קִינֵן

From the study of 2 Chronicles 35:25

Range of meaning

A verb found only in an intensive form. It means to chant a qînâ, a formal funeral dirge, over the dead (2 Sam 1:17; 3:33), or over a fallen city or nation (Ezek 27:32; 32:16). The participle meqônenôt means the professional "keening women" (Jer 9:16 Heb / 9:17 Eng). It names a performance with a set form. It does not describe a private feeling.

Against the English

"Lamented" (BSB, KJV, WEB) is accurate but has become a mild word in modern English, close to "regretted" or "was sad about". The Hebrew means composing and singing a public elegy.

How it drifted

Modern English uses "lament" loosely for any complaint or expression of sorrow. The formal sense of a funeral poem sung in public has faded.

Used elsewhere in the period

David's dirges over Saul and Jonathan (2 Sam 1:17) and over Abner (2 Sam 3:33) use the same verb, and both are poems quoted in full. Ezekiel's laments over Tyre and Egypt are formal poems. Josephus (Antiquities 10.78) paraphrases this verse: Jeremiah "composed a song of lament" (μέλος θρηνητικόν) for Josiah's funeral, "which remains to this time".

From the study of Ezekiel 32:16

Range of meaning

To chant a qinah. The verb is formed from the noun, so it means 'to perform a funeral song', not simply 'to feel sad'. It can take the song as its object ('chanted this dirge', 2 Sam 1:17) and the dead person with 'over' (ʿal, Ezek 27:32).

Against the English

KJV 'lament her' makes Egypt the direct object. BSB and WEB 'chant it' make the song the object. Because the person mourned is introduced separately with 'over Egypt', the Hebrew more naturally means 'chant it (the dirge) over Egypt'. Both readings are grammatically possible, since the feminine suffix fits both the dirge and Egypt.

Used elsewhere in the period

2 Sam 1:17; 3:33; 2 Chr 35:25; Jer 9:16 [Eng 9:17] (the participle 'keening women'); Ezek 27:32; 32:16.

From the study of Jeremiah 9:17

Range of meaning

A verb built from the noun qinah, the formal funeral song or dirge. It means to compose or chant a dirge, and the form here is a feminine plural participle used as a noun: "women who chant dirges," the professional keeners. Elsewhere David "chants" his dirge over Saul and Jonathan (2 Sam 1:17) and over Abner (2 Sam 3:33). Ezekiel says "the daughters of the nations shall chant it" (Ezek 32:16).

Against the English

"Wailing women" (BSB, and others) and "mourning women" (KJV, WEB) both describe what the women sound like. Neither says they are trained performers of a set poetic form. To a modern reader "wailing" can suggest uncontrolled, hysterical crying.

How it drifted

English has no common word for a professional dirge-singer. "Keener," taken from Irish practice, is the closest, but it is unfamiliar to most readers.

Used elsewhere in the period

Professional mourners are attested all across the ancient Near East. In the Ugaritic Aqhat epic (KTU 1.19 IV), weeping women and lamenting women are brought into Danel's house to mourn his son. Egyptian tomb paintings show groups of mourning women, and Mesopotamian texts know lamentation specialists. In the Bible, 2 Chr 35:25 has singing men and women who lament Josiah and says their laments were written down. Amos 5:16 speaks of summoning "those skilled in lamentation." Jer 9:20 tells women to "teach your daughters a dirge," so the skill was handed down from woman to woman.