Lexical Summary bekith: Weeping, Lamentation Original Word: בְּכִית Strong's Exhaustive Concordance mourning From bakah; a weeping -- mourning. see HEBREW bakah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom bakah Definition a weeping NASB Translation mourning (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [בְּכִית] noun feminine weeping Genesis 50:4 ימי בְכִיתוֺ, i.e. the appointed time of mourning for him. Topical Lexicon Definition and Scope A term signifying formal, public lament on account of death. It conveys the deep, audible sorrow that accompanies loss and the pause such grief imposes on normal activity. Biblical Occurrence Genesis 50:4 records its single appearance: “When the days of mourning had passed, Joseph said to Pharaoh’s household, ‘If I have found favor in your eyes, please tell Pharaoh…’ ” (Berean Standard Bible). The word marks the transition from the period of weeping for Jacob to the practical steps of securing burial in Canaan. Historical Setting in Genesis 50 Jacob’s death took place in Egypt, far from the land promised to his fathers. Joseph honored his father with an extensive embalming process (Genesis 50:2-3) lasting forty days, followed by seventy days of state-recognized lament. The term signals the culmination of that mourning. Significantly, the Egyptians participated, indicating Jacob’s elevated status through Joseph’s testimony (compare Acts 7:15-16). When the formal lament ended, Joseph respectfully approached Pharaoh’s court before leaving Egypt, exemplifying deference to authority while remaining faithful to covenant promises (Genesis 50:5-6). Cultural and Ritual Significance Ancient Near-Eastern mourning customs involved loud wailing, tearing garments, dust on the head, and designated time periods. Egyptian practice often prescribed seventy days for royal burials, paralleling the time granted for Jacob. Scripture later preserves structured periods of weeping: thirty days for Moses (Deuteronomy 34:8), for Aaron (Numbers 20:29), and for Samuel (1 Samuel 25:1). This solitary usage therefore aligns Israelite grief with recognized cultural forms while underscoring that a believer’s hope ultimately lies beyond Egypt’s grandeur. Theological Themes of Mourning and Hope 1. Acknowledgment of Death’s Reality. Weeping confronts mortality in a fallen world (Genesis 3:19; Romans 5:12). Weeping in the Wider Canon • Patriarchal precedent: Abraham mourns Sarah (Genesis 23:2). Ministry Applications • Pastoral Care. Allowance for measured, public grieving honors both the deceased and the biblical pattern. Encourage the church to walk with mourners through the entire “day of weeping,” not merely the funeral service. Conclusion Though appearing only once, this term encapsulates the biblical balance between honest sorrow and steadfast hope. It reminds the reader that God permits, even sanctifies, a season of tears, yet directs His people to rise from mourning in the assurance that His redemptive purposes continue unbroken. Forms and Transliterations בְכִית֔וֹ בכיתו ḇə·ḵî·ṯōw ḇəḵîṯōw vechiToLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 50:4 HEB: וַיַּֽעַבְרוּ֙ יְמֵ֣י בְכִית֔וֹ וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר יוֹסֵ֔ף NAS: When the days of mourning for him were past, KJV: And when the days of his mourning were past, INT: were past the days of mourning spoke Joseph 1 Occurrence |
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