The act of screaming, characterized by a loud, high-pitched cry or shout, is depicted in various contexts throughout the Bible. While the term "screamed" itself may not frequently appear in English translations, the concept is present in several narratives and passages, often associated with intense emotion, distress, or divine encounters.

Old Testament Contexts

1. Distress and Desperation: In the Old Testament, screaming is often associated with moments of extreme distress or desperation. For instance, in the account of Hagar and Ishmael, when they are cast out into the wilderness, Hagar's cries to God reflect a deep sense of despair and helplessness (Genesis 21:16-17). Although the text does not explicitly use the word "screamed," the emotional intensity of the situation suggests a loud, desperate cry.

2. Prophetic Warnings: The prophets frequently conveyed messages of impending judgment and called for repentance with great urgency. While the term "screamed" is not used, the intensity of their proclamations can be likened to a scream, as they sought to awaken the people to the seriousness of their spiritual condition (e.g., Isaiah 58:1, "Cry aloud, do not hold back; raise your voice like a trumpet...").

New Testament Contexts

1. Demonic Encounters: In the New Testament, the presence of demonic forces often elicited screams from those possessed. In Mark 1:23-26, a man with an unclean spirit in the synagogue cried out with a loud voice when confronted by Jesus. The spirit's reaction to Jesus' authority is described with vivid intensity, highlighting the power struggle between the forces of darkness and the Son of God.

2. Miraculous Healings: The Gospels also record instances where individuals, in their desperation for healing, cried out to Jesus. In Mark 10:46-52, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, cried out to Jesus for mercy. His persistent cries, despite being rebuked by the crowd, demonstrate a profound faith and recognition of Jesus' power to heal.

3. Expressions of Fear and Awe: The disciples' reactions to witnessing Jesus' miracles sometimes involved fear and amazement, which could be expressed through loud cries. For example, when Jesus calmed the storm, the disciples were filled with great fear and marveled at His authority over nature (Mark 4:39-41).

Theological Implications

The act of screaming in the biblical narrative often underscores the human condition in moments of crisis, the confrontation between good and evil, and the transformative power of divine intervention. It serves as a raw expression of human emotion, whether in fear, desperation, or awe, and highlights the need for divine assistance and the hope found in God's intervention.

Related Concepts

· Crying Out: Often used interchangeably with screaming, crying out is a common biblical motif representing a plea for help or deliverance (Psalm 34:17, "The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles").
· Shouting: Similar to screaming, shouting is used in contexts of both joy and alarm, such as the shout of triumph in battle or the shout of acclamation in worship (Joshua 6:5, "When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have all the people give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse...").

In summary, while the specific term "screamed" may not be prevalent in biblical texts, the concept is woven throughout Scripture, illustrating the depth of human emotion and the profound impact of divine encounters.(imp. & p. p.) of Scream.7121. qara -- to call, proclaim, read
... 12), named* (62), offer it terms (1), proclaim (28), proclaimed (17), proclaiming
(3), proclaims (2), read (35), reading (2), reads (1), screamed (2), screamed ...
/hebrew/7121.htm - 7k

1419. gadol -- great
... 1), mighty (1), mighty and great (1), more* (1), much (1), nobles (1), old (1),
older (8), oldest (3), prominent (1), rich (1), screamed* (1), severe (1 ...
/hebrew/1419.htm - 6k

6963. qol -- sound, voice
... 2), news (1), noise (21), obey* (14), obeyed* (5), outcry (1), proclamation (7),
public (1), report (1), roared loudly* (1), roared* (1), screamed* (1), shout ...
/hebrew/6963.htm - 6k

The Forged Sermon
... 'Then who is Emperor?'. That man!' she almost screamed; and until you get rid of
that man neither city, nor Church, nor Empire will have a moment's peace!'. ...
/.../chapter xlviii the forged sermon.htm

The Tangled Web
... Catapult and ballista upon the eminences outside the walls kept up an unceasing
rain of enormous stones which whistled and screamed in the air and shook ...
/.../miller/the city of delight/chapter xvii the tangled web.htm

Vanished Hopes
... Every combatant shouted; the great stones screamed; the boiling pitch hissed and
roared, and the thunder of the conflict shook the Temple to its very ...
/.../miller/the city of delight/chapter xxii vanished hopes.htm

Early Training.
... Bessie remembered the incident and tried to help Louise to hurry; but when the tree
shook again, this time just above her, she screamed wildly and ran a few ...
/.../byrum/the value of a praying mother/chapter iii early training.htm

Jumping into Father's Arms.
... He picked up another boy, larger than the others, and held out his arms, but
he wouldn't jump. He cried and screamed to be taken down. ...
/.../moody/moodys anecdotes and illustrations/jumping into fathers arms.htm

The Death of Two Brave Warriors
... When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed and said to Saul, "Why have you deceived
me, for you are Saul?" Saul replied, "Do not be afraid! ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the death of two brave.htm

Calamities Suffered by the People after the Expulsion of John. The ...
... The women wept and lamented, and the children screamed; the priests and the deacons
were beaten, and were forcibly ejected from the church, in the priestly ...
/.../chapter xxi calamities suffered by the.htm

Of the Holy Men who Flourished at this Period in Egypt. John, or ...
... him in the form of a beautiful woman; Apelles, however, seized the iron which was
heating in the furnace, and burnt the face of the devil, who screamed like a ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of sozomenus/chapter xxviii of the holy men.htm

Reading the Riot Act
... pains. She scolded, and screamed, and spit and stamped, and wrung her hands,
and distorted her face and body all manner of ways. ...
/.../wesley/the journal of john wesley/reading the riot act.htm

"A Terrible Sight"
... But her stony eyes could not weep. She screamed out, as soon as words
could find their way, "I am damned, damned; lost forever! ...
//christianbookshelf.org/wesley/the journal of john wesley/a terrible sight.htm

Screamed (5 Occurrences)
...Screamed (5 Occurrences). Mark 1:23 when all at once, there in their synagogue,
a man under the power of a foul spirit screamed out: (WEY). ...
/s/screamed.htm - 7k

Foul (41 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT). Mark 1:23 when all at once, there in their synagogue,
a man under the power of a foul spirit screamed out: (WEY). ...
/f/foul.htm - 21k

Scream (1 Occurrence)

/s/scream.htm - 7k

Screaming (2 Occurrences)

/s/screaming.htm - 7k

Deluge (17 Occurrences)
... the water rushed so that the gods even were dismayed at the flood and cowered like
dogs, taking refuge in the heaven of Anu while Ishtar screamed like a woman ...
/d/deluge.htm - 47k

Noah (55 Occurrences)
... the water rushed so that the gods even were dismayed at the flood and cowered like
dogs, taking refuge in the heaven of Anu while Ishtar screamed like a woman ...
/n/noah.htm - 66k

Power (862 Occurrences)
... (KJV WEY DBY WBS). Mark 1:23 when all at once, there in their synagogue,
a man under the power of a foul spirit screamed out: (WEY). ...
/p/power.htm - 66k

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