Topical Encyclopedia
The term "mournful" in the biblical context often refers to a state of deep sorrow or lamentation, typically in response to loss, sin, or the recognition of human frailty. Mourning is a significant theme throughout the Scriptures, reflecting both personal and communal expressions of grief.
Old Testament ContextIn the Old Testament, mourning is frequently associated with death and loss. For example,
Genesis 23:2 describes Abraham mourning for Sarah: "And Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her." Mourning customs in ancient Israel included wearing sackcloth, putting ashes on one's head, fasting, and lamenting aloud (
2 Samuel 1:11-12).
The prophets often called the people to mourn as a sign of repentance.
Joel 2:12-13 exhorts, "Yet even now," declares the LORD, "return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God." Here, mourning is not merely an external act but a heartfelt response to sin and a call to return to God.
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, Jesus acknowledges the blessedness of those who mourn. In the Beatitudes, He declares, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted" (
Matthew 5:4). This mourning is often understood as a spiritual lament over sin and the brokenness of the world, with the promise of divine comfort and restoration.
The Apostle Paul also addresses mourning in the context of the Christian community. In
Romans 12:15 , he instructs believers to "Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep." This reflects the communal aspect of mourning, where believers share in each other's sorrows and joys, embodying the love and compassion of Christ.
Theological SignificanceMourning in the Bible is not merely an expression of grief but is deeply connected to the themes of repentance, hope, and divine comfort. It acknowledges the reality of suffering and loss in a fallen world while pointing to the hope of redemption and the promise of God's presence. The Scriptures affirm that God is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit (
Psalm 34:18).
Eschatological HopeThe Bible also presents an eschatological hope where mourning will ultimately be transformed.
Revelation 21:4 offers a vision of the new creation: "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." This promise assures believers that mourning is temporary and will be replaced by eternal joy in the presence of God.
In summary, the concept of being mournful in the Bible encompasses a range of emotions and responses, from personal grief to communal lament, and from repentance to the anticipation of divine comfort and ultimate restoration.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
a.) Full of sorrow; expressing, or intended to express, sorrow; mourning; grieving; sad; also, causing sorrow; saddening; grievous; as, a mournful person; mournful looks, tones, loss.
Greek
4659. skuthropos -- with a gloomy look... sad, gloomy. From skuthros (sullen) and a derivative of optanomai; angry-visaged,
ie Gloomy or affecting a
mournful appearance -- of a sad countenance.
...Strong's Hebrew
179. Obil -- overseer of David's camels... Obil (1). Obil. Probably from 'abal;
mournful; Obil, an Ishmaelite -- Obil.
see HEBREW 'abal. 178, 179. Obil. 180 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
Seven Sanctified Thoughts andMournful Sighs of a Sick Man Ready...
... THE PRACTICE OF PIETY. SEVEN SANCTIFIED THOUGHTS ANDMOURNFUL SIGHS OF A
SICK MAN READY TO DIE. Now, forasmuch as God of his infinite...
AMournful Exclamation and Lamentable Moan to God for the Small...
... Amournful Exclamation and lamentable Moan to God for the Small Company of Souls
that arrive at Perfection, the Loving Union and the Divine Transformation....
He Then Wonderfully Displays the Eternal Life, which is Christ, to...
... X. Section 2. He then wonderfully displays the Eternal Life, which is Christ, to
those who confess Him not, and applies to them themournful lamentation of...
Psalm 90:1. LM Man Mortal, and God Eternal. AMournful Song at a...
... THE Psalms of David, In Metre. Psalm 90:1. LM Man mortal, and God eternal.
Amournful song at a funeral. 1 Thro' every age, eternal...
A Glance at the Disciples of Jesus on Holy Saturday.
... a lamp which was hanging in the middle of the room, and they all assembled around
the Blessed Virgin, and commenced praying in amournful but recollected manner...
The Weeping Saviour.
... If even our less sensitive hearts may be wrung with emotion at the tidings of some
mournful catastrophe that occupies, after all, but some passing hour in the...
Argument: Octavius Attests the Fact that Men were Adopted as Gods...
... Burial-Places of the Gods. Moreover He Sets Forth theMournful Endings,
Misfortunes, and Deaths of the Gods. And, in Addition, He...
The Embalming of the Body of Jesus.
... No precaution had been neglected which could in any way facilitate to her"the Mother
of Sorrows"in her deep affliction of soul, themournful but most...
The Fear Felt by the Inhabitants of Jerusalem.
... bitter lamentations. Even the animals utteredmournful cries, and hid
themselves; the birds flew low, and fell to the ground. I...
The Saviour's Last Hours.
... Looking at the sad andmournful spectacle of the death of Christ, sur rounded as
He was by unfeeling enemies to the last moment, the watchful eye sees...
Thesaurus
Mournful (3 Occurrences)... Full of sorrow; expressing, or intended to express, sorrow; mourning; grieving;
sad; also, causing sorrow; saddening; grievous; as, a
mournful person;
mournful...Mourneth (14 Occurrences)
Dove (27 Occurrences)
... 5:2 is another term of endearment, this time used in the dream of the bride (compare
Songs 6:9). Isaiah 38:14 has reference to the wailing,mournful dove note...
Howl (29 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vi) To utter a loud, protracted,mournful
sound or cry, as dogs and wolves often do. 2. (vi) To utter...
Nehemiah (9 Occurrences)
... Through his brother Hanani, and perhaps from other sources (Nehemiah 1:2; 2:3),
he heard of themournful and desolate condition of the Holy City, and was...
Uriah (33 Occurrences)
... He was one of the band of David's "mighty men." The sad story of the curel wrongs
inflicted upon him by David and of hismournful death are simply told in the...
Jasher (2 Occurrences)
... spake to the Lord at the crisis of the battle of Beth-horon (Joshua 10:12, 13);
and (2) "the Song of the Bow," that beautiful and touchingmournful elegy which...
Lunatick (2 Occurrences)
... These various words seem to be derived from the strange and fierce ormournful
cries uttered by the unfortunate victims of this dread malady....
Lament (44 Occurrences)
... 3. (v.) Grief or sorrow expressed in complaints or cries; lamentation; a wailing;
a moaning; a weeping. 4. (n.) An elegy ormournful ballad, or the like. Int....
Groan (32 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) A low, moaning sound; usually, a deep,mournful sound uttered in pain or
great distress; sometimes, an expression of strong disapprobation; as, the...
Resources
What is the Book of Jasher and should it be in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgIs there any special meaning/symbolism to owls in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the meaning of the parables of fasting at the wedding feast, the old cloth, and the wineskins? | GotQuestions.orgMournful: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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