'Weeping' in the Bible

Deborah, the one who had nursed and raised Rebekah, died and was buried under the oak south of Bethel. So Jacob named it Oak of Weeping.

An Israelite man came bringing a Midianite woman to his relatives in the sight of Moses and the whole Israelite community while they were weeping at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

The Israelites wept for Moses in the plains of Moab 30 days. Then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses came to an end.

So Samson’s wife came to him, weeping, and said, “You hate me and don’t love me! You told my people the riddle, but haven’t explained it to me.”“Look,” he said, “I haven’t even explained it to my father or mother, so why should I explain it to you?”

Just then Saul was coming in from the field behind his oxen. “What’s the matter with the people? Why are they weeping?” Saul inquired, and they repeated to him the words of the men from Jabesh.

Her husband followed her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Abner said to him, “Go back.” So he went back.

Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the long-sleeved garment she was wearing. She put her hand on her head and went away crying out.

Everyone in the countryside was weeping loudly while all the people were marching past. As the king was crossing the Kidron Valley, all the people were marching past on the road that leads to the desert.

David was climbing the slope of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he ascended. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. Each of the people with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they ascended.

It was reported to Joab, “The king is weeping. He’s mourning over Absalom.”

and Hazael asked, “Why is my lord weeping?”He replied, “Because I know the evil you will do to the people of Israel. You will set their fortresses on fire. You will kill their young men with the sword. You will dash their little ones to pieces. You will rip open their pregnant women.”

The people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shouting from that of the weeping, because the people were shouting so loudly. And the sound was heard far away.

While Ezra prayed and confessed, weeping and falling facedown before the house of God, an extremely large assembly of Israelite men, women, and children gathered around him. The people also wept bitterly.

Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law.

My face has grown red with weeping,and darkness covers my eyes,

My lyre is used for mourningand my flute for the sound of weeping. >

If my land cries out against meand its furrows join in weeping,

Depart from me, all evildoers,for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.

For His anger lasts only a moment,but His favor, a lifetime.Weeping may spend the night,but there is joy in the morning.

Though one goes along weeping,carrying the bag of seed,he will surely come back with shouts of joy,carrying his sheaves.

In its streets they wear sackcloth;on its rooftops and in its public squares everyone wails,falling down and weeping.

My heart cries out over Moab,whose fugitives flee as far as Zoar,to Eglath-shelishiyah;they go up the slope of Luhith weeping;they raise a cry of destructionon the road to Horonaim.

On that day the Lord God of Hostscalled for weeping, for wailing, for shaven heads,and for the wearing of sackcloth.

I will rejoice in Jerusalemand be glad in My people.The sound of weeping and cryingwill no longer be heard in her.

A sound is heard on the barren heights,the children of Israel weeping and begging for mercy,for they have perverted their way;they have forgotten the Lord their God.

I will raise weeping and a lamentover the mountains,a dirge over the wilderness grazing land,for they have been so scorchedthat no one passes through.The sound of cattle is no longer heard.From the birds of the sky to the animals,everything has fled—they have gone away.

Let them come quickly to raise a lament over usso that our eyes may overflow with tears,our eyelids soaked with weeping.

They will come weeping,but I will bring them back with consolation.I will lead them to wadis filled with waterby a smooth way where they will not stumble,for I am Israel’s Father,and Ephraim is My firstborn.

This is what the Lord says:A voice was heard in Ramah,a lament with bitter weeping—Rachel weeping for her children,refusing to be comforted for her childrenbecause they are no more.

Ishmael son of Nethaniah came out of Mizpah to meet them, weeping as he came. When he encountered them, he said: “Come to Gedaliah son of Ahikam!”

For on the Ascent to Luhiththey will be weeping continually,and on the descent to Horonaimwill be heard cries of distress over the destruction:

I will weep for you, vine of Sibmah,with more than the weeping for Jazer.Your tendrils have extended to the sea;they have reached to the sea and to Jazer.The destroyer has fallen on your summer fruit and grape harvest.

In those days and at that time—this is the Lord’s declaration—the Israelites and Judeans will come together,weeping as they come,and will seek the Lord their God.

כ KafMy eyes are worn out from weeping;I am churning within.My heart is poured out in griefbecause of the destruction of my dear people,because children and infants faintin the streets of the city.

So He brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the Lord’s house, and I saw women sitting there weeping for Tammuz.

Even now—this is the Lord’s declaration—turn to Me with all your heart,with fasting, weeping, and mourning.

And this is another thing you do: you cover the Lord’s altar with tears, with weeping and groaning, because He no longer respects your offerings or receives them gladly from your hands.