:23). Comment: Note in Acts 8:13 "Simon himself believed" but his subsequent actions and Peter's assessment make it clear that this was not belief unto salvation but was intellectual and/or a belief only in the signs and wonders Gall (chole gives us our medical term cholecystitis for gallbladder disease) is a bitter ingredient or bile and with pikría (bitterness), it conveys an extremely bitter, harsh, and distasteful condition, vividly picturing the reality of one in the bondage of iniquity. This verse then describes a spiritual poisoning—a heart of great wickedness—in Simon the sorcerer. The sin of bitterness, like all sin, is a harsh taskmaster, Solomon recording that a man's "own iniquities will capture the wicked and he will be held with the cords of his sin." (Proverbs 5:22-notes) (Comment: Sin’s built-in consequences are inescapable) Writing to the Ephesian saints Paul exhorted them to Let all bitterness (pikria) and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice." (Eph 4:31-note) In the final use of pikría in the NT, the writer of Hebrews exhorts his readers to See to it (continually be on the lookout so) that no one comes short (to come too late, to be left out = if an unbeliever dies before trusting in Christ, he will be lost forever) of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness (in context this is the attitude of apostates within the church who are corruptive influences) springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled" (Heb 12:15-note) MacArthur writes that in this context "The root of bitterness refers to a person who is superficially identified with God’s people, and who falls back into paganism. But he is no ordinary apostate. He is arrogant and defiant concerning the things of God. He thumbs his nose at the Lord. God’s response to such boastful unbelief is harsh and final. “The Lord shall never be willing to forgive him, but rather the anger of the Lord and His jealousy will burn against that man, and every curse which is written in this book will rest on him, and the Lord will blot out his name from under heaven” (Dt 29:20)." (MacArthur, John: Hebrews. Moody Press ) David described cursing, bitter persons as those who “have sharpened their tongue like a sword ... aimed bitter speech as their arrow, to shoot from concealment at the blameless; suddenly they shoot him, and do not fear” (Ps 64:3-4). Every age of mankind, our own certainly included, has been characterized by people who use their tongues as vicious weapons. Their attacks not only are against those they know well enough to hate but sometimes, as David seems to intimate, even against strangers, simply for the perverse pleasure of venting their anger and hatred. Torrey's Topic Profane Swearing Is desecration of God’s name and forbidden -Ex 20:7; Mt 5:34, 35, 36; 23:21,22; Jas 5:12 THE WICKED Addicted to -Psalms 10:7; Romans 3:14 Love -Psalms 109:17 Clothe themselves with -Psalms 109:18 Guilt of -Exodus 20:7; Deuteronomy 5:11 Woe denounced against -Matthew 23:16 Nations visited for -Jeremiah 23:10; Hosea 4:1-3 Punishment for -Leviticus 24:16,23; Psalms 59:12; 109:17,18 Exemplified Son of Israelitish woman -Leviticus 24:11 Gehazi -2Kings 5:20 Peter -Matthew 26:74 Romans 3:15 THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD (NASB: Lockman) Greek: oxeis oi podes auton ekcheai (AAN) haima Amplified: Their feet are swift to shed blood. (Amplified Bible - Lockman) NLT: "They are quick to commit murder. (NLT - Tyndale House) Phillips: 'Their feet are swift to shed blood; (Phillips: Touchstone) Wuest: their feet are swift to pour out blood. (Eerdmans) Young's Literal: Swift are their feet to shed blood. THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD: oxeis oi podes auton ekcheai (AAN) haima: (Pr 1:16; 6:18) In Romans 3:15-17 Paul is quoting from (Isa 59:7-8) 7 Their feet run to evil, And they hasten to shed innocent blood; Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; Devastation and destruction are in their highways. 8 They do not know the way of peace, And there is no justice in their tracks; They have made their paths crooked; Whoever treads on them does not know peace. Whereas the preceding indictment was directed at men’s sinfulness as shown primarily by their words, in the next three verses Paul focuses his charges primarily against the conduct or actions of unredeemed men. These three verses are almost like a condensed history of the world. "For further details, read your daily papers!" Every page of history attests the truth of this awful charge. Their feet (4228)(pous = the part of the body used to stand and walk) Scripture frequently uses the path of one's feet as a picture for one’s approach to life. "The feet, as the emblem of walking, symbolize the whole conduct." (Godet)

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Bitterness (4088) pikría

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