Dictionary Article

Some kind of bitter vegetable(s), perhaps a certain variety of lettuce. The people of Israel were commanded to eat bitter herbs, roast lamb, and unleavened bread on the night when the Lord inflicted the plague of death on all the Egyptian firstborn (Ex 12:8-11).

The Significance of Bitter Herbs

The significance of the bitter herbs is not explained in the Exodus narrative. In the traditional interpretation, the herbs symbolize the bitterness of the Hebrews’ experience of Egyptian bondage. The two other references to bitter herbs (Nm 9:11; Lam 3:15) shed no direct light upon the kind of plant or its significance. The Numbers passage specifies how the Passover commemoration was to be celebrated by persons unable to participate at the normally appointed time (Nm 9:6-12). The Lamentations passage describes the prophet Jeremiah’s personal affliction. He pictures himself as suffering at the hands of the Lord who has filled him with bitterness. If the prophet’s experience could be symbolized by reference to bitter herbs, it is reasonable that Israel’s experience of slavery in Egypt might also have been symbolized in that way. After that night of the Hebrews’ deliverance from bondage, the herbs were used annually in a commemorative observance of the Passover.

Show passage in OET: NUM 9:11

OET-RV NUM 9:11

11 They can start it on the evening of the 14th of the second month, and eat it as usual with flat bread and bitter herbs.

OET-LV NUM 9:11

11 In_month the_second on_the_four- teen day between the_evenings they _will _observe DOM_him/it with unleavened _bread(s) and_bitter _herbs they_will _eat _it.

Show passage in OET: LAM 3:15

OET-RV LAM 3:15

15 He filled me with bitterness.
⇔ He stuffed me with bitter herbs.

OET-LV LAM 3:15

15 He_has _surfeited _me with _(the)_things he_has _made _me _drink wormwood.

Show passage in OET: NUM 9:6–12

OET-RV NUM 9:6

6 However, there were some men who were ‘unclean’ (because they’d touched a dead body) and hence they weren’t able to celebrate the ‘pass-over’ that day, so they approached Mosheh and Aharon (Aaron)

OET-RV NUM 9:7

7 and asked them, “We were ‘unclean’ because we’d touched a dead body, but how come we’re excluded from presenting an offering to Yahweh along with the other Israelis?”

OET-RV NUM 9:8

8 “Wait here,” Mosheh answered, “and I’ll ask Yahweh what he wants you all to do.”

OET-RV NUM 9:9

9 Then Yahweh told Mosheh,

OET-RV NUM 9:10

10 “Tell the Israelis that for this and future generations, if a person is ‘unclean’ or far from home, then they can still observe Yahweh’s ‘pass-over’.

OET-RV NUM 9:11

11 They can start it on the evening of the 14th of the second month, and eat it as usual with flat bread and bitter herbs.

OET-RV NUM 9:12

12 They must not break any of the lambs bones, must not leave any of it until the morning, and must observe it following all the normal instructions.

OET-LV NUM 9:6

6 And_ people who they _were unclean to_living _creature a _person _he/it _was and_not they _were _able to_observe the_passover in _the_day (the)_that and_they _drew _near to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before Mosheh and_before _of ʼAhₐron in _the_day (the)_that.

OET-LV NUM 9:7

7 And_ the_people (the)_those _they _said to_him/it we are_unclean to_living _creature a _person to/for_what are _we _restrained to_not to _bring _near DOM the _offering _of YHWH at_its _appointed _of_time in _the_middle the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

OET-LV NUM 9:8

8 And_he/it _said to_them Mosheh stand so_that _I _may _hear what YHWH will _he _command of_you(pl).

OET-LV NUM 9:9

9 And_ YHWH _he/it _spoke to Mosheh to_saying.

OET-LV NUM 9:10

10 Speak to the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) to_say a _person a _person if/because he _will _be unclean to_a _corpse or on_a _journey distant to/for_you(pl) or to_generations _of_your(pl) and_he _will _observe a _passover to/for_YHWH.

OET-LV NUM 9:11

11 In_month the_second on_the_four- teen day between the_evenings they _will _observe DOM_him/it with unleavened _bread(s) and_bitter _herbs they_will _eat _it.

OET-LV NUM 9:12

12 Not they _will _leave _over from_him/it until morning and_a _bone not they _will _break in_him/it according_to _every _of (the)_regulation _of the _passover they _will _observe DOM_him/it.

Jump to OET NUM 9:11 section.

Jump to OET LAM 3:15 section.

Jump to OET NUM 9:6–12 section.

Today the Samaritans use the leaves of the wild lettuce plant as bitter herbs for their Passover observance. Jews of European origin customarily use red horseradish.

Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary