In the biblical context, mourners are individuals who express grief and sorrow, often in response to death, calamity, or sin. Mourning is a significant theme throughout the Scriptures, reflecting both personal and communal expressions of lamentation.

Old Testament Context

Mourning in the Old Testament is often associated with death and loss. The Hebrew culture had specific customs for mourning, including wearing sackcloth, putting ashes on the head, tearing garments, and fasting. These practices are seen in various passages, such as when Jacob mourned for his son Joseph, whom he believed to be dead: "Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth around his waist, and mourned for his son many days" (Genesis 37:34).

The book of Job provides a profound exploration of mourning. Job, after losing his children and wealth, sits in ashes and laments his misfortune. His friends join him in mourning, sitting with him in silence for seven days and nights (Job 2:12-13).

Mourning is also a response to sin and the judgment of God. The prophets often called the people to mourn as a sign of repentance. Joel 2:12-13 urges, "Even now," declares the LORD, "return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Rend your hearts and not your garments."

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, mourning continues to be a significant expression of sorrow. Jesus Himself acknowledges the blessedness of mourners in the Beatitudes: "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted" (Matthew 5:4). This statement highlights the promise of divine comfort and the hope of restoration.

The mourning of Mary and Martha over the death of their brother Lazarus is a poignant example of personal grief. Jesus, moved by their sorrow, weeps with them, demonstrating His compassion and empathy (John 11:33-35).

Mourning in the New Testament also encompasses a spiritual dimension, reflecting sorrow over sin and the brokenness of the world. James 4:9 exhorts believers to "Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom," emphasizing the need for repentance and humility before God.

Cultural and Theological Significance

Mourning in the Bible is not merely an expression of personal grief but often serves as a communal act. In ancient Israel, professional mourners were sometimes employed to lead the community in lamentation, as seen in Jeremiah 9:17-18 : "Consider and call for the mourning women to come; send for the most skillful among them."

Theologically, mourning is intertwined with hope and redemption. The promise of comfort for those who mourn points to the ultimate restoration found in Christ. Revelation 21:4 offers a vision of the future where "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain."

Mourning, therefore, is not only a natural human response to loss but also a profound spiritual practice that acknowledges the reality of suffering while anticipating the hope of God's redemptive work.2351. thorubos -- an uproar
... with death (tragedy, mourning). [Professional mourners (generally women)
are still employed in the Middle East.]. Word Origin from ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2351.htm - 7k6941. qedorannith -- as mourners
... 6940, 6941. qedorannith. 6942 . as mourners. Transliteration: qedorannith Phonetic
Spelling: (ked-o-ran-neeth') Short Definition: mourning. ...
/hebrew/6941.htm - 6k

205. aven -- trouble, sorrow, wickedness
... wickedness NASB Word Usage affliction (1), distress (1), evil (4), false (1), harm
(1), idol (1), iniquity (37), misfortune (1), mourners' (1), mourning (1 ...
/hebrew/205.htm - 6k

5594. saphad -- to wail, lament
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to wail, lament NASB Word Usage beat (1), lament
(9), lamented (5), mourn (8), mourned (6), mourners (1), mourns (1). ...
/hebrew/5594.htm - 6k

3045. yada -- to know
... yourself known (1), make known (14), notice (2), observe (2), perceive (1), perceived
(1), possibly know (1), predict (1), professional mourners (1), provided ...
/hebrew/3045.htm - 8k

57. abel -- mourning
... mourning. Word Origin from abal Definition mourning NASB Word Usage mourn (2),
mourners (2), mourning (3), one who sorrows (1). mourner,. ...
/hebrew/57.htm - 6k

The Mourners
... XXIII THE MOURNERS. Whom does Jesus call the blessed people? How strange
it sounds when he answers: "Blessed are they that mourn: for ...
/.../peabody/mornings in the college chapel/xxiii the mourners.htm

The Comforts Belonging to Mourners
... 11. The comforts belonging to mourners. ... Sorrow for sin ushers in joy: I will
restore comforts to him, and to his mourners' (Isaiah 57:18). ...
/.../the beatitudes an exposition of matthew 51-12/11 the comforts belonging to.htm

The Second Beatitude
... Let me ask you, then, to look with me, in the simplest possible way, at the two
thoughts of our text, as to who are the mourners that are 'blessed,' and as to ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the second beatitude.htm

The Open Grave at Bethany
... Apparently that He might keep Himself apart from the noisy crowd of conventional
mourners whose presence affronted the majesty and sanctity of sorrow, and that ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/the open grave at bethany.htm

He Moves to Mt. Byrd. Debate with JW Fitch. Preaches at Madison ...
... While on the practice of the ME Church, I made a raid on the mourners' bench,
describing its workings and demanding authority for it. ...
/.../chapter xiv he moves to.htm

His Religious Experience. Tries to be a Methodist. Hopes to Become ...
... Goes to Love Feast. Mourners' Bench Experience. Is Puzzled and Disgusted. ... Goes to
Love Feast. Mourners' Bench Experience. Is Puzzled and Disgusted. ...
/.../chapter iii his religious experience.htm

Sundry Sharp Reproofs
... their sins. There are many murmurers, but few mourners. Most ... with wrath.
We have many sinners in Sion, but few mourners in Sion. It ...
/.../the beatitudes an exposition of matthew 51-12/7 sundry sharp reproofs.htm

The Weeping Saviour.
... However mingled may have been the hopes and fears of the weeping mourners around
him, He at least knew that in a few brief moments Lazarus was to be restored. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/macduff/memories of bethany/xii the weeping saviour.htm

The Third Epistle of the Same to the Same.
... To us it appears a greater sin than fornication: Let therefore such [as are guilty
of it] be liable to the canons, viz.: after they have been mourners one year ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/the third epistle of the.htm

Modern Revivals, Concluded.
... I felt it my duty to reply to Dr. Nevin in a pamphlet called "The Mourners' Bench."
At that time I was in the midst of the most extensive revival of my whole ...
/.../chapter xxvi modern revivals concluded.htm

Mourners (13 Occurrences)
...Mourners (13 Occurrences). Matthew 5:4 "Blessed are the mourners, for they shall
be comforted. ... I lived as a king in the army, as one who comforts the mourners. ...
/m/mourners.htm - 10k

Comforts (11 Occurrences)
... (BBE YLT). Job 29:25 I chose out their way, and sat as chief. I lived as a king
in the army, as one who comforts the mourners. (WEB RSV NIV). ...
/c/comforts.htm - 9k

Burial (25 Occurrences)
... ON THE WAY TO THE GRAVE 1. Coffins Unknown 2. Professional Mourners IV.
AT THE GRAVE 1. Graves Dug in the Earth 2. Family Tombs. ...
/b/burial.htm - 42k

Glass (12 Occurrences)
... Tear bottles are found in great quantities in the tombs throughout the land and
were undoubtedly connected with funeral rites, the mourners collecting their ...
/g/glass.htm - 21k

Mourner (6 Occurrences)

/m/mourner.htm - 8k

Mourneth (14 Occurrences)

/m/mourneth.htm - 10k

Mourn (87 Occurrences)
... In the later times we find a class of mourners who could be hired to give by their
loud lamentation the external tokens of sorrow (2 Chronicles 35:25; Jeremiah ...
/m/mourn.htm - 38k

Lip (20 Occurrences)
... Differently, however, from common mourners, Ezekiel was forbidden of God "to cover
his lips" (Ezekiel 24:17; see also Ezekiel 24:22), ie to mourn in the usual ...
/l/lip.htm - 18k

Grasshopper (12 Occurrences)
... almond tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall
fail; because man goes to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about ...
/g/grasshopper.htm - 12k

Wine-offerings (1 Occurrence)
... shall not pour out wine-offerings to Jehovah, neither shall they be pleasing unto
him: their sacrifices shall be unto them as the bread of mourners; all that ...
/w/wine-offerings.htm - 6k

What did the Israelites do during a mourning period (Deuteronomy 34:8)? | GotQuestions.org

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