"to lament, bewail, Mt. 11:17; Lk. 7:32; 23:27; Jn. 16:20*"
Definition and meaning
to lament, bewail, Mt. 11:17; Lk. 7:32; 23:27; Jn. 16:20*
In the original Greek the word is written: θρηνέω
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
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 threneo (G2354) across the King James Bible.
And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.
They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.
And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
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Common questions
Strong's G2354 (threneo) is a Greek word that means: to lament, bewail, Mt. 11:17; Lk. 7:32; 23:27; Jn. 16:20* It appears 4 times in the King James Bible.
The word threneo (G2354) appears 4 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2354 is threneo, a Greek word defined as: to lament, bewail, Mt. 11:17; Lk. 7:32; 23:27; Jn. 16:20*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
threneo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.