Topical Encyclopedia Definition and Significance: Tears are the physical manifestation of deep emotion, often associated with sorrow, repentance, compassion, or joy. In the Bible, tears are frequently mentioned as a symbol of human vulnerability and the depth of one's emotional experience. They are seen as a natural response to the trials and tribulations of life, as well as a means of expressing heartfelt prayer and supplication to God. Biblical Instances and Themes: 1. Tears of Sorrow and Mourning: Tears are often associated with grief and mourning in the Bible. In the Old Testament, Job, a man of great suffering, expresses his anguish through tears: "My eyes have grown dim with grief, and my whole frame is but a shadow" (Job 17:7). Similarly, the psalmist writes, "My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, 'Where is your God?'" (Psalm 42:3), highlighting the deep sorrow and longing for divine intervention. 2. Tears of Repentance: Tears are also a sign of repentance and a contrite heart. King David, after being confronted by the prophet Nathan for his sin with Bathsheba, expresses his remorse through tears and prayer, as seen in Psalm 51. The New Testament recounts the account of Peter, who wept bitterly after denying Jesus three times (Matthew 26:75), illustrating the profound regret and desire for forgiveness. 3. Tears of Compassion and Empathy: Jesus Himself is depicted as weeping in the Bible, demonstrating His compassion and empathy. In John 11:35, the shortest verse in the Bible, "Jesus wept" , we see His deep sorrow at the death of His friend Lazarus and His empathy for the grieving family. This moment underscores the humanity of Christ and His ability to share in human suffering. 4. Tears in Prayer and Supplication: Tears often accompany earnest prayer and supplication. Hannah, in her deep desire for a child, wept bitterly as she prayed to the Lord (1 Samuel 1:10). Her tears were a testament to her fervent faith and trust in God's provision. The psalmist also speaks of tears as a form of prayer: "Record my misery; list my tears on Your scroll—are they not in Your record?" (Psalm 56:8), indicating that God is attentive to the cries of His people. 5. Tears of Joy and Restoration: The Bible also speaks of tears of joy and restoration. In Psalm 126:5, it is written, "Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy" , suggesting that sorrow and hardship can lead to eventual joy and fulfillment through God's faithfulness. The promise of God wiping away every tear in Revelation 21:4 offers hope for a future where pain and suffering are no more. Theological Implications: Tears in the Bible are not merely a sign of weakness but are often portrayed as a powerful expression of faith and reliance on God. They reflect the human condition and the need for divine comfort and intervention. The presence of tears in Scripture reassures believers that God is intimately aware of their struggles and is compassionate towards their suffering. Through tears, believers are invited to draw closer to God, trusting in His ultimate plan for redemption and restoration. ATS Bible Dictionary TearsSmall urns or Lachrymatorises, of thin glass or simple pottery, and containing the tears of mourners at funerals, used to be placed in the sepulchres of the dead at Rome and in Palestine, where they are found in great numbers on opening ancient tombs. This custom is illustrative of Psalm 56:8, which shows that God is ever mindful of the sorrows of his people. In Revelation 7:17 he is represented as tenderly wiping all tears from their eyes, or removing for ever all their grief. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia TEARSterz (dim`ah; dakrua): In the instances recorded in Scripture weeping is more frequently associated with mental distress than with physical pain. Eastern peoples show none of the restraint of emotion in lamentation which is characteristic of modern Occidentals, and there are many records of this manifestation of woe, even among men accustomed to hardships and warfare, such as David and his soldiers. The flow of tears is the evidence of sorrow in prospect of approaching death in Psalm 39:12 2 Kings 20:5; Isaiah 38:5, and of the suffering consequent on oppression (Ecclesiastes 4:1), or defeat in battle (Isaiah 16:9), or hopeless remorse, as with Esau (Hebrews 12:17, probably referring to Genesis 27:34). The Psalmist describes his condition of distress metaphorically as feeding on the bread of tears and having tears to drink (Psalm 80:5; Psalm 42:3). Tears in the figurative sense of anxiety for the future are referred to in Psalm 126:5 Mark 9:24 the King James Version, and the tears accompanying penitence in Luke 7:38 (44 the Revised Version margin). Jeremiah is sometimes called the "weeping prophet" on account of his expressive hyperbole in Jeremiah 9:1, 18 (see also 14:7; 31:16:00; Lamentations 1:2; Lamentations 2:11, 18 and ten other passages). Conversely the deliverance from grief or anxiety is described as the wiping away of tears (Psalm 116:8 Isaiah 25:8 Revelation 7:17; Revelation 21:4). Greek 1145. dakruo -- to weep ... to weep. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: dakruo Phonetic Spelling: (dak-roo'-o) Short Definition: I shed tears, week Definition: I shed tears, weep. ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1145.htm - 6k 3602. odurmos -- lamentation 1813. exaleipho -- to wipe out, erase, obliterate 2428. hiketeria -- supplication 4977. schizo -- to cleave, split 1144. dakruon -- a teardrop Strong's Hebrew 1832. dimah -- tears (of one weeping)... 1831, 1832. dimah. 1833 . tears (of one weeping). Transliteration: dimah Phonetic Spelling: (dim-aw') Short Definition: tears. Word ... /hebrew/1832.htm - 6k 1058. bakah -- to weep, bewail 2040. haras -- to throw down, break or tear down 2963. taraph -- to tear, rend, pluck 8156. shasa -- to divide, cleave 4726. maqor -- a spring, fountain 1065. beki -- a weeping Library Come to the Christ in Tears, The Sweetness of Tears The Tears of the Penitent. What a Sea of Tears and Sorrows 'Strong Crying and Tears' The Tears of Christ. Reading the Law with Tears and Joy The Idol which Shed Tears. Whether Pain or Sorrow is Assuaged by Tears? I have no Tears to Shed, Thesaurus Tears (58 Occurrences)...TEARS. terz (dim`ah; dakrua): In the instances recorded in Scripture weeping is more frequently associated with mental distress than with physical pain. ... /t/tears.htm - 27k Weeping (237 Occurrences) Tear (97 Occurrences) Bottle (28 Occurrences) Wipe (24 Occurrences) Weep (97 Occurrences) Lovingly (7 Occurrences) Givest (31 Occurrences) Wiped (25 Occurrences) Weeps (7 Occurrences) Resources Will there be tears in heaven? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that God collects our tears in a bottle? | GotQuestions.org Blood, Sweat, and Tears'The First Seventeen Years of GotQuestions.org | GotQuestions.org Tears: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Tears (58 Occurrences)Matthew 9:16 Mark 2:21 Mark 9:18 Mark 9:24 Luke 5:36 Luke 7:38 Luke 7:44 Luke 9:39 Acts 20:19 Acts 20:31 2 Corinthians 2:4 Philippians 3:18 2 Timothy 1:4 Hebrews 5:7 Hebrews 12:17 Revelation 7:17 Revelation 21:4 Deuteronomy 33:20 Judges 14:6 1 Samuel 2:33 2 Kings 20:5 Esther 8:3 Job 12:14 Job 16:9 Job 16:20 Job 31:38 Psalms 6:6 Psalms 39:12 Psalms 42:3 Psalms 56:8 Psalms 80:5 Psalms 102:9 Psalms 116:8 Psalms 119:136 Psalms 126:5 Proverbs 14:1 Proverbs 15:25 Proverbs 29:4 Ecclesiastes 4:1 Isaiah 15:3 Isaiah 16:9 Isaiah 22:4 Isaiah 25:8 Isaiah 38:5 Jeremiah 9:1 Jeremiah 9:18 Jeremiah 13:17 Jeremiah 14:17 Jeremiah 31:16 Jeremiah 50:4 Lamentations 1:2 Lamentations 1:16 Lamentations 2:11 Lamentations 2:18 Lamentations 3:48 Ezekiel 24:16 Micah 5:8 Malachi 2:13 Subtopics Tears: General Scriptures Concerning Related Terms |