The term "wailed" in the Bible often refers to a loud expression of grief, sorrow, or lamentation. This expression is typically associated with mourning over death, destruction, or profound loss. In the ancient Near Eastern context, wailing was a customary part of mourning rituals, often accompanied by tearing of clothes, wearing sackcloth, and ashes.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, wailing is frequently mentioned in the context of national calamity or personal loss. For instance, in the book of Jeremiah, the prophet describes the wailing of the people as they face impending judgment and destruction. Jeremiah 9:10 states, "I will take up a weeping and wailing for the mountains and a lament for the pastures of the wilderness, because they are laid waste so that no one passes through; the lowing of cattle is not heard. Both the birds of the air and the beasts have fled; they are gone."

The book of Lamentations, traditionally attributed to Jeremiah, is a poignant example of wailing over the destruction of Jerusalem. Lamentations 1:1-2 captures this sorrow: "How lonely lies the city, once so full of people! She who was great among the nations has become like a widow. The princess of the provinces has become a slave. She weeps aloud in the night, with tears upon her cheeks. Among all her lovers, there is no one to comfort her. All her friends have betrayed her; they have become her enemies."

New Testament References

In the New Testament, wailing is often associated with the final judgment and the consequences of sin. Jesus Himself uses the imagery of wailing to describe the fate of the unrepentant. In Matthew 13:41-42 , Jesus says, "The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom every cause of sin and all who practice lawlessness. And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

The book of Revelation also uses the imagery of wailing to depict the mourning of those who witness the fall of Babylon, symbolizing the ultimate defeat of evil. Revelation 18:9 states, "Then the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning."

Cultural and Theological Significance

Wailing in the biblical context is not merely an expression of personal grief but often serves as a communal response to tragedy or divine judgment. It reflects the deep sorrow and repentance of a people who recognize their sin and the consequences thereof. The act of wailing can also be seen as a call to return to God, seeking His mercy and forgiveness.

Theologically, wailing underscores the reality of sin and its devastating effects on humanity and creation. It serves as a reminder of the brokenness of the world and the need for redemption through Jesus Christ. The Bible assures believers that while wailing may endure for a night, joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5), pointing to the hope and restoration found in God's promises.(imp. & p. p.) of Wail.2199. zaaq -- to cry, cry out, call
... together (4), complain (1), cried (28), cries (3), cry (25), cry aloud (2), crying
aloud (1), issued a proclamation (1), rallied (1), shouting (1), wailed (1). ...
/hebrew/2199.htm - 6k

3213. yalal -- to howl, make a howling
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to howl, make a howling NASB Word Usage howl
(1), turn to wailing (1), wail (25), wailed (1), wailing (2), wails (1). ...
/hebrew/3213.htm - 6k

The Evil one Wailed "Where Now, is There a Place for Me to Flee to ...
... Hymn XLII. The Evil One wailed "Where now, is there a place for me to flee
to from the righteous? I stirred up Death to slay the ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn xlii the evil one.htm

St. Ambrose Teaches Out of the Prophet Isaiah what they must do ...
... by resisting the commandments of God you fall into the offence of the Jews, to whom
the Lord Jesus said: "We piped to you and ye danced not; we wailed and ye ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter vi st ambrose teaches.htm

Two Safe
... language. She neither ate nor slept, they said, but sat with her hair undone,
and wept and wailed the death-wail for her son. At ...
/.../wilson-carmichael/things as they are/chapter xxx two safe.htm

Andromeda
... far in the palace Sate in the midst of the hall, on his throne, like a shepherd
of people, Choking his woe, dry-eyed, while the slaves wailed loudly around him ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/andromeda and other poems/andromeda.htm

The History of David
... David took and rent his vestment, and all the men that were with him, and wailed
and sorrowed much the death of Saul and Jonathan and of all the men of Israel ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the history of david.htm

Hymns and Homilies of Ephraim the Syrian
... destroy my arts. Hymn XLII. The Evil One wailed "Where now, is there a place
for me to flee to from the righteous? I stirred up Death ...
//christianbookshelf.org/ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/

Precious Deaths
... it mattered not though he strewed the ground with corpses thick as autumn leaves,
nor did it signify though in every village orphans and widows wailed the loss ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 18 1872/precious deaths.htm

Wanted, Volunteers
... They brought his young wife, and she tore her hair and wailed, and besought
him not to condemn her to the shame of a widow's life. ...
/.../wilson-carmichael/things as they are/chapter xvi wanted volunteers.htm

Further Diplomacy
... "O most ill-timed, iron continence!" she wailed under her breath. But the change
which had come over Ta-user interested her immediately. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xxvi further diplomacy.htm

Verily I Say unto You, There Hath not Arisen among those whom ...
... [1026] They are like the children sitting in the market, which call to their companions,
and say, We sang to you, and ye danced not; we wailed to you, [12] and ...
/.../hogg/the diatessaron of tatian/section xiv verily i say.htm

Wailed (11 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Wailed (11 Occurrences). Matthew 11:17 and say, We piped
unto you, and ye did not dance; we wailed, and ye did not mourn. ...
/w/wailed.htm - 9k

Wail (50 Occurrences)
... Micah 2:4 In that day doth 'one' take up for you a simile, And he hath wailed a
wailing of wo, He hath said, We have been utterly spoiled, The portion of my ...
/w/wail.htm - 21k

Wailing (44 Occurrences)
... found out all that was done, Mordecai tore his clothes, and put on sackcloth with
ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and wailed loudly and a ...
/w/wailing.htm - 19k

Greatly (297 Occurrences)
... (KJV WBS). Mark 5:38 And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and
seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. (KJV ASV DBY WBS). ...
/g/greatly.htm - 34k

Waileth (1 Occurrence)

/w/waileth.htm - 6k

Wept (78 Occurrences)
... Mark 5:38 And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth
the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. (KJV WBS). ...
/w/wept.htm - 31k

Tumult (56 Occurrences)
... (KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT). Mark 5:38 And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the
synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. ...
/t/tumult.htm - 23k

Backslider (2 Occurrences)
... Micah 2:4 In that day doth 'one' take up for you a simile, And he hath wailed a
wailing of wo, He hath said, We have been utterly spoiled, The portion of my ...
/b/backslider.htm - 7k

Bitterly (36 Occurrences)
... found out all that was done, Mordecai tore his clothes, and put on sackcloth with
ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and wailed loudly and a ...
/b/bitterly.htm - 17k

Apportioneth (9 Occurrences)
... Micah 2:4 In that day doth 'one' take up for you a simile, And he hath wailed a
wailing of wo, He hath said, We have been utterly spoiled, The portion of my ...
/a/apportioneth.htm - 9k

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