κλαίω (klaiō)
klaiō
to weep
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 34 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb klaioō describes loud, audible weeping or wailing, typically marking intense grief or sorrow. Unlike quiet crying, this term captures a vocal expression of pain, often associated with mourning for the dead. It appears frequently in the Gospels and Revelation to depict deep emotional distress, such as when Jesus sees Mary and the others weeping at Lazarus’s tomb (John 11:33) or when Peter remembers his denial and bursts into tears (Luke 22:62).
Its force comes from its vocal nature; it is not merely shedding tears but crying out in anguish. The sources note it is the opposite of laughing (gelaoō), highlighting a stark contrast between joy and sorrow. Translators usually render it "weep" or "wail," preserving the sense of public, audible lamentation that characterizes its use in biblical narratives.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
This word describes a loud, audible expression of grief rather than silent tears. It captures moments when pain becomes too heavy to contain, spilling out into wails that others can hear. In Scripture, this kind of weeping is never hidden away; it is a raw, honest response to loss, failure, or overwhelming sorrow.
Yet the biblical narrative shows that God does not turn away from these loud cries. He meets Peter in his bitter regret and Jesus with Mary at Lazarus’s tomb. Your own moments of deep distress are seen by Him. This word reminds us that our grief is valid and heard, even when we feel broken or unable to speak quietly.
There is a gentle hope woven through these accounts. The same God who sees the widow’s tears and the disciple’s regret promises that sorrow will not have the final word. You are invited to bring your loudest cries to Him, trusting that He holds them with care and purpose.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 34 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- weeping10×
- weeping.3×
- do weep3×
- weeping,2×
- he wept2×
- do weep;2×
- do weep.2×
- you will weep1×
- you did weep.1×
- will weep.1×
- weeping [for]1×
- weep?1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- κλαίοντες5×
- ἔκλαυσεν3×
- ἔκλαιον2×
- κλαῖε.2×
- κλαίουσα2×
- κλαίετε2×
- κλαίεις;2×
- ἔκλαιεν.¶1×
- ἔκλαιεν,1×
- ἐκλαύσατε.1×
- κλαύσῃ1×
- κλαύσουσιν1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 22:62
He went out, and wept bitterly.
This verse captures the sudden, overwhelming weight of Peter’s failure, showing how klaioō marks a moment of profound personal regret that leads to repentance.
-
John 11:33
When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews weeping who came with her, he groaned in the spirit and was troubled,
Here Jesus’ reaction to the loud weeping of Mary and the Jews reveals His own deep emotional engagement with human suffering, validating the intensity of their grief.
-
Luke 7:38
Standing behind at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
The sinful woman’s weeping at Jesus’ feet demonstrates how audible sorrow can become an act of humble devotion and repentance before God.
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Romans 12:15
Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep.
This command to 'weep with those who weep' calls believers to empathetic presence, sharing in the loud grief of others rather than offering distant comfort.