Topical Encyclopedia
Moan is a term that appears in the context of biblical literature, often associated with expressions of deep sorrow, lamentation, or distress. While the word "moan" itself may not be a proper noun or a specific location within the biblical narrative, it is a significant expression found throughout the Scriptures, reflecting the human experience of suffering and the cry for divine intervention.
Biblical Context and UsageIn the Bible, moaning is frequently depicted as a response to intense emotional or physical pain. It is an expression that captures the depth of human anguish and the longing for relief or deliverance. The act of moaning is often associated with prayer, supplication, and the seeking of God's mercy.
One of the notable instances of moaning can be found in the Psalms, where the psalmists often pour out their hearts before God, expressing their distress and seeking His intervention. For example, in
Psalm 5:1 , David pleads, "Give ear to my words, O LORD; consider my groaning." Here, the term "groaning" is synonymous with moaning, indicating a deep, heartfelt cry to God.
Similarly, in the book of Lamentations, the prophet Jeremiah vividly describes the moaning of Jerusalem as it faces destruction and exile.
Lamentations 1:4 states, "The roads to Zion mourn, for no one comes to her appointed feasts. All her gates are desolate; her priests groan, her maidens grieve, and she is in bitter anguish." The imagery of moaning here underscores the profound sense of loss and desolation experienced by the people.
Theological SignificanceFrom a theological perspective, moaning in the Bible is not merely an expression of despair but also an acknowledgment of human dependence on God. It reflects the understanding that in times of suffering, God is the ultimate source of comfort and deliverance. The act of moaning, therefore, becomes a form of prayer, a way to communicate with God in the midst of trials.
The Apostle Paul, in the New Testament, speaks to the concept of moaning in the context of creation's longing for redemption. In
Romans 8:22-23 , he writes, "We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until the present time. Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies." Here, moaning is portrayed as a universal experience, a sign of the anticipation of God's ultimate restoration.
Practical ImplicationsFor believers, the biblical portrayal of moaning serves as a reminder of the importance of bringing one's burdens before God. It encourages an honest and open dialogue with the Creator, trusting in His compassion and faithfulness. The Scriptures affirm that God hears the cries of His people and is moved by their suffering.
In times of personal or communal distress, the act of moaning can be seen as a spiritual discipline, a way to align one's heart with God's purposes and to seek His guidance and strength. It is a testament to the enduring hope that, despite present afflictions, God's promises remain steadfast and true.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. i.) To make a low prolonged sound of grief or pain, whether articulate or not; to groan softly and continuously.
2. (v. i.) To emit a sound like moan; -- said of things inanimate; as, the wind moans.
3. (v. t.) To bewail audibly; to lament.
4. (v. t.) To afflict; to distress.
5. (n.) A low prolonged sound, articulate or not, indicative of pain or of grief; a low groan.
6. (n.) A low mournful or murmuring sound; -- of things.
Greek
4727. stenazo -- to groan (within oneself)... context). [This term "denotes feeling which is " (J. Mayor, 162), ie to sigh,
moan (groan) with frustration.]. Word Origin from steno
...4959. sustenazo -- to groan together
... lament, groan together. From sun and stenazo; tomoan jointly, ie (figuratively)
experience a common calamity -- groan together. see GREEK sun....
Strong's Hebrew
1897. hagah -- tomoan, growl, utter, speak, muse... hagah. 1898 . to
moan, growl, utter, speak, muse. Transliteration: hagah Phonetic
Spelling: (daw-gaw') Short Definition: meditate. Word Origin a prim.
...5090b. nahag -- tomoan, lament
... nahag. 5091 . tomoan, lament. Transliteration: nahag Short Definition: moaning.
Word Origin a prim. root Definition tomoan, lament NASB Word Usage moaning (...
7580. shaag -- to roar
... roars (4). mightily, roar. A primitive root; to rumble ormoan -- X mightily,
roar. 7579, 7580. shaag. 7581 . Strong's Numbers.
7581. sheagah -- a roaring
... roaring (3). roaring. From sha'ag; a rumbling ormoan -- roaring. see HEBREW
sha'ag. 7580, 7581. sheagah. 7582 . Strong's Numbers.
1993. hamah -- to murmur, growl, roar, be boisterous
... "hum"); by implication, to be in great commotion or tumult, to rage, war,moan,
clamor -- clamorous, concourse, cry aloud, be disquieted, loud, mourn, be moved...
Library
A Mournful Exclamation and LamentableMoan to God for the Small...
... A mournful Exclamation and lamentableMoan to God for the Small Company of Souls
that arrive at Perfection, the Loving Union and the Divine Transformation....
How the Whole and the Sick are to be Admonished.
... unto aliens and thy years unto the cruel, lest haply strangers be filled with thy
wealth, and thy labours be in the house of a stranger, and thoumoan at the...
A True Story
... But it was not cold, and it was not pain,. That made her shiver andmoan again:
She... know.". So the neighbour went, and she heard nomoan,....
Missed Ends
... The house door opened upon the verandah, and we could hear themoan of
the dirge. "There is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet...
On the Words of the Gospel, Luke xii. 15, "And He Said unto Them...
... one to destroy the ungodly people, He first sent one to mark them, and said to him,
"Go and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh andmoan for the...
During These Various Changes in the Lives of those with whom He...
... Varillo took his hand from his eyes and tossed himself back on his pillow with a
petulantmoan. "Can they do nothing better for me than this?" he ejaculated....
Of visions. The Graces Our Lord Bestowed on the Saint. The Answers...
... It cannot even breathe; all it does is tomoan"not loudly, because it cannot:
its moaning, however, comes from a keen sense of pain. 16....
The Doctrines of Salvation A. Repentance. B. Faith. C....
... The Hebrew equivalent is even stronger, and means to pant, to sigh, tomoan. So
the publican "beat upon his breast," indicating sorrow of heart....
The Sermon of the Seasons
... Every morning when we wake we hope for a change of wind, a glimpse of the sun,
and the end of the frost; but still wemoan with the poet"....
When Diamond Got Home He Found his Father at Home Already...
... They never had heard of the bogy To-morrow; But the mother sat outside, making
hermoan"-. She'll soon have to beg, or steal, or borrow....
Thesaurus
Moan (13 Occurrences)... 2. (vi) To emit a sound like
moan; -- said of things inanimate; as, the wind moans.
3. (vt) To bewail audibly; to lament.
...Moan (13 Occurrences).
...Complaint (29 Occurrences)
... See NAS). Psalms 55:2 Attend to me, and answer me. I am restless in my
complaint, andmoan, (WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS NAS). Psalms 55:17...
Doves (25 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 59:11 We roar all like bears, andmoan sore like doves: we look for justice,
but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us....
Moaning (9 Occurrences)
... & vb. n.) ofMoan.... Nahum 2:7 And the queen is uncovered, she is carried away, and
her handmaidsmoan as with the voice of doves, tabering upon their breasts....
Groan (32 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vi) To give forth a low, moaning sound in breathing;
to utter a groan, as in pain, in sorrow, or in derision; tomoan....
Stripped (62 Occurrences)
... (WEB NAS RSV NIV). Micah 1:8 For this I will lament and wail; I will go stripped
and naked; I will howl like the jackals, andmoan like the daughters of owls....
Noise (126 Occurrences)
... confused noise" (Isaiah 9:5), "all the armor of the armed man in the tumult," margin
"every boot of the booted warrior"; for "make a noise," "moan" (Psalm 55:2...
Noonday (13 Occurrences)
... (KJV JPS DBY NAS RSV NIV). Psalms 55:17 Evening, and morning, and at noonday,
will I complain, andmoan; And he will hear my voice. (ASV)....
Owls (7 Occurrences)
... (KJV WBS). Micah 1:8 For this I will lament and wail; I will go stripped and naked;
I will howl like the jackals, andmoan like the daughters of owls....
Jackals (20 Occurrences)
... (BBE NIV). Micah 1:8 For this I will lament and wail; I will go stripped and naked;
I will howl like the jackals, andmoan like the daughters of owls....
Resources
Why did the Israelites need manna if they had flocks/herds of animals that they could eat? | GotQuestions.orgIs there extra-biblical evidence of the ten plagues in Egypt? | GotQuestions.orgHow old was Noah when he died? | GotQuestions.orgMoan: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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