Mourn

Mourn - (Easton's Bible Dictionary)

Frequent references are found in Scripture to, (1.) Mourning for the dead. Abraham mourned for Sarah (Gen. 23:2); Jacob for Joseph (37:34, 35); the Egyptians for Jacob (50:3-10); Israel for Aaron (Num. 20:29), for Moses (Deut. 34:8), and for Samuel (1 Sam. 25:1); David for Abner (2 Sam. 3:31, 35); Mary and Martha for Lazarus (John 11); devout men for Stephen (Acts 8:2), etc.

(2.) For calamities, Job (1:20, 21; 2:8); Israel (Ex. 33:4); the Ninevites (Jonah 3:5); Israel, when defeated by Benjamin (Judg. 20:26), etc.

(3.) Penitential mourning, by the Israelites on the day of atonement (Lev. 23:27; Acts 27:9); under Samuel's ministry (1 Sam. 7:6); predicted in Zechariah (Zech. 12:10, 11); in many of the psalms (51, etc.).

Mourning was expressed, (1) by weeping (Gen. 35:8, marg.; Luke 7:38, etc.); (2) by loud lamentation (Ruth 1:9; 1 Sam. 6:19; 2 Sam. 3:31); (3) by the disfigurement of the person, as rending the clothes (Gen. 37:29, 34; Matt. 26:65), wearing sackcloth (Gen. 37:34; Ps. 35:13), sprinkling dust or ashes on the person (2 Sam. 13:19; Jer. 6:26; Job 2:12), shaving the head and plucking out the hair of the head or beard (Lev. 10:6; Job 1:20), neglect of the person or the removal of ornaments (Ex. 33:4; Deut. 21:12, 13; 2 Sam. 14:2; 19:24; Matt. 6:16, 17), fasting (2 Sam. 1:12), covering the upper lip (Lev. 13:45; Micah 3:7), cutting the flesh (Jer. 16:6, 7), and sitting in silence (Judg. 20:26; 2 Sam. 12:16; 13:31; Job 1:20).

In the later times we find a class of mourners who could be hired to give by their loud lamentation the external tokens of sorrow (2 Chr. 35:25; Jer. 9:17; Matt. 9:23).

The period of mourning for the dead varied. For Jacob it was seventy days (Gen. 50:3); for Aaron (Num. 20:29) and Moses (Deut. 34:8) thirty days; and for Saul only seven days (1 Sam. 31:13). In 2 Sam. 3:31-35, we have a description of the great mourning for the death of Abner.

Mourn - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

MOURN, v.i. [L. maereo.]

1. To express grief or sorrow; to grieve; to be sorrowful. Mourning may be expressed by weeping or audible sounds, or by sobs, sighs or inward silent grief.

Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep. Gen 23.

Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. Mat 5.

2. To wear the customary habit of sorrow.

We mourn in black.

Grieve for an hour perhaps, then mourn a year.

MOURN, v.t. To grieve for; to lament. But there is an ellipsis of for, the verb not being transitive. When we say, we mourn a friend or a child, the real sense and complete phrase is, we mourn for a friend, or mourn for the loss of a friend. ""He mourn'd his rival's ill success,"" that is,he mourned for his rival's ill success.

1. To utter in a sorrowful manner.

The love lorn nightingale

Nightly to thee her sad song mourneth well.

Mourner - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

MOURNER,n. One that mourns or is grieved at any loss or misfortune.

1. One that follows a funeral in the habit of mourning.

2. Something used at funerals.

The mourner eugh and builder oak were there.

Weeping - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

WEEPING, ppr. Lamenting; shedding tears.

WEEPING, n. Lamentation.

wep'-ing.

See BURIAL, IV, 4, 5, 6.

Definition

The terms “mourn” and “mourning” refer to expressing deep grief, usually in response to the death of someone.

• In many cultures, mourning includes specific outward behaviors that show this sadness and grief.
• The Israelites and other people groups in ancient times expressed mourning through loud wailing and lamenting. They also wore rough clothing made of sackcloth and put ashes on themselves.
• Hired mourners, usually women, would loudly weep and wail from the time of death until well after the body was put in the tomb.
• The typical period of mourning was seven days, but could last as long as thirty days (as for Moses and Aaron) or seventy days (as for Jacob).
• The Bible also uses the term figuratively to talk about “mourning” because of sin. This refers to feeling deeply grieved because sin hurts God and people.

(See also: sackcloth, sin)

Bible References

• 1 Samuel 15:34-35
• 2 Samuel 1:11
• Genesis 23:2
• Luke 7:31-32
• Matthew 11:17

Word Data

• Strong’s: H0056, H0057, H0060, H0205, H0578, H0584, H0585, H1058, H1065, H1068, H1671, H1897, H1899, H4553, H4798, H5092, H5098, H5110, H5594, H6937, H6941, H8386, G23540, G28750, G36020, G39960, G39970