Lexical Summary penthos: Mourning, grief, sorrow Original Word: πένθος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance mourning, sorrow. Strengthened from the alternate of pascho; grief -- mourning, sorrow. see GREEK pascho HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 3997 pénthos – mourning, sadness. See 3996 (pentheō). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition mourning NASB Translation mourning (5). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3997: πένθοςπένθος, πένθους, τό (πένθω ((?); akin, rather, to πάθος, πένομαι (cf. πένης); see Curtius, p. 53; Vanicek, p. 1165)), from Homer down, the Sept. for אֵבֶל, mourning: James 4:9; Revelation 18:7; Revelation 21:4. Topical Lexicon Scope of Usage Penthos (Strong’s 3997) appears five times in the Greek New Testament, describing deep, heartfelt mourning. In each context the grief is not a fleeting emotion but an intense reaction to sin, judgment, or loss—often in view of divine action. James 4:9 and the Call to Repentant Mourning James exhorts complacent believers: “Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom” (James 4:9). The word signals a repentance that moves beyond intellectual assent to a sorrow so profound it alters demeanor and lifestyle. Such godly sorrow (compare 2 Corinthians 7:10) leads to humility before God and thus opens the way to grace (James 4:6). Revelation 18 and the Lament over Babylon The seer uses penthos three times in depicting the downfall of the end-time commercial empire: In these verses mourning is the just recompense for arrogant self-indulgence. Later, kings, merchants, and mariners “weep and mourn” over Babylon’s ruin (context vv. 9-19). Penthos thereby becomes a theological counterweight: worldly opulence that once produced self-congratulation is replaced by anguish under divine judgment. Revelation 21 and the End of Mourning The same term receives its final mention in the promise of the new creation: “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4). Here penthos is abolished, demonstrating God’s ultimate purpose to reverse the curse introduced in Genesis 3. The eschatological vision turns the mourning of fallen humanity into everlasting comfort for the redeemed. Theology of Mourning 1. Moral Dimension: Penthos is most often linked to sin (James 4) or divine retribution (Revelation 18). True mourning recognizes God’s holiness and human culpability. Contrasting Godly and Worldly Mourning • Godly mourning (James 4:9) is voluntary, Spirit-wrought, and results in repentance and restoration. Pastoral Implications • Preaching should not bypass the call to mourn over sin; penthos prepares hearts for the joy of forgiveness. Old Testament Continuity Penthos echoes the Hebrew concept of “mourning” (ʼevel) found in passages such as Joel 2:12-13, where God invites His people to return with weeping. The New Testament usage confirms continuity between the covenants: sorrow over sin precedes renewal, while judgment brings inevitable lament to the unrepentant. Christological Fulfillment Jesus, the Man of Sorrows (Isaiah 53:3), embodies righteous mourning. His atoning work provides the basis for Revelation 21:4. Because He bore our griefs, He will finally remove every cause of grief from His people. Summary Penthos frames the believer’s journey from contrition (James 4) through the world’s final reckoning (Revelation 18) to everlasting consolation (Revelation 21). It testifies that divine justice and mercy are perfectly balanced: mourning is demanded where sin reigns, yet it is forever banished where the Lamb reigns. Forms and Transliterations πένθει πενθος πένθος πένθους πενία πενίαν πενίας penthos pénthosLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance James 4:9 N-ANSGRK: ὑμῶν εἰς πένθος μετατραπήτω καὶ NAS: be turned into mourning and your joy KJV: be turned to mourning, and [your] joy INT: of you to mourning let be turned and Revelation 18:7 N-ANS Revelation 18:7 N-ANS Revelation 18:8 N-NNS Revelation 21:4 N-NNS |