'Beating' in the Bible

The people were all weeping aloud and beating their breasts for her; but He said, "Leave off wailing; for she is not dead, but asleep."

Jesus replied, "A man was once on his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell among robbers, who after both stripping and beating him went away, leaving him half dead.

"But the tax-gatherer, standing far back, would not so much as lift his eyes to Heaven, but kept beating his breast and saying, "'O God, be reconciled to me, sinner that I am.'

A vast crowd of the people also followed Him, and of women who were beating their breasts and wailing for Him.

And all the crowds that had come together to this sight, after seeing all that had occurred, returned to the city beating their breasts.