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מִסְפֵּד (mis.ped)

mis.ped

mourning

H4553 · Hebrew · Old Testament · 12 verses

H:N-M

Quick Reference

Language
Biblical Hebrew
Testament
Old Testament
Occurrences
12 verses
Root
—
Part of speech
H:N-M

Definition

Definition

wailing

Brown-Driver-Briggs

מִסְפֵּד n.m. wailing

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

wailing

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The Hebrew word for mourning, misped, describes a deep, communal expression of grief. It is not just an internal feeling but an outward practice involving wailing and specific rituals like wearing sackcloth or sitting in ashes. In the Bible, this act acknowledges the heavy reality of loss, whether personal or national.

This word appears in moments where people turn back to God with their pain. Joel invites us to return to Him with fasting and mourning, showing that grief can be a path to repentance. Zechariah looks forward to a day when Israel will mourn for the One they pierced, linking human sorrow to divine grace.

When you face loss, these verses remind you that your grief is seen. God does not dismiss our tears but invites us to bring them to Him. You are not alone in your sorrow, and there is hope beyond the mourning.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 12 verses where it appears, by frequency.

  • wailing3×
  • and/ wailing2×
  • a lament2×
  • wailing of1×
  • the/ mourning1×
  • like/ mourning1×
  • like/ [the] mourning of1×
  • and/ with/ wailing1×
  • and/ for/ wailing1×
  • [the] lament of1×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

  • מִסְפֵּ֑ד2×
  • מִסְפַּד֙1×
  • מִסְפַּ֖ד1×
  • מִסְפֵּד֙1×
  • מִסְפֵּ֛ד1×
  • מִסְפֵּ֔ד1×
  • כְּ/מִסְפַּ֥ד1×
  • כְּ/מִסְפֵּד֙1×
  • וּ/מִסְפֵּ֖ד1×
  • וּ/מִסְפֵּ֑ד1×
  • וּ/לְ/מִסְפֵּ֔ד1×
  • וּ/בְ/מִסְפֵּֽד\׃1×

Key Verses

  • Joel 2:12
    “Yet even now,” says Yahweh, “turn to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.”

    This verse links mourning directly with returning to God, showing it as an act of repentance rather than just despair.

  • Zechariah 12:10
    I will pour on David’s house and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and of supplication. They will look to me whom they have pierced; and they shall mourn for him as one mourns for his only son, and will grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for his firstborn.

    Here mourning is prophetic, pointing to a future spiritual awakening where the people recognize their pierced Messiah.

  • Genesis 50:10
    They came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, and there they lamented with a very great and severe lamentation. He mourned for his father seven days.

    This occurrence highlights the duration and intensity of Jacob's burial rites, emphasizing honor for the father.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Hebrew word misped mean?

Misped (H4553) translates to 'mourning' or 'lamentation.' It refers to the outward expressions of grief, such as wailing, wearing sackcloth, and fasting, often done in response to death or national disaster.

How is mourning used in the Bible?

Mourning appears in both personal contexts, like Jacob’s death in Genesis 50, and national crises, like the threat of invasion in Esther 4. It is often paired with fasting and repentance, as seen in Joel 2:12.

Why do people mourn for 'him' in Zechariah 12:10?

Zechariah prophesies that Israel will look to the one they pierced and mourn for him deeply. Christians understand this as a reference to Jesus Christ, linking ancient mourning to future spiritual restoration.

Every Occurrence (12 verses across 8 books)

Genesis 1 verse
Esther 1 verse
Isaiah 1 verse
Jeremiah 2 verses
Joel 1 verse
Amos 2 verses
Micah 2 verses
Zechariah 2 verses