"pr. a beating of the breast, etc., in token of grief; a wailing, lamentation, Acts 8:2*"
Definition and meaning
pr. a beating of the breast, etc., in token of grief; a wailing, lamentation, Acts 8:2*
In the original Greek the word is written: κοπετός
Historical context
The Roman Empire provided infrastructure no previous civilization had built — roads, sea routes, a common language in Greek, and relative peace across the Mediterranean. Jewish synagogues existed in every major city, giving Paul a starting point everywhere he traveled. The early church had no buildings, no political power, no social standing — and spread faster than any movement in ancient history.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of kopetos (G2870) across the King James Bible.
And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
Refiner gives you the full lexicon entry, AI-powered verse insight, historical commentary, cross-references, and voice study — all in one place.
Free to start · Disciple $4.99/mo · Shepherd $9.99/mo
Common questions
Strong's G2870 (kopetos) is a Greek word that means: pr. a beating of the breast, etc., in token of grief; a wailing, lamentation, Acts 8:2* It appears 1 times in the King James Bible.
The word kopetos (G2870) appears 1 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2870 is kopetos, a Greek word defined as: pr. a beating of the breast, etc., in token of grief; a wailing, lamentation, Acts 8:2*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
kopetos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.