### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun dimʻâh (דִּמְעָה, `{{H1832}}`) is a feminine word primarily signifying "tears" or "weeping." It is derived from the root דֶּמַע (demaʻ), which is closely associated with the act of crying. The semantic range of dimʻâh is quite focused, referring specifically to the liquid secretions from the eyes that accompany strong emotional states. While these emotions are predominantly sorrow, grief, and distress, the word can also implicitly touch upon the intense relief or joy that might lead to tears, though this is less common in its direct biblical usage. Fundamentally, dimʻâh represents a deep, often overwhelming, internal state made manifest physically.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
Dimʻâh appears approximately 24 times in the Hebrew Bible, predominantly in the poetic and prophetic books, where expressions of human suffering and divine interaction with it are central themes.
* **Psalms:** The Psalms frequently employ dimʻâh to articulate the psalmist's profound personal anguish and his desperate appeal to God. In [[Psalm 6:6]], David describes his bed being drenched with tears, vividly illustrating the intensity of his distress. [[Psalm 42:3]] portrays the psalmist's tears as his constant "food," symbolizing an unrelenting and overwhelming grief. Perhaps most famously, [[Psalm 56:8]] depicts God collecting the psalmist's tears in a bottle, an intimate and powerful metaphor for divine attentiveness, remembrance, and empathy towards human suffering. [[Psalm 80:5]] uses the imagery of God feeding His people "bread of tears" and giving them "tears to drink in full measure," signifying severe national affliction, possibly divine judgment. A hopeful counterpoint is found in [[Psalm 126:5]], which states, "Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy," connecting present suffering with future restoration and gladness.
* **Lamentations:** As expected given the book's theme, dimʻâh is prominent. [[Lamentations 1:2]] personifies Jerusalem weeping bitterly, with "tears on her cheeks," conveying the city's utter desolation. [[Lamentations 2:18]] calls for the daughter of Zion to pour out her heart in tears before the Lord, emphasizing the necessity of lament and supplication in times of crisis.
* **Jeremiah:** The prophet Jeremiah, often called the "weeping prophet," frequently expresses his own sorrow or calls his people to weep. [[Jeremiah 9:1]] contains Jeremiah's poignant wish that his head were a spring and his eyes a fountain of tears, so he could weep perpetually for his slain people, revealing deep prophetic anguish over national sin and impending judgment. In [[Jeremiah 13:17]], he warns that his soul will weep in secret for the people's pride if they do not listen to God's word.
* **Other significant occurrences:** [[2 Kings 20:5]] records Hezekiah's tears in response to his terminal illness, leading to divine intervention and an extension of his life. [[Ezra 10:1]] describes the people weeping profusely over their sin. [[Nehemiah 1:4]] shows Nehemiah weeping and mourning upon hearing of Jerusalem's desolate state. [[Isaiah 25:8]] presents a profound eschatological promise that God "will wipe away tears from all faces," envisioning a future epoch of complete deliverance from sorrow and death.
### Related Words & Concepts
Dimʻâh is intrinsically linked to several other Hebrew terms and theological concepts:
* **בָּכָה (bakah, `{{H1058}}`):** The most common Hebrew verb for "to weep" or "to cry." While bakah describes the *action* of weeping, dimʻâh refers to the *product* of that action—the physical tears themselves.
* **בְּכִי (beki, `{{H1065}}`):** A masculine noun meaning "weeping" or "lamentation," often emphasizing the act or sound of crying. Dimʻâh focuses more on the liquid tears, offering a more concrete image of sorrow.
* **Sorrow/Grief:** Tears are the outward manifestation of internal states such as יָגוֹן (yagon, `{{H3015}}`, "grief") or עֶצֶב (ʻetsev, `{{H6093}}`, "pain, sorrow").
* **Lamentation:** Tears are a common and expected component of קִינָה (qinah, `{{H7015}}`, "lamentation"), a formal or informal expression of deep sorrow.
* **Suffering/Affliction:** Dimʻâh is often a direct response to עֹנִי (ʻoniy, `{{H6040}}`, "affliction") or צָרָה (tsarah, `{{H6869}}`, "distress, trouble").
* **Divine Compassion:** The concept that God remembers and responds to human tears (e.g., [[Psalm 56:8]], [[2 Kings 20:5]]).
* **Eschatological Hope:** The promise of a future without tears ([[Isaiah 25:8]]), echoed in the New Testament ([[Revelation 7:17]]; [[Revelation 21:4]]), signifying ultimate deliverance.
### Theological Significance
The consistent appearance of dimʻâh throughout the biblical narrative carries several profound theological implications:
1. **Authenticity of Human Suffering:** Tears are presented as a raw and universal expression of the human condition in a fallen world. They testify to the reality of pain, grief, and the deep impact of sin and brokenness. The Bible does not shy away from depicting profound sorrow, affirming it as a legitimate and often necessary human response.
2. **Lament as a Form of Prayer:** Tears are frequently depicted as a non-verbal, yet potent, form of supplication before God. The psalmist's tears are not dismissed but are seen as a sincere and acceptable outpouring of the heart. The imagery of God collecting tears ([[Psalm 56:8]]) underscores that such expressions of vulnerability are heard and remembered by the Divine.
3. **Divine Empathy and Remembrance:** A crucial theological insight derived from dimʻâh is God's intimate awareness of and empathy for human suffering. He is not a distant deity but one who sees, remembers, and cares about the tears of His people. This provides immense comfort and assurance that no pain is unnoticed by the Almighty.
4. **Prophetic Identification with God's Heart:** For figures like Jeremiah, tears are a sign of deep spiritual empathy, reflecting God's own sorrow over His people's rebellion and the impending consequences. Such tears are not merely personal but a participation in the divine lament over sin and judgment.
5. **Hope in Ultimate Deliverance:** The promise in [[Isaiah 25:8]] that God will wipe away all tears is a cornerstone of biblical eschatological hope. It signifies the ultimate triumph over sin, death, and all forms of sorrow, pointing to a future where God's presence will fully eradicate every source of human anguish. This transformation from tears to joy is also powerfully expressed in [[Psalm 126:5]].
### Summary
The Hebrew word dimʻâh (דִּמְעָה, `{{H1832}}`) precisely denotes "tears" or "weeping," serving as a profound symbol of deep emotional distress, grief, and lamentation within the biblical text. Its consistent appearance, especially in Psalms, Lamentations, and Jeremiah, vividly portrays the physical manifestation of profound suffering, whether individual anguish or collective sorrow. The biblical witness powerfully highlights the divine awareness and remembrance of human tears, encapsulated in the intimate imagery of God collecting tears in a bottle ([[Psalm 56:8]]). Furthermore, dimʻâh underscores the theological significance of lament as an authentic and potent form of prayer and communication with the Divine. Crucially, the concept of tears also carries a powerful eschatological hope, culminating in the promise that God Himself will ultimately wipe away all tears from the faces of His people ([[Isaiah 25:8]]), signifying the complete eradication of sorrow and the full realization of His redemptive purposes in the new heavens and new earth. This word thus encapsulates both the raw reality of human suffering and the comforting assurance of divine empathy and future restoration.
TRV