θρηνέω (thrēneō)
thrēneō
to lament
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb thrēneō describes the act of loud, vocal mourning, often associated with professional mourners or public dirges. It goes beyond quiet sadness to express a deep, audible grief that demands attention. In the Gospels, this word captures the intense sorrow of those who recognize loss or judgment.
Jesus uses this term in Matthew 11:17 and Luke 7:32 when contrasting John the Baptist with Himself, noting that people refused to join in either dancing or lamenting. The word also appears in Luke 23:27, where it describes women weeping for Jesus as He carries His cross, highlighting a personal, heartfelt bewailing of suffering.
Its root relates to the noun thrēnos, meaning a funeral song or wail. This connection emphasizes that thrēneō is not just an internal feeling but an outward expression of grief, often communal or performative in nature. Translators typically render it as "lament" or "mourn," preserving its emotional weight and public character.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word thrēneō describes a loud, public expression of grief, often involving professional mourners or communal wailing. It is more than quiet sadness; it is an audible outcry that demands attention and shares sorrow with others. In the Gospels, this term captures intense moments where loss or judgment is recognized, moving beyond internal feeling to outward, vocal lament.
Jesus uses this word in Matthew 11:17 and Luke 7:32 to describe how people refused to join in either dancing or mourning, highlighting their stubborn refusal to engage with God’s work. Yet in Luke 23:27, we see women who mourned and lamented Jesus as He carried His cross, showing a heartfelt bewailing of suffering that was both personal and communal.
When you encounter grief, this word reminds you that it is okay to express sorrow openly. God hears the cries of those who lament, whether in public or private. Let your tears be a bridge to others, sharing the weight of pain until hope returns.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- we sang a dirge2×
- will lament1×
- they were lamenting for1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐθρηνήσαμεν2×
- ἐθρήνουν1×
- θρηνήσετε1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 11:17
and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you didn’t dance. We mourned for you, and you didn’t lament.’
This verse shows Jesus using thrēneō to describe people’s refusal to join in mourning, highlighting their stubbornness in rejecting John the Baptist's message.
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Luke 23:27
A great multitude of the people followed him, including women who also mourned and lamented him.
Here, thrēneō describes women weeping for Jesus as He carries His cross, showing a personal and communal grief that acknowledges His suffering.
-
John 16:20
Most certainly I tell you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.
Jesus promises that His disciples will weep and lament, but their sorrow will turn into joy, linking thrēneō to the temporary nature of grief in light of resurrection hope.