Causes of bitterness in the Bible

        Bitterness is a deeply corrosive emotion that the Bible warns against repeatedly. It is described not merely as a feeling but as a spiritual condition that defiles the soul and influences behavior. Hebrews 12:15 warns: “See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” This "root of bitterness" can destroy relationships, distort perception, and drive people away from God. But what causes bitterness according to Scripture? Let’s examine the biblical causes of bitterness, supported by examples and verses.

1. Unforgiveness

        One of the clearest causes of bitterness in the Bible is unforgiveness—holding on to offenses instead of releasing them through grace.

 Ephesians 4:31–32 says,

    “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

        Bitterness often takes root when a person refuses to forgive others who have wronged them. Unresolved offenses ferment in the heart and eventually become toxic. The parable of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18:21––5) demonstrates how someone forgiven a great debt can still harbor unforgiveness, leading to spiritual imprisonment.

2. Jealousy and Envy

        Bitterness can also be birthed from jealousy—the desire for what others have. This is seen clearly in the story of Cain and Abel.

Genesis 4:5–6

    “But on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.”

        Cain’s anger and eventual murder of Abel were rooted in bitterness from envy. God warned Cain to master the sin crouching at his door, but Cain allowed bitterness to consume him. The root was jealousy, and it manifested violently.

        Another example is Saul’s bitterness toward David.

1 Samuel 18:8–9

    “Saul was very angry... ‘They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands.’ And Saul eyed David from that day on.”

        Saul’s envy turned into obsessive bitterness, leading him to pursue David’s life even when David had done him no wrong.

3. Unmet Expectations

        When people expect certain outcomes—especially from God or others—and those expectations are not fulfilled, bitterness can take root.

        A clear example is Naomi, who renamed herself Mara, meaning “bitter.”

Ruth 1:20–21

    “Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter... The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.”

        Naomi felt that God had abandoned her due to the deaths of her husband and sons. Her sorrow turned into bitterness, not necessarily toward others, but toward life itself and God’s dealings with her.

4. Injustice and Oppression

        Experiencing injustice can cause bitterness, especially when the wrongs are persistent and unresolved. Job expressed bitterness during his suffering, not understanding why God allowed his afflictions.

Job 7:11

    “Therefore I will not keep silent; I will speak out in the anguish of my spirit, I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.”

        Job felt the weight of injustice. He knew he had done nothing deserving of his suffering, yet he was afflicted. This sense of unfairness brought a bitterness of soul that he openly lamented.

        The children of Israel also became bitter under harsh slavery in Egypt.

Exodus 1:14

    “They made their lives bitter with harsh labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields.”

        Long-term oppression and injustice often create emotional and spiritual bitterness in those who suffer.

5. Disappointment with God

        Some bitterness is directed toward God Himself—when believers feel that God has failed them or allowed suffering without reason.

Lamentations 3:15

    “He has filled me with bitterness, he has sated me with wormwood.”

        The writer, likely Jeremiah, was overwhelmed by the destruction of Jerusalem. The feeling of being forsaken by God gave rise to spiritual bitterness.

        Similarly, Esau expressed bitterness after losing his father’s blessing:

 Hebrews 12:16–17

    “Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.”

        Esau’s regret and disappointment turned into bitterness, which stemmed from both personal failure and a perceived injustice in how events turned out.

6. Pride and Self-Righteousness

        People who believe they deserve better or who measure themselves as more righteous than others can fall into bitterness when things don’t go their way.

        This is seen in Jonah’s reaction after God showed mercy to Nineveh.

Jonah 4:1–2

    “But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry... ‘That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God...’”

        Jonah was bitter because God didn’t carry out the judgment Jonah had preached. He felt morally superior and entitled to see God's wrath on his enemies.

        Pride can lead to bitterness when God’s decisions do not align with personal expectations or religious performance.

7. Broken Relationships

        Bitterness often arises from fractured relationships—between friends, spouses, siblings, or even leaders and followers.

        The story of Absalom, King David’s son, reflects this well.

2 Samuel 13:22

    “And Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad, for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had violated his sister Tamar.”

        Absalom grew bitter over his sister Tamar’s rape by Amnon and David’s lack of action. This bitterness simmered for years until it led to murder and rebellion.

        Unaddressed pain in relationships, especially when justice or reconciliation is absent, is fertile ground for bitterness.

8. Unconfessed Sin

        Sometimes bitterness is the outward fruit of internal guilt or spiritual rebellion. When people refuse to repent or deal with sin, bitterness can manifest as a symptom.

Psalm 73:21–22

    “When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you.”

         Asaph, the psalmist, describes how envy and doubt led him to bitterness. But this bitterness was also tied to spiritual blindness and ignorance. When the heart strays from God’s truth, bitterness is a likely result.

9. Unwise Comparison with Others

        Comparing oneself to others—especially in spiritual, material, or relational areas—can lead to discontent and eventually bitterness.

        The workers in Matthew 20:1–16 became bitter when those who worked fewer hours received the same wage.

Matthew 20:11–12

    “When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’”

        Their bitterness stemmed from a sense of unfairness based on comparison, not on what they were promised or deserved.

10. Wounded Expectations in Ministry or Service

        Bitterness can also occur when people serve God or others and feel unrecognized, overworked, or betrayed. The elder brother in the parable of the Prodigal Son illustrates this.

 Luke 15:28–29

    “But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you… Yet you never gave me a young goat that I might celebrate with my friends.’”

        The elder brother felt taken for granted and overlooked, which created bitterness toward both his brother and his father.

        The Bible shows that bitterness is a spiritual and emotional poison that can arise from a variety of sources—unforgiveness, jealousy, unmet expectations, injustice, pride, broken relationships, and more. Regardless of the cause, bitterness is portrayed as something to be uprooted. Left unchecked, it defiles not just the individual but everyone around them (Hebrews 12:15).

        Bitterness is not merely a human emotion; it's a spiritual condition that often reflects a deeper issue between the soul and God. The Bible doesn’t just warn against bitterness—it offers the remedy through forgiveness, humility, gratitude, and trust in God’s justice.