The Hebrew word Bᵉkîy, represented by H1065, signifies a weeping or overflowing. It appears 30 times across 29 unique verses in the Bible. Derived from the verb bâkâh (to weep), this term captures the tangible expression of sorrow, grief, and sometimes repentance, but can also refer to a literal dripping or overflowing.
The term Bᵉkîy often carries an implication of an outward, observable, and frequently audible expression of emotion, distinguishing it from mere internal sadness. It is not simply a feeling, but a physical manifestation that can range from a quiet shedding of tears to loud wailing. This public dimension of Bᵉkîy is crucial in understanding its role in communal laments and expressions of collective distress, where the sound and sight of weeping served to communicate profound shared experiences and often to elicit a response, either from fellow humans or from God himself.
In the biblical narrative, H1065 is used to convey profound emotional states. It is often a component of genuine repentance, as when the LORD calls His people to turn to Him with fasting and weeping Joel 2:12. It also expresses deep personal and national grief, such as when Hezekiah wept sore in his distress Isaiah 38:3 or when Moab is prophesied to experience great weeping Isaiah 15:5. The term can also signify a transition from sorrow to deliverance, as when the people of Israel return to God with weeping and supplications Jeremiah 31:9. In a unique literal sense, it is used to describe God binding the floods from overflowing Job 28:11.
Beyond individual or national grief, H1065 frequently marks significant communal responses to overwhelming circumstances or spiritual states. It underscores collective anguish, as when the children of Israel engaged in thirty days of Bᵉkîy and mourning for Moses, signifying the profound loss of their leader and a transitional period Deuteronomy 34:8. In times of national peril, such as the decree against the Jews under Ahasuerus, Bᵉkîy became a widespread, urgent expression of despair and supplication across the provinces, alongside fasting and wailing Esther 4:3. Moreover, the word can capture complex, mixed emotions within a community, as seen when the Bᵉkîy of the older generation, remembering the former temple, blended with the shouts of joy from those celebrating the new temple's foundation, creating a profound soundscape of remembrance and hope Ezra 3:13.
Several related words expand upon the concept of grief and lamentation:
- H1058 bâkâh (to weep; generally to bemoan): This primitive root is the direct source of Bᵉkîy, representing the action of weeping. In the account of Hezekiah's prayer, he wept H1058 sore H1065, showing the verb and noun used together for emphasis 2 Kings 20:3.
- H1832 dimʻâh (weeping; tears): This word refers to the physical tears that result from weeping. God promises to end sorrow by commanding his people to refrain their voice from weeping H1065 and their eyes from tears Jeremiah 31:16.
- H5092 nᵉhîy (an elegy; lamentation, wailing): This term describes an audible lament, often paired with weeping to show a full expression of grief. In Ramah, a voice was heard of lamentation and bitter weeping Jeremiah 31:15.
- H4553 miçpêd (a lamentation; mourning): This word denotes the act of mourning, which often includes weeping as a central element. The Lord calls for a day of weeping and mourning in response to judgment Isaiah 22:12.
- H1066 Bôkîym (weepers): This plural active participle directly refers to those who are engaged in the act of weeping, highlighting the human agents of this emotional expression.
The theological weight of H1065 is significant, highlighting God's response to human suffering.
- An Element of True Repentance: The act of weeping is presented as an outward sign of an inward turning of the heart toward God. It is coupled with fasting and turning to the Lord with all one's heart Joel 2:12.
- Sorrow as a Precursor to Joy: Scripture frames weeping as a temporary state that will ultimately be replaced by God's comfort and joy. This is famously stated in the promise that weeping may endure for a night, but joy H7440 comes in the morning Psalms 30:5.
- A Voice Heard by God: The expression of sorrow through weeping is not ignored by God. The psalmist declares with confidence that "the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping," signifying that God is attentive to the cries of His people Psalms 6:8.
- Lament in the Face of Judgment: Bᵉkîy frequently appears in prophetic literature as a profound response to impending or enacted divine judgment upon nations or peoples. It signifies the deep sorrow and anguish experienced as a consequence of sin and covenant breaking, as seen in the extensive Bᵉkîy prophesied for Moab due to its impending destruction, marking the desolation of its cities and lands Isaiah 15:5, Jeremiah 48:32. This lament can be both a sign of suffering and, at times, a prophetic expression of empathy for the suffering, or a call to acknowledge the gravity of divine action.
The Hebrew word Bᵉkîy (H1065) serves as a potent descriptor for "weeping" or "overflowing," appearing 30 times in 29 Old Testament verses. Derived from the root bâkâh (to weep), it encapsulates the tangible, often audible, and visible expression of deep emotional states, ranging from profound sorrow and grief to sincere repentance. While it can literally refer to the overflowing of water, its primary biblical use is rooted in the human experience of intense emotion.
In biblical narratives, Bᵉkîy is a recurring motif for expressing profound personal and communal distress. It features in calls for genuine repentance, urging a turning to the Lord with fasting and Bᵉkîy Joel 2:12. It conveys the anguish of figures like Hezekiah in his illness Isaiah 38:3 and the collective sorrow of nations facing judgment, as prophesied for Moab Isaiah 15:5. Beyond individual suffering, Bᵉkîy marks significant communal responses to overwhelming circumstances, such as Israel's mourning for Moses Deuteronomy 34:8, the widespread despair during national crises like Haman's decree Esther 4:3, and even the complex emotions of remembrance and hope mingled at the temple's rebuilding Ezra 3:13. It also highlights a transition from sorrow to deliverance, as God leads His people with Bᵉkîy and supplications Jeremiah 31:9.
The semantic field surrounding Bᵉkîy is enriched by related terms. H1058 bâkâh is the foundational verb, denoting the action of weeping. H1832 dimʻâh refers to the physical tears, while H5092 nᵉhîy describes audible lamentation and H4553 miçpêd encompasses broader mourning rituals. The term H1066 Bôkîym further emphasizes the human dimension by identifying the "weepers" themselves.
Theologically, Bᵉkîy holds significant weight. It is presented as an integral component of true repentance, an outward sign of an inward heart change. It carries the promise of transformation, as Bᵉkîy that endures for a night is ultimately replaced by joy in the morning Psalms 30:5. Crucially, the voice of Bᵉkîy is heard by God, affirming His attentiveness to the cries of His people Psalms 6:8. Furthermore, Bᵉkîy serves as a powerful expression of lament in the face of divine judgment, reflecting deep anguish over the consequences of sin and broken covenant, as exemplified by the prophetic weeping for Moab's impending destruction Isaiah 15:5. Thus, Bᵉkîy is far more than a simple act of crying; it is a profound biblical term that captures the depths of human emotion, its public manifestation, and its significant role in the dynamic interaction between humanity and God.
TRV