1058. bakah

Strong's Lexicon

bakah: To weep, to cry, to lament

Original Word: בָּכָה
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: bakah
Pronunciation: baw-KAH
Phonetic Spelling: (baw-kaw')
Definition: To weep, to cry, to lament
Meaning: to weep, to bemoan

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G2799 (κλαίω, klaio) - to weep, to lament

- G1145 (δακρύω, dakruo) - to shed tears, to weep

Usage: The Hebrew verb "bakah" primarily means to weep or cry, often in the context of mourning, distress, or deep emotional expression. It is used to describe both literal and metaphorical weeping, reflecting a range of emotions from sorrow and repentance to compassion and empathy.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Hebrew culture, weeping was a common and accepted expression of grief and sorrow. It was often accompanied by other mourning practices such as tearing one's clothes, wearing sackcloth, and sitting in ashes. Weeping could be both a personal and communal act, reflecting the collective grief of a community or nation. The act of weeping was not only a sign of emotional distress but also a way to seek comfort and solidarity among others.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to weep, bewail
NASB Translation
bewail (1), crying (1), mourn (1), sob (1), weep (27), weep not at all (1), weep continually (1), weep...longer (1), weeping (12), weeps bitterly (1), wept (60), wept bitterly (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

בָּכָה₁₁₄ verb weep, bewail (Arabic , Aramaic בְּכָא, , Assyrian bakû Zim^{BP 23, 56}, Ethiopic ) —

Qal Perfect ׳בּ Genesis 43:14; Hosea 12:5; וּבָֽכְתָה consecutive Deuteronomy 21:13; בָּכִ֫יתִּי Job 30:25, etc.; Imperfect וַיֵּבְךְ Genesis 37:35 16t. (וַיֵּבְךְּ Genesis 27:28 etc.); 3 feminine singular תִּבְכֶּה 1 Samuel 1:10 2t.; וַתִּבְכֶּה 1 Samuel 1:7, וַתֵּבְךְּ Genesis 21:16 (where ᵐ5 masculine compare Di) + 4 t.; 2 masculine singular תִּבְכֶּה Isaiah 30:19; Ezekiel 24:16; וַתִּבְכֶּה 2 Kings 22:19, וַתֵּבְךְּ 2 Samuel 12:21; 2Chronicles 34:27; 2 feminine singular תִּבְכִּי 1 Samuel 1:8; אֶבְכֶּה Judges 11:37 4t.; וָאֶבְכֶּה 2 Samuel 12:22 2t.; יִבְכּוּ Leviticus 10:6 3t.; יִבְכָּי֑וּן Job 31:38; Isaiah 33:7; 3feminine plural תִּבְכֶּינָה Job 27:15; Psalm 78:64; ׳וַתִּב Ruth 1:9,14, etc.; Imperative plural בְּכוּ Jeremiah 22:10; Joel 1:5; בְּכֶינָה 2 Samuel 1:24; Infinitive absolute בָּכוֺ Isaiah 30:19 3t. + Micah 1:10 (where read בְּעַכּוֺ, see עכו); בָּכֹה 1 Samuel 1:10 3t.; construct לִבְכּוֺת Genesis 43:30 3t.; לִבְכֹּתָהּ Genesis 23:2; Participle בֹּכֶה (בּוֺכֶה) Exodus 2:6 6t.; feminine singular בּוֺכִיָּה Lamentations 1:16; plural בֹּכִים (׳בּו) Ezra 3:12 +, etc.; —

1 weep (in grief, humiliation, or joy), absolute Genesis 42:24; Genesis 43:30 (twice in verse); Exodus 2:6; Numbers 11:4,10; Numbers 14:1; 1 Samuel 1:7,8,10; 1 Samuel 11:5; 1 Samuel 30:4 (twice in verse); 2 Samuel 1:12; 2 Samuel 3:16; 2 Samuel 13:36; 2 Samuel 15:30 (twice in verse); 2 Samuel 19:1; 2 Samuel 19:2; 2 Kings 8:11,12; Isaiah 30:19 (twice in verse); Jeremiah 41:6; Jeremiah 50:4; Ezekiel 24:16,23; Lamentations 1:2; Zechariah 7:3; Joel 1:5; Joel 2:17; Psalm 78:64; Psalm 126:6; compare Psalm 69:11 (but on text see Che) Job 27:15; Ecclesiastes 3:4 (opposed to laugh שׂחק) Ezra 10:1; Nehemiah 8:9; Esther 8:3; once with inanimate subject Job 31:38 ׳תְּלָמֶיהָ יִב its furrows weep; on Nehemiah 1:4 יָשַׁבְתִּי וָאֶבְכֶּה compare Assyrian attašab abakî, Flood^130ed. Dl Gu^{§ 77} Hpt^{BAS i. 145}; of loud weeping נָשָׂא ׳הַקּוֺל וַיִּב Genesis 21:16; Genesis 27:38; Genesis 29:11; Judges 2:4; Judges 21:2; 1 Samuel 11:4; 1 Samuel 24:17; 2 Samuel 3:32; 2 Samuel 13:36; Job 2:12; Ruth 1:9,14, compare ׳בְּאָזְנֵי י ׳בּ Numbers 11:18, also Job 30:31.

2 with accusative of congnate meaning with verb בְּכִי Judges 21:2; 2 Samuel 13:36; 2 Kings 20:3 = Isaiah 38:3, compare בִּבְכִי Isaiah 16:9, מִבְּכִי Jeremiah 48:32, & חַרְבֶּה בֶּכֶה ׳בּ Ezra 10:1; followed by קוֺל גָּדוֺל 2 Samuel 15:33, compare בקול גדול ׳בּ Ezra 3:12; weep bitterly ׳מַר יִב Isaiah 33:7; also with infinitive absolute weep intensely, grievously 1 Samuel 1:10; Jeremiah 22:10; Lamentations 1:2, compare Isaiah 30:19 & Micah 1:10 (but on text see above)

3 followed by עַל weep upon, i.e. embrace and weep, עַלצֿואריו Genesis 45:14; Genesis 46:29; compare Genesis 45:15; Genesis 50:1; also עַלמָּֿנָיו ׳בּ 2 Kings 13:14; see further Genesis 33:4; Genesis 45:14 & וַיִּבְכּוּ אִישׁ אֶתרֵֿעֵהוּ 1 Samuel 20:41; also followed by עַל weep over, for Judges 11:37,38; 2 Samuel 3:34; Lamentations 1:16; followed by אֶלֹֿ 2 Samuel 1:24; 2 Samuel 3:32; Ezekiel 27:31; followed by לְ Jeremiah 22:10; Jeremiah 48:32; Job 30:25; followed by מִמְּנִי because of Jeremiah 13:17; followed by temporal clause (of occasion of weeping) Genesis 50:17; Psalm 137:1; Nehemiah 8:9.

4 followed by accusative bewail Genesis 23:2; Genesis 37:35; Genesis 50:3; Leviticus 10:6; Numbers 20:29; Deuteronomy 21:13; Deuteronomy 34:8; Jeremiah 8:23, compare Isaiah 16:9.

5 followed by עַל in sense of burden, annoy with weeping Numbers 11:13; Judges 14:16,17 compare לִפְנֵי Numbers 11:20.

6 ׳לִפְנֵי י ׳בּ of penitent weeping Judges 20:23 (compare Be; see also Judges 21:2) Deuteronomy 1:45; 2 Kings 22:19; 2Chronicles 34:27, compare also Numbers 25:6; joined with fasting Judges 20:26; 2 Samuel 12:21,22 compare Ezra 10:1; so of weeping in anxious entreaty Hosea 4:5; on participle as proper name Judges 2:1,5 see בֹּכִים below

Pi`el Participle feminine singular מְבַכָּה lament Jeremiah 31:25 followed by עַל; bewail, plural מְבַכּוֺת followed by accusative Ezekiel 8:14.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

bewail, complain, make lamentation, more, mourn, sore, with tears,

A primitive root; to weep; generally to bemoan -- X at all, bewail, complain, make lamentation, X more, mourn, X sore, X with tears, weep.

Forms and Transliterations

אֶבְכֶּ֞ה אֶבְכֶּה־ אבכה אבכה־ בְּכ֤וּ בְּכִ֥י בְּכִיתֶם֩ בְּכֶ֑ינָה בָ֭כִיתִי בָּכ֕וּ בָּכ֖וֹ בָּכ֣וֹ בָּכ֨וֹ בָּכִ֑ינוּ בָּכָ֖ה בָכ֥וּ בָכוֹ֙ בֹּכִ֖ים בֹּכִֽים׃ בֹּכֶ֑ה בֹּכֶ֛ה בֹּכֶה֙ בֹכִ֔ים בֹכֶ֑ה בּוֹכִים֙ בוֹכִיָּ֗ה בוֹכִים֙ בוכיה בוכים בכה בכו בכי בכים בכים׃ בכינה בכינו בכיתי בכיתם הַֽאֶבְכֶּה֙ האבכה וְאֶבְכֶּה֙ וְלִבְכֹּתָֽהּ׃ וַיִּבְכּ֑וּ וַיִּבְכּ֔וּ וַיִּבְכּ֖וּ וַיִּבְכּ֗וּ וַיִּבְכּ֣וּ וַיִּבְכּ֤וּ וַיִּבְכּ֥וּ וַיִּבְכּֽוּ׃ וַיִּבְכּוּ֙ וַיִּבְכּוּ֩ וַיֵּ֑בְךְּ וַיֵּ֖בְךְּ וַיֵּ֣בְךְּ וַיֵּ֤בְךְּ וַיֵּ֥בְךְּ וַיֵּֽבְךְּ׃ וַיֵּבְךְּ֙ וַתִּבְכֶּ֖ה וַתִּבְכֶּ֖ינָה וַתִּבְכֶּֽינָה׃ וַתִּבְכּ֖וּ וַתִּבְכּ֤וּ וַתֵּ֔בְךְּ וַתֵּ֣בְךְּ וַתֵּ֤בְךְּ וַתֵּ֥בְךְּ וַתֵּֽבְךְּ׃ וַתֵּבְךְּ֩ וָֽאֶבְכֶּ֑ה וָֽאֶבְכֶּ֔ה וָאֶבְכֶּ֣ה וּבְכ֔וּ וּבָֽכְתָ֛ה וּבָכ֥וּ וּבָכֹ֛ה וּבָכֹ֥ה וּבָכֹֽה׃ וּבָכֹה֮ וּבָכוֹ֙ וּבֹכֶ֑ה וּבוֹכֶ֗ה ואבכה ובוכה ובכה ובכה׃ ובכו ובכתה ויבך ויבך׃ ויבכו ויבכו׃ ולבכתה׃ ותבך ותבך׃ ותבכה ותבכו ותבכינה ותבכינה׃ יִבְכָּיֽוּן׃ יִבְכּ֑וּ יִבְכּ֤וּ יִבְכּוּ֙ יבכו יבכיון׃ לִבְכּ֑וֹת לִבְכּ֥וֹת לִבְכּֽוֹת׃ לִבְכּוֹת֙ לבכות לבכות׃ מְבַכָּ֣ה מְבַכּ֖וֹת מבכה מבכות תִּבְכֶּֽה־ תִּבְכּ֑וּ תִּבְכּ֣וּ תִבְכִּ֗י תִבְכֶּ֔ה תִבְכֶּ֗ה תִבְכֶּ֜ה תִבְכֶּֽה׃ תִבְכֶּֽינָה׃ תִבְכּ֑וּ תבכה תבכה־ תבכה׃ תבכו תבכי תבכינה׃ ’eḇ·keh ’eḇ·keh- ’eḇkeh ’eḇkeh- bā·ḵāh bā·ḵî·nū ḇā·ḵî·ṯî bā·ḵōw ḇā·ḵōw bā·ḵū ḇā·ḵū baChah baChinu baCho baChu bāḵāh bāḵînū ḇāḵîṯî bāḵōw ḇāḵōw bāḵū ḇāḵū bə·ḵe·nāh bə·ḵî bə·ḵî·ṯem bə·ḵū beCheinah beChi bechiTem beChu bəḵenāh bəḵî bəḵîṯem bəḵū bō·ḵeh ḇō·ḵeh bō·ḵîm ḇō·ḵîm ḇō·w·ḵî·yāh bō·w·ḵîm ḇō·w·ḵîm boCheh boChim bōḵeh ḇōḵeh bōḵîm ḇōḵîm bōwḵîm ḇōwḵîm ḇōwḵîyāh evKeh ha’eḇkeh ha·’eḇ·keh haevKeh liḇ·kō·wṯ liḇkōwṯ livKot mə·ḇak·kāh mə·ḇak·kō·wṯ məḇakkāh məḇakkōwṯ mevakKah mevakKot ṯiḇ·ke·nāh ṯiḇ·keh tiḇ·keh- ṯiḇ·kî tiḇ·kū ṯiḇ·kū ṯiḇkeh tiḇkeh- ṯiḇkenāh ṯiḇkî tiḇkū ṯiḇkū tivKeh tivKeinah tivKi tivKu ū·ḇā·ḵə·ṯāh ū·ḇā·ḵōh ū·ḇā·ḵōw ū·ḇā·ḵū ū·ḇə·ḵū ū·ḇō·ḵeh ū·ḇō·w·ḵeh ūḇāḵəṯāh ūḇāḵōh ūḇāḵōw ūḇāḵū ūḇəḵū ūḇōḵeh ūḇōwḵeh uvacheTah uvaCho uvaChoh uvaChu uveChu uvoCheh Vachiti vaCho vaChu vaevKeh vaiYevek vaiyivKu vatTevek vattivKeh vattivKeinah vattivKu veevKeh velivkoTah voCheh voChim vochiYah wā’eḇkeh wā·’eḇ·keh wat·tê·ḇək wat·tiḇ·ke·nāh wat·tiḇ·keh wat·tiḇ·kū wattêḇək wattiḇkeh wattiḇkenāh wattiḇkū way·yê·ḇək way·yiḇ·kū wayyêḇək wayyiḇkū wə’eḇkeh wə·’eḇ·keh wə·liḇ·kō·ṯāh wəliḇkōṯāh yiḇ·kā·yūn yiḇ·kū yiḇkāyūn yiḇkū yivkaYun yivKu

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 21:16
HEB: אֶת־ קֹלָ֖הּ וַתֵּֽבְךְּ׃
NAS: him, and lifted up her voice and wept.
KJV: her voice, and wept.
INT: and lifted her voice and wept

Genesis 23:2
HEB: לִסְפֹּ֥ד לְשָׂרָ֖ה וְלִבְכֹּתָֽהּ׃
NAS: for Sarah and to weep for her.
KJV: for Sarah, and to weep for her.
INT: to mourn Sarah weep

Genesis 27:38
HEB: עֵשָׂ֛ו קֹל֖וֹ וַיֵּֽבְךְּ׃
NAS: lifted his voice and wept.
KJV: lifted up his voice, and wept.
INT: Esau his voice and wept

Genesis 29:11
HEB: אֶת־ קֹל֖וֹ וַיֵּֽבְךְּ׃
NAS: and lifted his voice and wept.
KJV: and lifted up his voice, and wept.
INT: and lifted his voice and wept

Genesis 33:4
HEB: צַוָּארָ֖ו וַׅיִּׅשָּׁׅקֵ֑ׅהׅוּׅ וַיִּבְכּֽוּ׃
NAS: and kissed him, and they wept.
KJV: and kissed him: and they wept.
INT: his neck and kissed wept

Genesis 37:35
HEB: אָבֵ֖ל שְׁאֹ֑לָה וַיֵּ֥בְךְּ אֹת֖וֹ אָבִֽיו׃
NAS: So his father wept for him.
KJV: Thus his father wept for him.
INT: mourning to Sheol wept his father

Genesis 42:24
HEB: וַיִּסֹּ֥ב מֵֽעֲלֵיהֶ֖ם וַיֵּ֑בְךְּ וַיָּ֤שָׁב אֲלֵהֶם֙
NAS: He turned away from them and wept. But when he returned
KJV: And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again,
INT: turned and and wept returned to

Genesis 43:30
HEB: אָחִ֔יו וַיְבַקֵּ֖שׁ לִבְכּ֑וֹת וַיָּבֹ֥א הַחַ֖דְרָה
NAS: and he sought [a place] to weep; and he entered
KJV: and he sought [where] to weep; and he entered
INT: his brother sought weep entered his chamber

Genesis 43:30
HEB: וַיָּבֹ֥א הַחַ֖דְרָה וַיֵּ֥בְךְּ שָֽׁמָּה׃
NAS: his chamber and wept there.
KJV: into [his] chamber, and wept there.
INT: entered his chamber and wept there

Genesis 45:14
HEB: בִנְיָמִֽן־ אָחִ֖יו וַיֵּ֑בְךְּ וּבִנְיָמִ֔ן בָּכָ֖ה
NAS: neck and wept, and Benjamin
KJV: neck, and wept; and Benjamin
INT: Benjamin's his brother and wept and Benjamin wept

Genesis 45:14
HEB: וַיֵּ֑בְךְּ וּבִנְיָמִ֔ן בָּכָ֖ה עַל־ צַוָּארָֽיו׃
NAS: and Benjamin wept on his neck.
KJV: and Benjamin wept upon his neck.
INT: and wept and Benjamin wept on his neck

Genesis 45:15
HEB: לְכָל־ אֶחָ֖יו וַיֵּ֣בְךְּ עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם וְאַ֣חֲרֵי
NAS: his brothers and wept on them, and afterward
KJV: all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after
INT: all his brothers and wept upon and after

Genesis 46:29
HEB: עַל־ צַוָּארָ֔יו וַיֵּ֥בְךְּ עַל־ צַוָּארָ֖יו
NAS: on his neck and wept on his neck
KJV: on his neck, and wept on his neck
INT: on his neck and wept on his neck

Genesis 50:1
HEB: פְּנֵ֣י אָבִ֑יו וַיֵּ֥בְךְּ עָלָ֖יו וַיִּשַּׁק־
NAS: face, and wept over
KJV: face, and wept upon him, and kissed
INT: face his father's and wept over and kissed

Genesis 50:3
HEB: יְמֵ֣י הַחֲנֻטִ֑ים וַיִּבְכּ֥וּ אֹת֛וֹ מִצְרַ֖יִם
NAS: And the Egyptians wept for him seventy
KJV: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten
INT: is the period are embalmed wept Egyptian seventy

Genesis 50:17
HEB: אֱלֹהֵ֣י אָבִ֑יךָ וַיֵּ֥בְךְּ יוֹסֵ֖ף בְּדַבְּרָ֥ם
NAS: And Joseph wept when they spoke
KJV: And Joseph wept when they spake
INT: of the God of your father wept and Joseph spoke

Exodus 2:6
HEB: וְהִנֵּה־ נַ֖עַר בֹּכֶ֑ה וַתַּחְמֹ֣ל עָלָ֔יו
NAS: [the] boy was crying. And she had pity
KJV: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion
INT: and behold boy was crying had on

Leviticus 10:6
HEB: בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל יִבְכּוּ֙ אֶת־ הַשְּׂרֵפָ֔ה
NAS: of Israel, shall bewail the burning
KJV: of Israel, bewail the burning
INT: house of Israel shall bewail the burning which

Numbers 11:4
HEB: תַּאֲוָ֑ה וַיָּשֻׁ֣בוּ וַיִּבְכּ֗וּ גַּ֚ם בְּנֵ֣י
NAS: of Israel wept again
KJV: of Israel also wept again,
INT: greedy again wept and also the sons

Numbers 11:10
HEB: אֶת־ הָעָ֗ם בֹּכֶה֙ לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֔יו אִ֖ישׁ
NAS: the people weeping throughout their families,
KJV: the people weep throughout their families,
INT: now Moses the people weeping their families each

Numbers 11:13
HEB: הַזֶּ֑ה כִּֽי־ יִבְכּ֤וּ עָלַי֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר
NAS: people? For they weep before
KJV: unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying,
INT: this for bewail before saying

Numbers 11:18
HEB: בָּשָׂר֒ כִּ֡י בְּכִיתֶם֩ בְּאָזְנֵ֨י יְהוָ֜ה
NAS: meat; for you have wept in the ears
KJV: flesh: for ye have wept in the ears
INT: meat for have wept the ears of the LORD

Numbers 11:20
HEB: אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּקִרְבְּכֶ֔ם וַתִּבְכּ֤וּ לְפָנָיו֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר
NAS: is among you and have wept before
KJV: which [is] among you, and have wept before
INT: who is among wept before saying

Numbers 14:1
HEB: אֶת־ קוֹלָ֑ם וַיִּבְכּ֥וּ הָעָ֖ם בַּלַּ֥יְלָה
NAS: and the people wept that night.
KJV: and the people wept that night.
INT: and cried their voices wept and the people night

Numbers 20:29
HEB: גָוַ֖ע אַהֲרֹ֑ן וַיִּבְכּ֤וּ אֶֽת־ אַהֲרֹן֙
NAS: of Israel wept for Aaron
KJV: was dead, they mourned for Aaron
INT: had died Aaron wept Aaron thirty

116 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 1058
116 Occurrences

bā·ḵāh — 2 Occ.
bā·ḵî·nū — 1 Occ.
bā·ḵōw — 3 Occ.
bā·ḵū — 1 Occ.
bə·ḵe·nāh — 1 Occ.
bə·ḵî — 2 Occ.
bə·ḵî·ṯem — 1 Occ.
bə·ḵū — 1 Occ.
bō·ḵeh — 4 Occ.
bō·w·ḵîm — 3 Occ.
’eḇ·keh — 2 Occ.
ha·’eḇ·keh — 1 Occ.
liḇ·kō·wṯ — 4 Occ.
mə·ḇak·kāh — 1 Occ.
mə·ḇak·kō·wṯ — 1 Occ.
ṯiḇ·keh — 5 Occ.
ṯiḇ·ke·nāh — 2 Occ.
ṯiḇ·kî — 1 Occ.
tiḇ·kū — 4 Occ.
ū·ḇā·ḵə·ṯāh — 1 Occ.
ū·ḇā·ḵōw — 1 Occ.
ū·ḇā·ḵōh — 4 Occ.
ū·ḇā·ḵū — 1 Occ.
ū·ḇə·ḵū — 1 Occ.
ū·ḇō·w·ḵeh — 2 Occ.
ḇā·ḵî·ṯî — 1 Occ.
ḇā·ḵōw — 1 Occ.
ḇā·ḵū — 1 Occ.
wā·’eḇ·keh — 3 Occ.
way·yê·ḇək — 17 Occ.
way·yiḇ·kū — 17 Occ.
wat·tê·ḇək — 7 Occ.
wat·tiḇ·keh — 2 Occ.
wat·tiḇ·ke·nāh — 2 Occ.
wat·tiḇ·kū — 2 Occ.
wə·’eḇ·keh — 2 Occ.
wə·liḇ·kō·ṯāh — 1 Occ.
ḇō·ḵeh — 1 Occ.
ḇō·ḵîm — 2 Occ.
ḇō·w·ḵî·yāh — 1 Occ.
yiḇ·kā·yūn — 2 Occ.
yiḇ·kū — 4 Occ.