### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **dimʻâh**, represented by `{{H1832}}`, translates to **weeping** or **tears**. It appears 23 times across 22 unique verses in the Bible. This term is not just a physical description but a powerful symbol of deep sorrow, intense supplication, and the human response to suffering and loss.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical narratives, `{{H1832}}` often appears in moments of intense personal and national crisis. God acknowledges the **tears** of King Hezekiah, linking them directly to answered prayer and healing ([[2 Kings 20:5]]; [[Isaiah 38:5]]). David expresses a profound trust in God's attentiveness, asking Him to put his **tears** in a bottle [[Psalms 56:8]]. The word is also used metaphorically to connect suffering with future blessing, as in the promise that those who "sow in **tears** shall reap in joy" [[Psalms 126:5]]. It is also a key element in prophetic promises of ultimate redemption, where God Himself will "wipe away **tears** from off all faces" [[Isaiah 25:8]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words deepen the understanding of sorrow and weeping:
* `{{H1830}}` **dâmaʻ** (to weep): This primitive root is the direct verbal form of **dimʻâh**. It describes the action of weeping, as when Jeremiah's eye is said to "weep sore, and run down with tears" [[Jeremiah 13:17]].
* `{{H1058}}` **bâkâh** (to weep; generally to bemoan): This common verb for weeping often appears in parallel with **dimʻâh**. For instance, a grieving Jerusalem is described as one who "weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks" [[Lamentations 1:2]].
* `{{H1065}}` **Bᵉkîy** (a weeping): This noun is frequently paired with **dimʻâh** to emphasize the totality of the sorrowful act, such as when the people covered the LORD's altar "with tears, with weeping, and with crying out" [[Malachi 2:13]].
* `{{H585}}` **ʼănâchâh** (sighing; groaning): This term captures the audible expression of grief that accompanies tears, as seen in the psalmist's lament, "I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears" [[Psalms 6:6]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H1832}}` is demonstrated in its connection to divine response and future hope.
* **Divine Attentiveness:** Tears serve as a powerful form of non-verbal prayer that captures God's attention. God sees Hezekiah's **tears** [[2 Kings 20:5]] and David appeals to God, "hold not thy peace at my **tears**" [[Psalms 39:12]], showing that they are a significant part of supplication.
* **Symbol of Deep Suffering:** The presence of **tears** quantifies immense sorrow and judgment. The psalmist describes being fed with "the bread of **tears**" [[Psalms 80:5]] and having **tears** as his "meat day and night" [[Psalms 42:3]], illustrating an all-consuming grief.
* **Precursor to Joy and Reward:** Scripture often frames **tears** as a temporary condition that precedes divine restoration. The promise that "They that sow in **tears** shall reap in joy" [[Psalms 126:5]] establishes a direct link between present suffering and future blessing.
* **Eschatological Hope:** The ultimate theological promise associated with **tears** is their future abolition. Isaiah's prophecy that the Lord GOD "will wipe away **tears** from off all faces" [[Isaiah 25:8]] provides a foundational hope for the end of all suffering.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1832}}` **dimʻâh** transcends its simple definition of **tears**. It is a cornerstone of biblical lament, representing the depths of human sorrow and the earnestness of prayer. From the personal anguish of a king to the collective grief of a nation, these **tears** are consistently portrayed as being seen and valued by God. Ultimately, the presence of **dimʻâh** in scripture serves not only to depict suffering but also to point toward the profound hope of a future where God Himself will provide ultimate comfort and bring all weeping to an end.
TRV