Greek word · G2354

θρηνέω

thrēneō

to lament

To lament aloud, especially to sing or chant a thrēnos, a funeral dirge. It can also mean to bewail a disaster. The core setting is mourning for someone who has died.

Appears 4 times in 4 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

θρηνέω, -ῶ

(θρῆνος), [in LXX chiefly for יָלַל hi., also for קַיִן pit., etc. ;]

1. intrans., to lament, wail: Matthew 11:17, Luke 7:32, John 16:20.

2. Trans., to bewail: with accusative of person(s), Luke 23:27.†

SYN.: κλαίω, κόπτομαι, λυπέομαι, πενθέω (see Tr., Syn., lxv). (AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of John 16:20

Range of meaning

To lament aloud, especially to sing or chant a thrēnos, a funeral dirge. It can also mean to bewail a disaster. The core setting is mourning for someone who has died.

Against the English

KJV, WEB, YLT and ESV have 'lament'. NIV and NLT have 'mourn'. BSB has 'wail'. 'Mourn' and 'wail' keep the funeral setting. In today's English, 'lament' often just means 'regret' or 'complain about' ('he lamented the price of petrol'), and that loses the picture of mourners keening over a body.

How it drifted

English 'lament' moved from formal mourning toward mild regret and complaint, so the funeral sense has faded for most readers.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the LXX the verb is used for David's lament over Saul and Jonathan (2 Sam 1:17) and over Abner (2 Sam 3:33), and for lamentation over the dead in general. In the Gospels: 'we sang a dirge and you did not mourn' (Matt 11:17 // Luke 7:32), and the women who 'were mourning and lamenting' Jesus on the way to the cross (Luke 23:27). Greek writers from Homer on use it for the dirge sung by mourners (BDAG).

From the study of Luke 23:27

Range of meaning

To sing or chant a θρῆνος, a dirge or formal lament for the dead. More broadly, to lament or wail. It is the vocal side of mourning, where κόπτομαι is the bodily side.

Against the English

'Wailing' (BSB, NIV) gets the sound but can suggest disorderly crying. 'Lamenting' (ESV, NASB, WEB, KJV) is closer, since a θρῆνος was a recognised form with traditional words and rhythms, often led by women.

Used elsewhere in the period

In classical Greek the θρῆνος is the formal funeral dirge (e.g. Homer, Iliad 24.720ff., where women lead the laments over Hector). In the LXX it renders Hebrew qînâ, the dirge (2 Sam 1:17, David's lament; Jer 9:17–20, the summoned 'keening women' who teach their daughters a lament; 2 Chr 35:25, men and women singing laments for Josiah). In the NT: Matt 11:17 and Luke 7:32 ('we sang a dirge'), John 16:20.

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 11:17 ἐθρηνήσαμεν we sang a dirge

    ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’

Luke · 2

  1. Luke 7:32 ἐθρηνήσαμεν we sang a dirge

    They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to one another: ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’

  2. Luke 23:27 ἐθρήνουν they were lamenting for

    A great number of people followed Him, including women who kept mourning and wailing for Him.

    Here: To raise a lament, the wailing chant traditionally sung by women over the dead. The imperfect again means they kept at it. With an accusative object it means 'lament him', treating him as already as good as dead.

John · 1

  1. John 16:20 θρηνήσετε will lament

    Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and wail while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.

    Here: To raise a funeral lament, the chanted dirge sung over someone who has died. With 'weep', it tells the disciples they will be mourning a death.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.