Strong’s Greek 1145 appears a single time in the New Testament: “Jesus wept.” (John 11:35). The brevity of the verse magnifies its weight, situating the tear-shedding of the Son of God at the grave of His friend Lazarus.

Immediate Context: The Raising of Lazarus (John 11)

The verb surfaces at a dramatic moment in Bethany. Martha has already confessed Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of God” (John 11:27). Mary’s grief has drawn many mourners. Jesus, deeply moved by the spectacle of death and its sorrow, approaches the tomb. Before commanding, “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11:43), He weeps. The tears occur between divine foreknowledge (“This sickness will not end in death, but is for the glory of God,” John 11:4) and divine power (the miracle itself). Thus the verse locates His compassion squarely inside His sovereign plan.

Distinctive Nuance of 1145

While other verbs (such as klaió) depict loud lamentation, 1145 conveys the quieter flow of tears. The Evangelist therefore pictures Jesus in composed yet genuine grief, neither theatrical nor detached. His response validates restrained sorrow, affirming that even hushed tears are heard by heaven.

Theological Implications

1. Full Humanity of Christ

The Word became flesh not merely to teach but to feel. By weeping, Jesus shares the emotional frailty of those He came to redeem (Hebrews 4:15).

2. Compassion Rooted in Covenant Love

The Shepherd who “lays down His life for the sheep” (John 10:11) first enters their valley of tears. The scene echoes Isaiah’s portrait of the Servant who “carried our sorrows” (Isaiah 53:4).

3. Divine Antipathy toward Death

Tears here are not resignation but protest. They foreshadow the final abolition of death, for “the last enemy to be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:26). His grief becomes a pledge that “He will wipe every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 21:4).

Comparison with Other Tears of Jesus

Luke records two additional moments of Christ’s weeping (Luke 19:41 over Jerusalem; Hebrews 5:7 alludes to Gethsemane cries). Different verbs are used, but the continuity of compassion remains. John 11 stands apart by placing the tears not over rebellion or impending judgment, but over personal loss—highlighting Christ’s intimacy with individual pain.

Old Testament Background

God’s sensitivity to tears permeates Scripture:
• “For the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping” (Psalm 6:8).
• “You have collected all my tears in Your bottle” (Psalm 56:8).

Jesus’ act fulfils this divine attentiveness in bodily form, embodying the Lord who keeps watch over each tear.

Ministry Significance

1. Pastoral Model

Shepherds of Christ’s flock may, without embarrassment, weep alongside the bereaved. Compassion is not a lack of faith; it is an imitation of Christ.

2. Comfort in Intercession

Believers approach a High Priest who has personally tasted grief. Thus prayer can honestly acknowledge sorrow, trusting that “the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort…comforts us in all our troubles” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

3. Evangelistic Witness

When the church reflects Christ’s tears, the world sees a Savior who is neither aloof nor powerless. Tender presence often prepares hearts for resurrection hope.

Eschatological Anticipation

The quiet tears of John 11 look forward to loud triumph. Lazarus’ temporary return points to the universal resurrection. In between, believers live in the tension of weeping and joy: “Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). The vocabulary of 1145 reminds us that until morning breaks, tears have their place—and their Redeemer.

Practical Applications

• Cultivate empathy; silent tears can minister more deeply than many words (Romans 12:15).
• Allow lament its Scriptural legitimacy, knowing Christ entered it first.
• Anchor every tear in resurrection assurance; tears sown in faith will reap songs of joy (Psalm 126:5).

Summary

Strong’s Greek 1145 records the Messiah’s measured yet heartfelt tears. In a single verse the Spirit reveals Christ’s profound solidarity with human sorrow, His righteous anger against death, and His unwavering commitment to transform grief into glory.