θρηνέω (G2354) — Greek Lexicon

θρηνέω

thrēnéō

G2354 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To mourn or lament audibly, especially by wailing or uttering cries of grief; to express sorrow or mourning, often in a public or ritualized manner. The verb is primarily used to describe vocal expressions of grief over the dead, but can also apply more generally to lamentation in response to calamity or disaster.

Semantic Range

to lament, to wail, to express audible grief, to perform a dirge, to bewail publicly or ritually, to express mourning in response to death or disaster

Root / Etymology

From θρῆνος (thrēnos), which means 'dirge, lament, lamentation' (especially over the dead); the verb-form θρηνέω derives directly from this noun, signifying the act of performing or uttering a θρῆνος. Ultimately θρῆνος itself is of uncertain etymology, possibly pre-Greek.

Historical & Contextual Notes

θρηνέω is attested in classical Greek literature (e.g., Homer, tragedy) with reference to ritualized, often collective, lamentation over the dead, sometimes accompanied by specific gestures or musical elements. In the Septuagint, it commonly translates Hebrew words for mourning or wailing (e.g., קוֹנֵן, סָפַד) and retains the sense of formal, often communal, lament. In the New Testament (Matt 11:17; Luke 7:32; 23:27), θρηνέω denotes public expressions of grief, especially in the context of funerals or tragic events. English translations usually render it as 'to mourn,' 'to lament,' or 'to wail,' but these terms may not capture the public, often ritualized, character implied in the Greek. θρηνέω is less common than πενθέω, which can refer to internal or private mourning, while θρηνέω characteristically refers to external, audible lamentation—sometimes involving professional mourners.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from θρῆνος; to bewail:--lament, mourn.

Root Family

θρηνέω (thrēneō) — to lament, to wail, to mourn aloud

Root θρην- to lament, to wail, to mourn aloud

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G2354-01`	ἐθρηνήσαμεν	ethrenesamen	`V AOR ACT IND 1P PL`	we have mourned	we lamented aloud	we lamented aloud	2
`G2354-03`	θρηνήσετε	threnesete	`V FUT ACT IND 2P PL`	and lament	you will wail in lament	you will wail in lament	1
`G2354-02`	ἐθρήνουν	ethrenoun	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL`	lamenting	they were wailing	were wailing	1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G2354-01`	Matthew 11:17	ἐθρηνήσαμεν	ethrenesamen	`V AOR ACT IND 1P PL`	we have mourned	we lamented aloud	we lamented aloud
`G2354-01`	Luke 7:32	ἐθρηνήσαμεν	ethrenesamen	`V AOR ACT IND 1P PL`	we mourned	we lamented aloud	we lamented aloud
`G2354-02`	Luke 23:27	ἐθρήνουν	ethrenoun	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL`	lamenting	they were wailing	were wailing
`G2354-03`	John 16:20	θρηνήσετε	threnesete	`V FUT ACT IND 2P PL`	and lament	you will wail in lament	you will wail in lament

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