Search / G2799
κλαίω G2799
V-PMA-2P  |  40× in 1 sense
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×
EMOTION_ATTITUDE Attitudes and Emotions Weep Cry Wail
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"]

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) [] 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