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H1068 · Hebrew · Old Testament
בְּכִי
beki
Noun, masculine
weeping, lamentation

Definition

Weeping, mourning, the act of shedding tears — whether in grief, repentance, or desperate petition before God. In the Hebrew Bible, weeping is never weakness; it is a spiritual act that moves the heart of God.

Usage & Theological Significance

Biblical weeping is not mere emotion — it is intercession. When Hannah wept (1 Sam 1:10), God answered with Samuel. When Israel wept at Bochim ('place of weeping'), it preceded repentance (Judg 2:4–5). Jesus wept at Lazarus' tomb (John 11:35), proving that grief and faith coexist. The Psalms teach that weeping endures for a night, but joy comes in the morning (Ps 30:5).

Key Bible Verses

Psalm 30:5 Weeping [beki] may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.
Jeremiah 31:9 They shall come with weeping [beki], and with supplications I will lead them.
Judges 2:4 The people lifted up their voices and wept [beki].
Ezra 10:1 Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping [beki] and casting himself down before God.
Isaiah 22:12 The Lord GOD of hosts called for weeping [beki] and mourning.

Related Words

External Resources

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