Original Word: מֹרָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: morah
Pronunciation: mo-RAH
Phonetic Spelling: (mo-raw')
KJV: grief
Word Origin: [from H4843 (מָרַר - bitter)]

1. bitterness, i.e. (figuratively) trouble

grief

From marar; bitterness, i.e. (figuratively) trouble -- grief.

see HEBREW marar

Word Origin
from marar
Definition
bitterness
NASB Translation
grief* (1).

[מֹרָה] noun feminine id., construct מֹרַת רוּחַ Genesis 26:35 (P) bitterness of spirit (= grief of mind).

Definition and Overview

מֹרָה (morah) denotes acute inner pain, vexation, or bitterness of spirit. In its single biblical appearance the word conveys the emotional distress felt by Isaac and Rebekah when their son Esau married outside the covenant community.

Biblical Occurrence and Context

Genesis 26:35 narrates the immediate aftermath of Esau’s marriages to two Hittite women: “They were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah” (Genesis 26:35). The term describes not a passing annoyance but a deep-seated sorrow that weighed upon the patriarchal household. The placement of the verse at the close of chapter 26 forms a literary hinge, preparing the reader for Jacob’s acquisition of the blessing in chapter 27 by highlighting Esau’s disregard for covenantal values.

Cultural and Historical Background

Hittite alliances threatened the spiritual distinctiveness of Abraham’s line (compare Genesis 24:3–4). Within Ancient Near Eastern culture, marriages forged political bonds and cemented religious loyalties. Esau’s unions, therefore, carried more than social consequences; they exposed the family to idolatrous influence, echoing later prohibitions against intermarriage in Exodus 34:16 and Deuteronomy 7:3–4. The grief expressed by מֹרָה reflects covenantal anxiety as much as parental anguish.

Theological Insights

1. Covenant Integrity: מֹרָה highlights the tension between God’s electing purposes and human choices. Esau’s marital decisions illustrate how personal freedom can oppose divine trajectory (Malachi 1:2–3; Romans 9:10–13).
2. The Root of Bitterness: While the phrase appears explicitly in Hebrews 12:15, Genesis 26:35 provides an Old Testament counterpart. Bitterness that springs from covenant infidelity imperils communal holiness.
3. Parental Responsibility and Grief: The verse underscores the emotive dimension of parental leadership. Isaac and Rebekah’s distress anticipates wisdom-literature counsel such as Proverbs 17:25 and Proverbs 19:13, where a “foolish son” causes maternal sorrow.

Practical Ministry Applications

• Family Counseling: Pastoral care can draw on מֹרָה to address anguish arising when children abandon biblical convictions. The passage encourages honest lament balanced with intercessory hope.
• Teaching on Marriage: The narrative serves as a cautionary exemplar when instructing believers on “not being unequally yoked” (2 Corinthians 6:14) and on prioritizing faith in marital decisions.
• Guarding Against Bitterness: Churches may use the text to explore how unresolved grief festers into bitterness, urging proactive reconciliation and forgiveness (Ephesians 4:31–32).

Connections to New Testament Themes

Esau’s choices foreshadow the warning in Hebrews 12:16–17 against godlessness and impulsive decisions that forfeit lasting blessing. The grief of Genesis 26:35 thus resonates with the New Testament call to persevere in holiness, lest bitterness defile many (Hebrews 12:15).

Summary

מֹרָה encapsulates the profound sorrow that arises when covenant expectations collide with worldly alliances. Its solitary appearance amplifies the gravity of Esau’s actions, offering enduring lessons on covenant fidelity, parental heartache, and the necessity of guarding the community of faith against the corrosive effects of bitterness.

מֹ֣רַת מרת mō·raṯ Morat mōraṯInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts