### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **nîy**, represented by `{{H5204}}`, is a specific term for **lamentation** or **wailing**. Described as a doubtful word, it appears only **1 time** across **1 unique verse** in the Bible. Its singular usage occurs within a dense context of mourning, highlighting a profound expression of grief.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H5204}}` is in the prophecy against the city of Tyrus. The verse describes the reaction to the city's future destruction, stating, "And in their **wailing** they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and lament over thee" [[Ezekiel 27:32]]. Here, the term is used to capture the sound of sorrow, functioning as a component of a larger, more formal act of lamenting the catastrophic fall of a great and powerful city.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words appear alongside `{{H5204}}` in its only context, providing a fuller picture of biblical mourning:
* `{{H5375}}` **nâsâʼ** (to lift... take... up): This verb describes the action of initiating or beginning a lament. It is used to command the prophets to "take up a lamentation" for the princes of Israel [[Ezekiel 19:1]] and for Pharaoh [[Ezekiel 32:2]].
* `{{H6969}}` **qûwn** (to strike a musical note, i.e. chant or wail...; lament, mourning woman): This is the active verb for the performance of a lament. It is used to describe how David lamented over Saul and Jonathan [[2 Samuel 1:17]] and how professional "mourning women" would be called upon to wail [[Jeremiah 9:17]].
* `{{H7015}}` **qîynâh** (a dirge...; lamentation): This noun refers to the dirge or lamentation itself—a formal composition of grief. It is often the object that is "taken up" `{{H5375}}`, as seen in the command to "take up a lamentation" [[Ezekiel 28:12]].
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H5204}}` is derived entirely from its pointed use in the prophecy against Tyrus.
* **Consequence of Judgment:** The wailing is not random; it is the direct and prophesied result of divine judgment upon a city judged for its pride. The sorrow expressed is a fulfillment of God's word.
* **Intensity of Grief:** The use of `{{H5204}}` in conjunction with `{{H6969}}` and `{{H7015}}` in a single verse [[Ezekiel 27:32]] creates a powerful emphasis on the totality of the sorrow. It combines the raw sound of wailing with the formal act of a dirge.
* **Mourning for the Fallen:** The term is applied to the lament over what was once great. The wailing for Tyrus serves as a stark reminder of the transience of worldly power and glory when measured against divine authority.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H5204}}` is a highly specific and rare biblical term for **wailing**. Though it appears only once, its context in [[Ezekiel 27:32]] embeds it with significant meaning. It functions as part of a rich vocabulary of mourning, illustrating the profound human response to catastrophic loss and serving as a powerful expression of sorrow in the face of divine judgment.
TRV