bible verses about bitterness

Bible Verses About Bitterness: 12

Bible verses about bitterness: 12 Scriptures on the root of bitterness, lingering resentment, and a heart that refuses to stay bitter.

Illustrated portrait of Christopher McAllister

By Christopher McAllister

Founder of theBibleand.Love

Published September 30, 20265 min readHebrews 12:15 (NIV)

A friend approaches with open hands across a courtyard toward someone standing by a cistern.

"See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many."

— Hebrews 12:15 (NIV)

People who search bible verses about bitterness want Scripture for the lingering resentful root, Mara/bitter soul, and trouble that spreads — not only the anger list (heat of the moment) or the forgiveness list (release of debt) alone. This page is a numbered list of twelve passages with the NIV text and a short note on each. Related lists: Bible verses about anger, Love and anger, Bible verses about forgiveness, and Love and forgiveness. Bitterness here means the root that grows after the offense and defiles many — distinct from anger's flash and from forgiveness's deliberate release.

Word study (lead theme). In Greek, "bitterness" is πικρία pikria (Strong's G4088; Bible Hub G4088) — bitterness, acridity (literal or figurative). In Hebrew, מַר mar (Strong's H4751; Bible Hub H4751) is bitter / bitterness. Scripture treats bitterness as something that can take root, trouble a whole community, and name a whole season of the soul (Mara).

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Hebrews 12 presses watching that no bitter root grows up — grace neglected becomes trouble that defiles many (Bible Hub commentaries on Hebrews 12:15; Bible Hub MHC Hebrews 12; Blue Letter Bible, Matthew Henry on Hebrews 12). On Ephesians 4 he urges putting away bitterness, rage, and anger — bitterness is listed among the things to get rid of, not nurse (Bible Hub commentaries on Ephesians 4:31; Bible Hub MHC Ephesians 4; Blue Letter Bible, Matthew Henry on Ephesians 4).

12 Bible verses about bitterness

  1. Hebrews 12:15. "See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." Bitterness is a root — ignored, it spreads trouble beyond one heart. See Bible verses about forgiveness.

  2. Ephesians 4:31. "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice." Bitterness is something to get rid of, listed with rage and malice. See Bible verses about anger.

  3. Acts 8:23. "For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin." Peter names Simon's condition as full of bitterness — captivity, not a private mood only.

  4. Job 7:11. "Therefore I will not keep silent; I will speak out in the anguish of my spirit, I will complain in the bitterness of my soul." Scripture allows naming bitterness of soul without pretending it is fine.

  5. Ruth 1:20. "Don't call me Naomi," she told them. "Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter." Mara means bitter — grief can rename a season without being the last word.

  6. Proverbs 14:10. "Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy." Bitterness of heart is often private — known by the sufferer first.

  7. 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 that produces such bitter poison." Turning from the Lord is pictured as a root that produces bitter poison.

  8. 1 Samuel 1:10. "In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly." Bitterness of soul can drive prayer, not only silence.

  9. Lamentations 3:19. "I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall." Memory of affliction can taste like bitterness and gall — Lamentations does not hide it.

  10. Isaiah 38:17. "Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back." Hezekiah's bitter anguish is later read as benefit under God's love — bitterness is not the end of the story.

  11. Job 10:1. "I loathe my very life; therefore I will give free rein to my complaint and speak out in the bitterness of my soul." Job again names bitterness of soul as the place complaint comes from.

  12. Romans 3:14. "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness." Bitterness that fills the mouth belongs with the old life love puts off. See Love and forgiveness.

How to use these verses

Pick one verse for a long-held grudge, a hard anniversary, or a prayer when the root keeps sprouting — not twelve. If you need the root warning, start with Hebrews 12:15. If you need the put-it-off command, start with Ephesians 4:31. If you need language for bitter grief, start with Ruth 1:20 or 1 Samuel 1:10. For heat-of-the-moment anger, see Bible verses about anger and Love and anger. For releasing debt, see Bible verses about forgiveness and Love and forgiveness. For a daily verse, open Bible verse of the day.

Questions people ask

What is a good Bible verse about bitterness?

Hebrews 12:15 (bitter root), Ephesians 4:31 (get rid of all bitterness), and Ruth 1:20 (call me Mara) are clear starting places.

How do Bible verses about bitterness differ from anger or forgiveness verses?

Anger covers the flash of rage; forgiveness covers releasing debt; bitterness focuses the lingering root that defiles many. Cross-link Bible verses about anger and Bible verses about forgiveness.

What does "root of bitterness" mean in Hebrews 12:15?

It pictures bitterness as something that grows up, causes trouble, and defiles many — a community hazard, not only a private feeling.

Does the Bible allow people to name bitter grief?

Yes. Job, Hannah, Naomi, and Lamentations name bitterness of soul and bitter weeping — honesty before God is not the same as nursing a root against people.

Where can I read more about anger and forgiveness?

Start with Bible verses about anger and Love and anger, then Bible verses about forgiveness and Love and forgiveness.

Sources

A woman approaches a man across a courtyard with open hands.

Keep reading