Wormwood
“Laanah, possibly from a root meaning 'to curse'; Greek apsinthos, the source of 'absinthe'”
Summary
Wormwood is a bitter plant used throughout Scripture as a symbol of calamity, sorrow, and divine judgment.
☩The Plant
The Hebrew laanah refers to plants of the Artemisia genus, of which several species grow in Palestine and Syria. These plants are characterized by extreme bitterness and have long been proverbial for this quality. The common wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) does not appear to exist in Palestine; instead, species like Artemisia Judaica, found around Bethlehem and in Arabia, are likely intended. The Orientals typified sorrows and calamities by plants of bitter or poisonous nature.
☩Figurative Usage
Wormwood appears most frequently in a metaphorical sense throughout Scripture. Moses warned against any Israelite becoming 'a root that bears wormwood' through idolatry. Proverbs compares the end of an immoral woman to wormwood and a sharp sword. The prophets used wormwood to symbolize bitter calamity: God would feed His rebellious people with wormwood and give them water of gall to drink. Unrighteous judges who pervert justice are said to 'turn judgment to wormwood.'
☩Apocalyptic Symbol
In Revelation, at the sound of the third trumpet, a great star named Wormwood falls from heaven upon the rivers and fountains, turning a third of the waters to wormwood and causing many to die from the bitterness. This represents the moral corruption of the sources of life, turning what should refresh and sustain into something deadly. The imagery suggests judgment through the poisoning of spiritual resources and teaching.
Related Verses8 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Wormwood," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. X (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Wormwood," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. V (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.James Hastings (ed.), "Wormwood," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).
- 4.George Morrish, "Wormwood," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).