from קוּן; a dirge (as accompanied by beating the breasts or on instruments); lamentation.
Transliteration:qîynâh
Pronunciation:kee-naw'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun qîynâh (`{{H7015}}`) denotes a "dirge" or "lamentation." It is derived from the verbal root qûn (`{{H6969}}`), which means "to chant, wail, or lament." The core meaning of qîynâh encompasses a mournful song or poem, typically recited or sung in response to death, disaster, or profound loss. Its semantic range extends beyond mere weeping to a more formalized, often public, expression of grief, sometimes accompanied by specific actions such as beating the breasts or the use of musical instruments, as suggested by its base definition. It signifies a structured, articulate outpouring of sorrow, distinct from spontaneous tears, and often carries a communal or even professional dimension.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term qîynâh appears frequently in the Hebrew Bible, illuminating its diverse applications. One prominent use is in response to personal or national bereavement. David's lament over Saul and Jonathan in [[2 Samuel 1:17]] is explicitly called a qîynâh, demonstrating its function as a solemn funeral dirge. Similarly, [[2 Chronicles 35:25]] records Jeremiah's qîynâh over the death of King Josiah, noting that it became a customary practice for Israel's lamenting men and women. This highlights the existence of professional lamenters and the integration of such dirges into Israelite mourning rituals.
Beyond individual and royal deaths, qîynâh is powerfully employed in the prophetic literature, particularly in the book of Ezekiel, to describe laments over the impending destruction and judgment of nations and cities. Ezekiel is commanded to "take up a qîynâh" concerning various entities: the princes of Israel ([[Ezekiel 19:1]]), Tyre ([[Ezekiel 26:17]], [[Ezekiel 27:2]]), the king of Tyre ([[Ezekiel 28:12]]), and Egypt ([[Ezekiel 32:2]], [[Ezekiel 32:16]]). In these contexts, the qîynâh serves as a prophetic pronouncement of doom, a mournful pre-enactment of the sorrow that will accompany divine judgment. It functions as a warning and a declaration of the inevitable consequences of sin and rebellion against God. Jeremiah also uses the term in contexts of national distress, urging the people to learn a qîynâh due to their impending desolation ([[Jeremiah 7:29]], [[Jeremiah 9:10]], [[Jeremiah 9:18]], [[Jeremiah 9:20]]). These occurrences underscore the public, communal, and often divinely ordained nature of lamentation in ancient Israel.
### Related Words & Concepts
The noun qîynâh (`{{H7015}}`) is directly linked to its verbal root qûn (`{{H6969}}`), which means "to wail" or "to chant a dirge." Other Hebrew terms related to mourning and sorrow, though distinct, often appear in conjunction with or provide a broader context for qîynâh:
* bāḵâh (`{{H1058}}`): "to weep," a general term for crying.
* nāhāh (`{{H5091}}`): "to wail, lament," often specifically for the dead, implying a loud, mournful cry.
* misped (`{{H4553}}`): "wailing, mourning rites," referring to the full ritual of mourning.
* āḇal (`{{H6078}}`): "to mourn," often involving external signs like sackcloth and ashes.
While these terms describe various aspects of grief, qîynâh specifically denotes a formalized, often poetic or musical, expression of deep sorrow, making it a distinct category within the broader semantic field of lamentation. The concept of "wailing women" (e.g., [[Jeremiah 9:17]]) is also closely associated, as these were often the professional practitioners of qîynâh.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of qîynâh is multifaceted. First, it affirms the biblical recognition and legitimization of profound human sorrow and grief in the face of death, loss, and catastrophic events. It provides a structured, communal outlet for expressing deep pain, preventing isolation and fostering solidarity among the grieving. The act of lamenting, even in its most desperate forms, is often an act of continued engagement with God, a pouring out of the soul before the Divine.
Second, in its prophetic usage, qîynâh serves as a powerful instrument of divine warning and judgment. When a prophet is commanded to utter a qîynâh over a nation or king, it underscores God's absolute sovereignty over history and His righteous justice. The lament becomes a pre-enactment of the sorrow that will inevitably follow disobedience, highlighting the dire consequences of sin and the certainty of God's word. It is a mournful testimony to divine wrath and the impending desolation.
Finally, while qîynâh primarily focuses on the expression of sorrow, it implicitly points to the hope of divine intervention or future restoration, even if that hope is not explicitly stated within the lament itself. The very act of turning to God in lament, even in despair, acknowledges His ultimate authority and the possibility of His mercy, even amidst judgment.
### Summary
qîynâh (`{{H7015}}`) refers to a formal dirge or lamentation, a structured and often public expression of deep sorrow. Derived from `{{H6969}}` "to wail," it encompasses mournful songs or poems for the deceased, as seen in David's lament for Saul and Jonathan ([[2 Samuel 1:17]]), and for national calamities. Notably, prophets like Ezekiel employ qîynâh as a powerful rhetorical device to announce impending divine judgment and destruction upon nations ([[Ezekiel 19:1]], [[Ezekiel 26:17]]). Theologically, qîynâh validates and provides an outlet for human grief, serves as a solemn prophetic warning of God's righteous judgment, and underscores the communal nature of sorrow and its expression before God. It is a profound testament to the biblical acknowledgment of suffering and the ultimate sovereignty of the Divine.
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