### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **odyrmós**, represented by `{{G3602}}`, refers to moaning or lamentation. Its base definition is **mourning**. It appears **2 times** across **2 unique verses** in the Bible, making it a rare but specific term for expressing grief.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The use of `{{G3602}}` highlights two distinct types of mourning. In Matthew, it describes the profound and inconsolable grief of loss. A voice in Rama is heard with "great **mourning**" as Rachel weeps for her children and refuses to be comforted because they are gone [[Matthew 2:18]]. In contrast, in 2 Corinthians, Paul mentions the Corinthians' **mourning** as a positive sign of their repentance and earnestness, which ultimately caused him to rejoice [[2 Corinthians 7:7]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related Greek words help clarify the spectrum of sorrow and comfort in Scripture:
* `{{G2805}}` **klauthmós** (lamentation): This word for weeping or wailing often appears alongside `{{G3602}}`, as in the description of Rachel's grief [[Matthew 2:18]]. It is also frequently used to describe the "weeping and gnashing of teeth" associated with judgment [[Matthew 8:12]].
* `{{G2799}}` **klaíō** (to sob, i.e. wail aloud): This is the active verb for weeping. It is used to describe Rachel's action of "weeping for her children" [[Matthew 2:18]] and is often used in direct commands to either express or cease from weeping ([[James 5:1]], [[Luke 7:13]]).
* `{{G3870}}` **parakaléō** (to call near, i.e. ... comfort): This term provides the response to mourning. It is used negatively when Rachel "would not be comforted" [[Matthew 2:18]] but positively in the promise that those who mourn "shall be comforted" [[Matthew 5:4]].
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{G3602}}` is centered on the nature and outcome of sorrow.
* **Sorrow of Tragic Loss:** The use in Matthew's gospel illustrates the deep, human pain associated with tragedy and death. Rachel's mourning is so great that she refuses consolation, representing a grief that seems final [[Matthew 2:18]].
* **Sorrow Leading to Restoration:** The use in 2 Corinthians presents a godly sorrow. The Corinthians' mourning was not an end in itself but a means to repentance and reconciliation with the Apostle Paul, resulting in his joy [[2 Corinthians 7:7]].
* **Mourning and Consolation:** The two occurrences of `{{G3602}}` exist in tension with the concept of comfort. One context shows mourning that rejects comfort, while the other shows a mourning that is met with and produces consolation.
### Summary
In summary, `{{G3602}}` is a specific term that encapsulates more than just sadness. While rare, its two appearances present a crucial distinction within biblical thought. It captures both the inconsolable anguish of earthly loss and the productive, godly sorrow that leads to repentance and restored fellowship. The word demonstrates that the meaning of mourning is ultimately defined by its object and its outcome.
TRV