κλαίω G2799
weep, cry, wail — to shed tears from grief, mourning, sorrow, or deep spiritual anguish
Klaio is the standard Greek verb for weeping and appears 40 times in the New Testament, carrying a range from quiet tears to loud lamentation. Its most famous occurrence may be the shortest verse in English Bibles: 'Jesus wept' (edakrusen, John 11:35, using a synonym), yet klaio itself describes his grief over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41) and the weeping in Gethsemane's aftermath. The verb marks pivotal moments of repentance and recognition: Peter 'went out and wept bitterly' after denying Christ (Matt 26:75; Mark 14:72; Luke 22:62). In the Beatitudes, Jesus promises that 'those who weep now will laugh' (Luke 6:21), while the prophetic reversal in Revelation declares God 'will wipe away every tear' (Rev 21:4). Paul too invokes it personally: he warns the Ephesian elders and Philippians 'with tears' (Acts 20:31; Phil 3:18).
Senses
1. weep, cry, wail — To shed tears as an outward expression of grief, sorrow, mourning, or spiritual distress. The verb spans the entire emotional register of weeping in the NT: Rachel's inconsolable grief for her children (Matt 2:18, quoting Jer 31:15), Peter's bitter tears of repentance (Matt 26:75; Luke 22:62), mourners wailing for Jairus's daughter (Mark 5:38-39), Mary Magdalene weeping at the empty tomb (John 20:11-15), and Jesus weeping over Jerusalem's coming destruction (Luke 19:41). Spanish 'llorar,' French 'pleurer,' and German 'weinen' all capture the broad sense of tearful lamentation without distinction between subdued and violent expressions. 40×
AR["ابْكينَ", "باكينَ", "باكيَةً", "باكِيًا", "بَاكِينَ", "بَاكِيَاتٍ", "بَاكِيَةً", "بَكى", "بَكَى", "تَبكوا", "تَبكي", "تَبْكينَ", "تَبْكِينَ"]·ben["কাঁদ", "কাঁদছ?", "কাঁদছি", "কাঁদছিলেন", "কাঁদছে", "কাঁদতে", "কাঁদতে-কাঁদতে", "কাঁদতে।", "কাঁদল", "কাঁদলেন"]·DE["weinen", "weint"]·EN["are-you-weeping", "he-wept", "weep", "weeping"]·FR["pleur", "pleurer"]·heb["בָּכֶה,", "בָּכָה", "בּוֹכִים", "בּוֹכָה", "בּוֹכוֹת", "תִּבְכִּי", "תִּבְכֶינָה", "תִּבְכּוּ"]·HI["फूट-फूटकर-रोया", "रो", "रोओ", "रोती-हुई", "रोती-है", "रोते-थे", "रोते-हुई", "रोते-हुए", "रोते-हुए,", "रोया"]·ID["Ia-menangis", "dia-menangis", "kamu-menangis", "menangis", "menangislah", "orang-menangis"]·IT["piangere"]·jav["Panjenenganipun-nangis", "nangis", "nangis,", "nangisa", "piyambakipun-nangis", "sami-nangis", "wong-nangis"]·KO["우느냐", "우는-것을", "우는-자들과", "우셨다", "울고-있는", "울고-있었다", "울라", "울며", "울면서,", "울었다", "울지", "울지-마라"]·PT["chorando", "choras", "choreis", "chores", "chorou", "os-que-choravam"]·RU["заплакал", "плача", "плачешь", "плачущие", "плачущим", "плачущих", "плачущую", "плачь", "плачьте"]·ES["llorad", "llorando", "lloras", "llores", "lloréis", "lloró"]·SW["akalia", "akilia", "alilia", "aliulia", "juu", "mkilia", "msilie", "nikilia", "ninyi", "unalia", "usilie", "wakilia"]·TR["aglayarak", "ağla.", "ağladı", "ağlamayın", "ağlayan", "ağlayanlar", "ağlayanlara", "ağlayanları", "ağlayarak", "ağlayarak,", "ağlayın", "ağlayın;", "ağlıyorsun"]·urd["آنسوؤں-سے", "رؤو", "روؤ", "روتی-ہو", "روتی-ہوئی", "روتی-ہوئیں", "روتے-ہوئوں-کو", "روتے-ہوئے", "رویا"]
Matt 2:18, Matt 26:75, Mark 5:38, Mark 5:39, Mark 14:72, Mark 16:10, Luke 6:21, Luke 6:25, Luke 7:13, Luke 7:32, Luke 7:38, Luke 8:52 (+28 more)
Related Senses
G2309 1. want, desire (166×)G0025 1. to love actively (133×)H0157 1. love (verb, active Qal) (129×)H8055 1. Qal: rejoice, be glad (123×)H7453 1. neighbor, fellow man (120×)G0026 1. of love (115×)H1058 1. Qal: to weep, cry (112×)H0954 1. to be ashamed, feel shame (Qal) (95×)H8057 1. joy, gladness, delight (90×)H2781 1. disgrace, shame, dishonor (68×)G2307 1. will, desire, purpose (63×)G5463 1. rejoice, be glad (63×)G0027 1. beloved (61×)H8130 1. Qal: to hate, detest (60×)G5479 1. (59×)G1680 1. (53×)H8130 2. Qal ptcp: hater, enemy (53×)H0014 1. be willing, want (51×)H0157 2. lover, friend (Qal participle substantive) (51×)H1945 1. woe (50×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
κλαίω, old Attic dialect κλάω (see. below) [ᾱ] never contracted; Aeolic dialect κλαΐω Refs; Epic dialect 2nd pers. singular optative κλαίοισθα Refs 8th c.BC+imperfect ἔκλᾱον, Epic dialect κλαῖον Refs 8th c.BC+, Ionic dialect κλαίεσκον Refs 8th c.BC+future κλαύσομαι, 2nd pers. singular κλαύσῃ or κλαύσει, Refs 8th c.BC+; Attic dialect also κλαιήσω NT+4th c.BC+aorist ἔκλαυσα, Epic dialect κλαῦσα…