Original Word: κλαίω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: klaió
Pronunciation: klah'-yo
Phonetic Spelling: (klah'-yo)
Definition: To weep, to cry, to mourn
Meaning: I weep, weep for, mourn, lament.

bewail, weep.

Of uncertain affinity; to sob, i.e. Wail aloud (whereas dakruo is rather to cry silently) -- bewail, weep.

2799 klaíō – properly, weep aloud, expressing uncontainable, audible grief ("audible weeping," WP, 2, 88).

Word Origin
a prim. verb
Definition
to weep
NASB Translation
weep (18), weeping (17), wept (4).

STRONGS NT 2799: κλαίω

κλαίω; imperfect ἔκλαιον; future κλαύσω (Luke 6:25; John 16:20; and Tr WH text in Revelation 18:9, for κλαύσομαι. more common in Greek writ, especially the earlier, and found in Leviticus 10:6; Joel 2:17, and according to most editions in Revelation 18:9; cf. Krüger, § 40 under the word, i., p. 175f; Kühner, § 343, under the word, i., p. 847; (Veitch, under the word); Buttmann, 60 (53); (Winer's Grammar, 87 (83))); 1 aorist ἔκλαυσα; the Sept. frequently for בָּכָה; (from Homer down); to mourn, weep, lament;

a. intransitive: Mark 14:72; Mark 16:10; Luke 7:13, 38; John 11:31, 33; John 20:11, 13, 15; Acts 9:39; Acts 21:13; Rev. (); ; πολλά, for which L T Tr WH πολύ, Revelation 5:4; πικρῶς, Matthew 26:75; Luke 22:62; weeping as the sign of pain and grief for the thing signified (i. e. for pain and grief), Luke 6:21, 25 (opposed to γελαν); John 16:20; Romans 12:15 (opposed to χαίρειν); Philippians 3:18; 1 Corinthians 7:30; James 4:9; James 5:1; of those who mourn the dead: Mark 5:38; Luke 7:32; Luke 8:52; ἐπί τίνι, over anyone, Luke 19:41 R G (Sir. 22:11); also joined with πενθεῖν, Revelation 18:11 R G L; κλαίειν ἐπί τινα, Luke 19:41 L T Tr WH; ; joined with κόπτεσθαι followed by ἐπί τινα, Revelation 18:9 T Tr WH.

b. transitive, τινα, to weep for, mourn for, bewail, one (cf. Buttmann, § 131, 4; Winer's Grammar, 32, 1 γ.): Matthew 2:18, and Rec. in Revelation 18:9. [SYNONYMS: δακρύω, κλαίω, ὀδύρομαι, θρηνέω, ἀλαλάζω (ὀλολύζω), στενάζω: strictly, δακρύω denotes to shed tears, weep silently; κλαίω to weep audibly, to cry as a child; ὀδύρομαι to give verbal expression to grief, to lament; θρηνέω to give formal expression to grief, to sing a dirge; ἀλαλάζω to wail in oriental style, to howl in a consecrated, semi-liturgical fashion; στενάζω to express grief by inarticulate or semi-articulate sounds, to groan. Cf. Schmidt chh. 26, 126.]

Word Origin: A primary verb

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • H1058 בָּכָה (bakah): To weep, to cry
• H1065 בְּכִי (beki): Weeping, crying

These Hebrew terms similarly convey the act of weeping or mourning, often used in the Old Testament to describe expressions of grief, repentance, or lamentation. The connection between the Greek κλαίω and these Hebrew terms underscores the continuity of emotional expression across the biblical canon.

Usage: The verb κλαίω is used in the New Testament to describe the act of weeping or mourning, often in response to grief, loss, or repentance. It conveys a deep emotional response, typically associated with sorrow or compassion.

Context: The Greek verb κλαίω appears frequently in the New Testament, capturing moments of profound emotional expression. It is used to describe both literal and metaphorical weeping, reflecting the human experience of sorrow and empathy.

In the Gospels, κλαίω is often associated with scenes of mourning and compassion. For instance, in John 11:35, "Jesus wept" (κλαίω), demonstrating His empathy and shared sorrow with those mourning Lazarus. This shortest verse in the Bible underscores the depth of Jesus' humanity and His capacity for compassion.

The verb also appears in contexts of repentance and lamentation over sin. In Luke 22:62, Peter "wept bitterly" (κλαίω) after denying Jesus, illustrating a profound moment of personal remorse and repentance.

Additionally, κλαίω is used in eschatological contexts, such as in Revelation 18:9, where the kings of the earth "weep and mourn" over the fall of Babylon, symbolizing the ultimate judgment and loss.

The use of κλαίω in the New Testament highlights the importance of emotional expression in the biblical narrative, whether in response to personal loss, communal grief, or spiritual awakening. It serves as a reminder of the shared human experience of sorrow and the hope of comfort and redemption.

έκλαιε εκλαιεν έκλαιεν ἔκλαιεν έκλαιες εκλαίετε εκλαιον έκλαιον ἔκλαιον έκλαυσα εκλαύσαμεν έκλαυσαν έκλαυσας εκλαυσατε εκλαύσατε ἐκλαύσατε έκλαυσε εκλαυσεν έκλαυσεν ἔκλαυσεν κλαιε κλαίε κλαῖε κλαίει κλαιειν κλαίειν κλαιεις κλαίεις κλαιετε κλαίετε κλαίον κλαιοντας κλαίοντας κλαιοντες κλαίοντες κλαιοντων κλαιόντων κλαιουσα κλαίουσα κλαιουσαι κλαίουσαι κλαιουσαν κλαίουσαν κλαίουσι κλαιουσιν κλαίουσιν κλαίω κλαιων κλαίων κλαύσαι κλαυσατε κλαύσατε κλαύσεται κλαυσετε κλαύσετε κλαυση κλαύση κλαύσῃ κλαύσητε κλαυσθής κλαύσομαι κλαύσονται κλαύσουσι κλαυσουσιν κλαύσουσιν κλαύσωμεν eklaien éklaien eklaion éklaion eklausate eklaúsate eklausen éklausen klaie klaîe klaiein klaíein klaieis klaíeis klaiete klaíete klaion klaiōn klaíon klaíōn klaiontas klaíontas klaiontes klaíontes klaionton klaiontōn klaiónton klaióntōn klaiousa klaíousa klaiousai klaíousai klaiousan klaíousan klaiousin klaíousin klausate klaúsate klause klausē klaúsei klaúsēi klausete klaúsete klausousin klaúsousinInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts