mourn, mourner, weeping

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