### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun `{{H1068}}` (בְּכִית, bᵉkîyth) is derived directly from the verb `{{H1058}}` (בָּכָה, bâkâh), meaning "to weep, lament, or bewail." As a noun, bᵉkîyth signifies the *act* or *state* of weeping, lamentation, or mourning itself. Its semantic range encompasses the full spectrum of sorrowful emotional expression, typically involving tears and audible cries. It describes not merely the internal feeling of grief, but its outward, often prolonged, manifestation. This word can refer to a specific instance of weeping, a period of mourning, or the characteristic sound of lamentation.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
While not among the most frequently occurring Hebrew nouns, bᵉkîyth appears in poignant contexts, underscoring moments of deep sorrow and significant emotional expression.
* In [[Genesis 50:4]], it describes the period of mourning for Jacob after his death: "And when the days of his mourning (בְּכִית) were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh..." Here, bᵉkîyth refers to the customary period of lamentation.
* [[Ezra 3:13]] presents a powerful scene where the sound of bᵉkîyth (weeping) from those remembering the former temple's glory mingled with shouts of joy from those celebrating the new foundation: "so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the shout of joy from the sound of the weeping (בְּכִית) of the people." This highlights the audible and collective nature of the lament.
* In [[Nehemiah 8:9]], the word signifies the people's repentant sorrow upon hearing the Law read: "For all the people wept (בְּכִית) when they heard the words of the Law." Their bᵉkîyth was a sign of conviction and contrition.
* Prophetic literature frequently employs bᵉkîyth to depict profound national distress or divine judgment. [[Jeremiah 9:10]] uses it in a lament over the desolation of the land: "For the mountains I will take up a weeping (בְּכִית) and wailing."
* Perhaps one of the most evocative uses is in [[Jeremiah 31:15]], describing Rachel's inconsolable grief: "A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping (בְּכִית), Rachel weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more." This passage is later quoted in [[Matthew 2:18]] in the context of the slaughter of the innocents, associating bᵉkîyth with profound, almost unbearable, sorrow.
Across these contexts, bᵉkîyth consistently denotes a deep, often public, expression of grief, sorrow, or penitence.
### Related Words & Concepts
bᵉkîyth is intimately connected to its verbal root, `{{H1058}}` (בָּכָה, bâkâh), which describes the act of weeping. Other related Hebrew terms that convey aspects of sorrow, lamentation, or mourning include:
* `{{H6088}}` (עֵבֶל, 'êbel): Often refers to the period or outward customs of mourning.
* `{{H5092}}` (נֶהִי, nehî): Denotes a lamentation or dirge, often a professional or public wailing.
* `{{H7015}}` (קִינָה, qînâh): A specific type of mournful song or dirge, often associated with funerals or national disaster.
* `{{H1958}}` (הֶלֶל, helel): Wailing or howling, often expressing intense pain or despair.
The concept of bᵉkîyth stands in contrast to expressions of joy, celebration, or triumph, as vividly illustrated in [[Ezra 3:13]]. However, it is often presented as a necessary precursor to comfort and joy, highlighting a theological trajectory from sorrow to solace.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of bᵉkîyth is multifaceted:
* **Affirmation of Human Emotion:** The biblical text does not shy away from portraying deep sorrow. bᵉkîyth validates human grief as a natural and appropriate response to loss, suffering, and the consequences of sin. It demonstrates that lamentation is a legitimate part of the human experience before God.
* **Expression of Repentance and Contrition:** As seen in [[Nehemiah 8:9]], bᵉkîyth can be a powerful sign of spiritual brokenness and genuine repentance. It signifies a heart moved to sorrow over sin and a desire for reconciliation with God.
* **Prophetic Witness and Intercession:** Prophets often engaged in bᵉkîyth as a form of identification with the suffering of God's people or as a symbolic act foreshadowing coming judgment. Their tears were a witness to both human sin and divine compassion.
* **Divine Empathy and Promise of Comfort:** While God does not weep in a human sense, the biblical narrative implies divine awareness and empathy for human bᵉkîyth. Crucially, bᵉkîyth is often presented as a temporary state. Passages like [[Psalm 30:5]] ("weeping (בְּכִית) may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning") and [[Jeremiah 31:13]] ("I will turn their mourning into joy; I will comfort them and give them gladness for sorrow") underscore a profound eschatological hope: God will ultimately turn sorrow into joy, tears into laughter, and mourning into dancing. This transformation is a hallmark of God's redemptive plan.
### Summary
The Hebrew noun `{{H1068}}` (בְּכִית, bᵉkîyth) precisely denotes the act or state of weeping, lamentation, or mourning. Derived from the verb `{{H1058}}` (בָּכָה, bâkâh), it encapsulates the audible and emotional expression of profound sorrow, grief, or distress. Its occurrences in the biblical text, such as in [[Genesis 50:4]] regarding Joseph's mourning for Jacob, [[Ezra 3:13]] depicting the mixed emotions at the temple's foundation, and [[Jeremiah 31:15]] portraying Rachel's inconsolable grief, consistently highlight its connection to deep personal or communal anguish. Theologically, bᵉkîyth affirms the validity of human sorrow, serves as an expression of repentance, and is often a prelude to divine comfort and the promised turning of mourning into joy, embodying a profound aspect of the human-divine encounter.
TRV