בֶּכֶה
𐤁𐤊𐤄
bekeh
H1059 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A state or act of weeping, specifically the outpouring of tears as an expression of sorrow, grief, or distress; in some contexts, the physical manifestation of lamentation. The term highlights the embodied nature of mourning, emphasizing crying as an outward display of internal emotion.
Semantic Range
weeping, an act of crying, display of grief, outpouring of tears, lamentation, intense emotional expression through tears
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew root בכה (b-k-h), meaning 'to weep' or 'to cry.' The noun is formed directly from this root, signifying the activity or result of crying.
Historical & Contextual Notes
בֶּכֶה is an uncommon noun in the Hebrew Bible, attested primarily in poetic or lament contexts (e.g., Isaiah 30:19, Malachi 2:13). Its usage is closely tied to public or communal displays of grief, often in relation to tragedy, loss, or divine judgment. The word is more embodied than abstract, focusing on the physical act of shedding tears rather than the general state of sadness, which might be expressed by terms like אֵבֶל (ʾēvel, mourning). In later periods and translation traditions, this specific nuance of overt weeping is sometimes lost, as translations may generalize the term as generic 'weeping' or even 'grief.' Distinct from בָּכָה (a verbal form, 'to weep'), בֶּכֶה as a noun places emphasis on the act or instance of weeping itself. The English idiom 'sore weeping' reflects the intensity conveyed in some passages, but does not fully capture the nuanced emotional and ritual associations present in the Hebrew context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from בָּכָה; a weeping; [idiom] sore.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בכה (b-k-h) — to weep, to cry, to shed tears
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1056 | בָּכָא | the Weeping-Valley |
| H1057 | בָּכָא | weeping-resin trees |
| H1058 | בָּכָה | he wept |
| H1065 | בְּכִי | in the weeping |
| H1066 | בֹּכִים | Weepers |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1059-01 |
בֶֽכֶה | vekheh | HNcmsa |
weeping | weeping | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1059-01 |
Ezra 10:1 | בֶֽכֶה | vekheh | HNcmsa |
weeping | weeping |