### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **krázō**, represented by `{{G2896}}`, is a primary verb meaning to "croak" like a raven or to scream. It appears **59 times** across **58 unique verses** and generally signifies a loud cry, shriek, or exclamation. This term captures an intense and urgent vocalization, whether out of desperation, proclamation, or deep feeling.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In scripture, `{{G2896}}` is used in various critical situations to express overwhelming emotion or urgent communication. It is the cry of the desperate seeking divine intervention, as when two blind men **cried** out, "Thou Son of David, have mercy on us" [[Matthew 9:27]] or when Peter, beginning to sink, **cried**, "Lord, save me" [[Matthew 14:30]]. The word also denotes solemn public declarations, such as when Jesus **cried** in the temple on the last day of the feast, offering living water to all who thirst [[John 7:37]]. It is also the sound made by crowds, who **cried** "Hosanna" during Jesus' entry into Jerusalem [[Matthew 21:9]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the meaning and context of `{{G2896}}`:
* `{{G5456}}` **phōnḗ** (voice): This word for a tone, sound, or voice is frequently paired with `{{G2896}}` to emphasize the magnitude of the cry. In Revelation, martyred souls **cried** with a loud **voice**, asking God for justice [[Revelation 6:10]].
* `{{G3004}}` **légō** (to say): Often following `{{G2896}}`, this verb introduces the specific words being uttered. It shows that the cry is not just an inarticulate sound but a distinct message, as when unclean spirits **cried**, **saying**, "Thou art the Son of God" [[Mark 3:11]].
* `{{G2008}}` **epitimáō** (to rebuke): This term is often used in opposition to `{{G2896}}`. When the multitude **rebuked** the blind man to be quiet, he defied the command and **cried** out all the more for mercy [[Luke 18:39]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{G2896}}` is significant, highlighting different facets of humanity's relationship with the divine.
* **A Cry of Desperate Faith:** The act of crying out to Jesus is consistently portrayed as an expression of faith in His power to save. The pleas of the blind [[Matthew 20:31]], the Canaanite woman [[Matthew 15:23]], and the father of the demon-possessed child [[Mark 9:24]] are all forms of `{{G2896}}` that lead to miraculous intervention.
* **A Cry of Proclamation:** `{{G2896}}` is used for pivotal declarations of truth. Jesus **cried** out to the crowds to announce His divine authority and mission [[John 12:44]]. If His disciples were silent, the very stones would **cry out** [[Luke 19:40]], indicating that God's truth demands expression.
* **A Cry of Intimate Sonship:** In a profound shift from desperation to intimacy, believers who have received the Spirit of adoption use `{{G2896}}` to call upon God as "Abba, Father" ([[Romans 8:15]], [[Galatians 4:6]]). This cry signifies a deep, personal, and familial relationship with God.
### Summary
In summary, `{{G2896}}` conveys far more than a simple noise. It is the raw voice of human experience encountering the divine, expressing everything from the depths of fear and the heights of praise to the intimate assurance of belonging to God's family. Whether a plea for mercy, a bold proclamation of truth, or the tender call of a child to a father, **krázō** marks moments where the heart's urgent message cannot be contained.
TRV