a primitive root; properly, to tear the hair and beat the breasts (as Orientals do in grief); generally to lament; by implication, to wail; lament, mourn(-er), wail.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **çâphad**, represented by `{{H5594}}`, is a primitive root signifying an outward expression of grief. Its base definition is to lament, mourn, or wail, and it properly involves actions like tearing the hair and beating the breasts as expressions of deep sorrow. It appears **30 times** across **29 unique verses**, illustrating its role in describing both personal and communal grief.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H5594}}` is used to depict the formal act of mourning for the dead. It is seen in moments of profound personal loss, such as when Abraham came to **mourn** for Sarah [[Genesis 23:2]]. It also describes communal grieving for major figures, as when all the Israelites gathered and **lamented** the prophet Samuel upon his death [[1 Samuel 25:1]]. Conversely, the absence of lamentation is presented as a severe judgment, with prophets declaring that the slain will not be **lamented** or buried ([[Jeremiah 16:4]], [[Jeremiah 25:33]]). The word is also used in prophetic calls for national repentance, commanding priests and people to **lament** in sackcloth in response to sin and impending disaster ([[Joel 1:13]], [[Jeremiah 4:8]]).
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide a fuller picture of the biblical concept of mourning:
* `{{H1058}}` **bâkâh** (to weep): This word for weeping often appears alongside `{{H5594}}`, distinguishing the inward emotion of sorrow from the outward act of lamentation. The two actions are performed together in mourning for Sarah [[Genesis 23:2]] and for Saul and Jonathan [[2 Samuel 1:12]].
* `{{H2296}}` **châgar** (to gird): This verb is frequently associated with the physical preparations for mourning. Prophets command the people to **gird** themselves with sackcloth as they lament ([[Jeremiah 49:3]], [[Joel 1:13]]), showing that mourning was an embodied practice.
* `{{H8242}}` **saq** (sackcloth): This coarse cloth was the primary garment of mourning. David instructed his people to gird themselves with **sackcloth** and mourn for Abner [[2 Samuel 3:31]], connecting the act of lamenting with a visible symbol of grief.
* `{{H3213}}` **yâlal** (to howl): An intense and audible expression of grief, this word is often paired with lamenting in prophetic warnings. The command to **lament** and **howl** signifies a call for an overwhelming and public display of sorrow and repentance ([[Jeremiah 4:8]], [[Micah 1:8]]).
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H5594}}` is evident in its connection to judgment, repentance, and prophecy.
* **A Sign of Judgment and Curse:** The withdrawal of the act of lamentation is a recurring sign of God's judgment. In times of divine punishment, the dead will not be **lamented**, indicating a complete societal breakdown and a profound loss of human dignity ([[Jeremiah 16:6]], [[Jeremiah 25:33]]).
* **An Act of Repentance:** The command to **lament** is a call to national repentance. In Joel, the priests are urged to **lament** because the offerings have been cut off from the house of God, linking the act of mourning directly to the spiritual state of the nation [[Joel 1:13]].
* **A Prophetic Marker:** The act of mourning points to a future, climactic moment of repentance for Israel. The land itself will **mourn** when the people look upon the one they have pierced, with a bitterness like that for a firstborn son ([[Zechariah 12:10]], [[Zechariah 12:12]]).
### Summary
In summary, `{{H5594}}` **çâphad** is more than an expression of sadness; it is an active, often ritualized, and public demonstration of grief and repentance. It serves as a measure of respect for the dead, a vehicle for national contrition, and a key element in prophetic visions of both judgment and ultimate restoration. The word captures the biblical understanding that true mourning involves the whole person and the entire community.
TRV