The term "mourneth" is an archaic form of the verb "mourn," which appears in various contexts throughout the Bible. Mourning in the biblical sense often involves expressions of deep sorrow, grief, or lamentation, typically in response to death, sin, or calamity. The act of mourning is a significant theme in Scripture, reflecting both personal and communal expressions of grief.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, mourning is frequently associated with the loss of loved ones or national tragedy. Genesis 37:34 describes Jacob's mourning for his son Joseph: "Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth around his waist, and mourned for his son many days." This passage illustrates the traditional customs of mourning, which often included tearing one's garments and wearing sackcloth as a sign of deep sorrow.

The prophets also speak of mourning in the context of repentance and divine judgment. In Joel 1:13, the prophet calls for mourning as a response to a locust plague: "Put on sackcloth and mourn, O priests; wail, O ministers of the altar. Come, spend the night in sackcloth, O ministers of my God, for the grain and drink offerings are withheld from the house of your God." Here, mourning is linked to a call for repentance and a return to God.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, mourning takes on additional dimensions, particularly in the teachings of Jesus. In the Beatitudes, Jesus declares, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted" (Matthew 5:4). This statement highlights the promise of divine comfort and the hope of restoration for those who grieve, whether over personal loss or the brokenness of the world.

The Apostle Paul also addresses mourning in the context of Christian hope. In 1 Thessalonians 4:13, he writes, "Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope." Paul acknowledges the reality of grief but contrasts the mourning of believers with that of those who lack the hope of resurrection.

Cultural and Religious Practices

Mourning in biblical times often involved specific rituals and practices. These included wearing sackcloth, sitting in ashes, fasting, and lamentation. Such practices were not only personal but also communal, as seen in the collective mourning of the Israelites during times of national crisis or repentance (e.g., Nehemiah 9:1).

The expression of mourning was also a means of seeking God's intervention and mercy. In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God promises, "If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land." Mourning, in this sense, becomes an act of humility and a plea for divine restoration.

Theological Significance

Mourning in the Bible is not merely an expression of sorrow but is deeply intertwined with themes of repentance, hope, and divine comfort. It acknowledges the reality of suffering and loss in a fallen world while pointing to the ultimate hope of redemption and restoration through God's promises. The biblical narrative assures believers that mourning will one day give way to joy, as expressed in Revelation 21:4: "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away."

In summary, "mourneth" encapsulates a profound biblical theme that spans both Testaments, reflecting the human experience of grief and the divine promise of comfort and hope.4553. misped -- a wailing
... lamentation, mourning, wailing. From caphad; a lamentation -- lamentation, one mourneth,
mourning, wailing. see HEBREW caphad. 4552, 4553. misped. 4554 . ...
/hebrew/4553.htm - 6k

Aus Tiefer Noth Schrei' Ich Zu Dir. Out of the Deep I Cry to Thee.
... 4. And though I wait the livelong night And till the morn returneth, My heart
undoubting trusts his might Nor in impatience mourneth. ...
/.../bacon/the hymns of martin luther/iv aus tiefer noth schrei.htm

Jesus Christus Unser Heiland. Christ, who Freed Our Souls from ...
... 6. To such grace and mercy turneth Every soul that truly mourneth; Art thou well?
Avoid this board, Else thou reapest an ill reward. 7. Lo! ...
/.../bacon/the hymns of martin luther/xiv jesus christus unser heiland.htm

At Masaarah
... Who is it that hath forgotten the idols and the abominations and the bondage
of her people and mourneth after one of the oppressors? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xviii at masaarah.htm

Joel's Rhapsody of the Locust Plague
... mourn. The field is wasted, The land mourneth; For the corn is wasted,
The new wine is dried up, The oil languisheth. HUSBANDMEN. ...
/.../select masterpieces of biblical literature/joels rhapsody of the locust.htm

Rhapsody
... JEREMIAH'S RHAPSODY OF THE DROUGHT. Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish;
they sit in black upon the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up. ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/rhapsody.htm

A Clean Tongue.
... will grow worse and worse, until we may expect national sin to bring down national
punishment, and we shall have to say, "Because of swearing the land mourneth ...
//christianbookshelf.org/champness/broken bread/xix a clean tongue.htm

To-Morrow
... The day of deep refreshing dawneth; No sun lights on us, and no heat; No longer
is there one who mourneth,. And there the hearts long severed meet". ...
/.../bevan/hymns of ter steegen and others second series/to-morrow.htm

A Doomed People
... of those who at the first advent had rejected Christ: "They shall look upon Me whom
they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourneth for his ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 64 a doomed people.htm

The Redeemer's Return is Necessitated by the Present ...
... Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon Me
whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourneth for his ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/vi the redeemers return is.htm

Psalm CXI.
... confession. The former mourneth, the latter rejoiceth: the former showeth the
wound to the physician, the latter giveth thanks for health. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cxi.htm

Mourneth (14 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Mourneth (14 Occurrences). ... (YLT). 2 Samuel 19:1 And it
was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom. ...
/m/mourneth.htm - 10k

Languisheth (10 Occurrences)
... (See JPS). Isaiah 24:4 The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth
and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish. (KJV ASV DBY WBS) ...
/l/languisheth.htm - 9k

Faileth (26 Occurrences)
... (KJV JPS ASV WBS). Isaiah 24:4 The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world
languisheth and fadeth away, the lofty people of the earth do languish. (See JPS). ...
/f/faileth.htm - 13k

Fadeth (9 Occurrences)
... (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS). Isaiah 24:4 The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world
languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish. ...
/f/fadeth.htm - 8k

Mourners (13 Occurrences)

/m/mourners.htm - 10k

Grieveth (5 Occurrences)
... grieveth for his son. (ASV JPS). Job 14:22 But his flesh upon him hath pain,
And his soul within him mourneth. (See JPS). Proverbs 26:15 ...
/g/grieveth.htm - 7k

Weepeth (29 Occurrences)
... my son.' (YLT). 2 Samuel 19:1 And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth
and mourneth for Absalom. (KJV JPS ASV WBS). 2 Kings ...
/w/weepeth.htm - 15k

Withereth (13 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 33:9 The land mourneth and languisheth; Lebanon is confounded and withereth
away; Sharon is like a desert; and Bashan and Carmel shake off their leaves ...
/w/withereth.htm - 10k

Fainteth (11 Occurrences)
... (KJV ASV DBY WBS). Isaiah 24:4 The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world
languisheth and fadeth away, the lofty people of the earth do languish. (See JPS). ...
/f/fainteth.htm - 9k

Execration (9 Occurrences)
... telleth not. (YLT). Jeremiah 23:10 For the land is full of adulterers;
for because of execration the land mourneth. The pastures ...
/e/execration.htm - 10k

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