What is Wormwood?

[zrs6v4]

I am reading through proverbs and every time I read it I stumble across 5:4-5.

"But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword."

This always makes me think of Revelation, but does anyone have any explanation of what wormwood is?

 

[Graybeard]

Other than the reference in Revelation 8 11 I don't know. Interesting question though, I await a better answer.

10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;

11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.

 

[Amy.G]

From Strong's

Wormwood

H3939
לענה
la‛ănâh
lah-an-aw'
From an unused root supposed to mean to curse; wormwood (regarded as poisonous, and therefore accursed): - hemlock, wormwood.


The strange woman in Prov. 5:5 speaks sweet words that drip off of her lips like honey, but in reality they are poison.

 

[Allan]

I am reading through proverbs and every time I read it I stumble across 5:4-5.

"But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword."

This always makes me think of Revelation, but does anyone have any explanation of what wormwood is?

Well Webster states:

WORMWOOD, n. [G.] A plant, the artemisia. It has a bitter nauseous taste; but it is stomachic and corroborant.

Tree-wormwood, a species of Artemisia, with woody stalks.

While 'stomachic' refers to being medicinal, it is of note what 'corroborant' means which is used as an additive for strengthening whatever it is added to.

Historically it was used as a medicine in many pagan cultures (such as Greeks) to help bring on menstration/furtility. But it's typical usage in scripture is that of it's natural unprocessed properties being both bitter and harmful resulting even in death.

Here are all the passages with wormwood in them.

Deu 29:18 Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go [and] serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood;

Pro 5:4 But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword.

Jer 9:15 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will feed them, [even] this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink.

Jer 23:15 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land.

Lam 3:15 He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood.

Lam 3:19 Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.

Amo 5:7 Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth,

Rev 8:11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.

This from Vincint Word Studies:

Rev 8:11
Wormwood (ἄψινθος)
Used metaphorically in the Old Testament of the idolatry of Israel (Deu_29:18); of calamity and sorrow (Jer_9:15; Jer_23:15; Lam_3:15, Lam_3:19); of false judgment (Amo_5:7).

 

[zrs6v4]

thanks for the responses. sorry that this thread isnt argumentive.. hehe, jk

 

[Lux et veritas]

thanks for the responses. sorry that this thread isnt argumentive.. hehe, jk

Just wait until Benefactor reads it. He'll have it ('wormwood' that is) designated as a biblical description for Calvinistic theology and then prove to us all how that's what the Greek really is.:smilewinkgrin:

 

[Crabtownboy]

From Dictionary.Com

worm⋅wood
  /ˈwɜrmˌwʊd/ e
–noun
1. any composite herb or low shrub of the genus Artemisia.
2. a bitter, aromatic plant, A. absinthium, of the Old World, used as a vermifuge and a tonic, and as an ingredient in absinthe.
3. something bitter, grievous, or extremely unpleasant.
Origin:
1350–1400; late ME wormwode (see worm, wood 1 ); r. ME wermode, OE wermōd; c. G Wermut; see vermouth

I wonder what word English translators would have used prior to 1350?