Lexical Summary klauthmos: Weeping, lamentation Original Word: κλαυθμός Strong's Exhaustive Concordance wailing, weepingFrom klaio; lamentation -- wailing, weeping, X wept. see GREEK klaio HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 2805 klauthmós (from 2799 /klaíō, "to grieve audibly") – bitter grief that springs from feeling utterly hopeless. 2805 /klauthmós ("wailing") is usually accompanied by shrieks, brought on by uncontainable emotional (psychological) pain. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom klaió Definition weeping NASB Translation weep (1), weeping (9). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2805: κλαυθμόςκλαυθμός, κλαυθμοῦ, ὁ (κλαίω); from Homer down; the Sept. for בְּכִי; weeping, lamentation: Matthew 2:18; ( Topical Lexicon Overview of the Themeκλαυθμός underscores intense, audible grief. While common tears may be private or brief, κλαυθμός signals lament that fills the room or—when used eschatologically—the very cosmos. In Scripture it is never neutral; it either exposes hopelessness outside of Christ or expresses covenant love among His people. Narrative Uses in the Life of Jesus Matthew places κλαυθμός at decisive moments: • In Matthew 2:18 Herod’s slaughter prompts fulfillment of Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah… Rachel weeping for her children”. The term amplifies a mother’s inconsolable anguish and introduces readers to a world longing for Messiah. • Six further Matthean occurrences (Matthew 8:12; 13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30) shift the word from temporal sorrow to eternal consequence. Jesus consistently pairs κλαυθμός with “the outer darkness” or “the blazing furnace,” portraying irreversible separation from God for the impenitent. Luke 13:28 parallels this motif: “There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out”. The image heightens the tragedy of lost privilege—a covenant people excluded for unbelief. κλαυθμός and Eschatological Judgment Seven of the nine occurrences describe final judgment. The phrase “weeping and gnashing of teeth” forms a stock warning, stressing both emotional and physical dimensions of perdition. Unlike apocalyptic literature that might dwell on sensational detail, Jesus’ imagery is pastoral: it urges the listener to repent while there is still day (cf. Matthew 24:44). Covenantal Grief versus Eternal Regret Acts 20:37 provides the contrast. The Ephesian elders “wept much” as they embraced Paul. This κλαυθμός is love‐laden, sprung from fellowship in the gospel. It anticipates reunion in resurrection hope. Thus Scripture distinguishes: 1. Redemptive weeping: birthed in covenant affection, leading to prayer and comfort. Old Testament Echoes The Septuagint employs κλαυθμός for Israel’s lament during exile (for example, Psalm 137). Matthew’s citation of Jeremiah entwines Christ’s infancy with Israel’s history, interpreting all covenant sorrow as ultimately resolved in Him (Revelation 21:4). Historical and Cultural Setting First-century Jews practiced public mourning with professional wailers; κλαυθμός would evoke that audible, communal mourning. Jesus leveraged familiar funeral sounds to describe eschatological reality, ensuring no hearer could miss the seriousness. Pastoral Implications • Evangelism: κλαυθμός warns that indifference has eternal cost. Clear teaching on judgment remains an act of love. • Discipleship: Believers who now “weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15) embody Christ’s compassion and foreshadow the day when “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4). • Lament in Worship: The Psalms legitimize godly κλαυθμός; congregational lament trains the church to process grief under the sovereignty of God instead of denying it. The Hope Beyond κλαυθμός While κλαυθμός marks both the depth of earthly loss and the horror of eternal separation, it also magnifies the gospel. The Man of Sorrows bore every tear, ensuring that, for those in Christ, present lament will yield to everlasting joy. Forms and Transliterations κλαυθμοί κλαυθμόν κλαυθμος κλαυθμός κλαυθμὸς κλαυθμού κλαυθμώ Κλαυθμών Κλαυθμώνα κλαυθμώνος klauthmos klauthmòsLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 2:18 N-NMSGRK: Ῥαμὰ ἠκούσθη κλαυθμὸς καὶ ὀδυρμὸς NAS: IN RAMAH, WEEPING AND GREAT KJV: lamentation, and weeping, and great INT: Ramah was heard weeping and mourning Matthew 8:12 N-NMS Matthew 13:42 N-NMS Matthew 13:50 N-NMS Matthew 22:13 N-NMS Matthew 24:51 N-NMS Matthew 25:30 N-NMS Luke 13:28 N-NMS Acts 20:37 N-NMS |
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