Lexical Definition

‎לַעֲנָה‎ laʻănâh (lah-an-aw') wormwood ^H:N-F
from an unused root supposed to mean to curse

hemlock, wormwood.

• wormwood (regarded as poisonous, and therefore accursed)

1) wormwood
1a) bitterness (metaph.)

See Greek: ἀνάγκη · ὀδύνη · πικρία · χολή

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎לַעֲנָה‎ noun feminine wormwood (Late Hebrew id.; Arabic is curse (verb id.), so Nabataean ‎לצנת‎ (verb ‎לען‎) compare Cook^Glossary); — only figurative of bitter things: — of perverted justice, Amos 5:7; Amos 6:12 (|| ‎ראֹשׁ‎; of result of idolatry, Deut 29:17* (|| id.); of ‎׳‎‎י‎'s chastisement Jer 9:14* (|| ‎מֵ֯ירֿאֹשׁ‎, Jer 23:15 (|| id.), Lam 3:15 (|| ‎מְרוֺרִים‎), vLam 3:19 (|| ‎ראֹשׁ‎); simile of bitter (‎מָרָה‎) result of intercourse with strange woman Prov 5:4. — On wormwood (Artemisia absinthium, etc., Greek ἀψίθιον) compare Löw^{80f. 401, 421} Tristr^{Nat, Hist. Bib. 493}. ‎לָעַע‎ see ‎לוע‎

Brown-Driver-Briggs References