Brief Overview of πενθέω (Strong’s G3996: pentheō)
Strong’s G3996: A verb meaning to mourn, lament, or grieve deeply. In NT usage, describes both spiritual and emotional mourning. Significant in beatitudes and calls for repentance. Carries connotation of profound sorrow that leads to spiritual transformation and comfort from God.
U- Unveiling the Word
Πενθέω expresses deep mourning, encompassing both spiritual grief over sin and emotional sorrow over loss. In the NT, it appears prominently in the beatitudes and Paul’s calls for repentance. Early church writers understood it as describing godly sorrow leading to transformation. Today, it teaches us about the role of spiritual grief in authentic Christian experience and God’s comfort for those who mourn.
N – Necessary Information
- Greek Word: πενθέω, pentheō, [pen-THEH-oh]
- Detailed pronunciation: pen-THEH-oh (emphasis on THEH)
- Part of Speech: Verb
Etymology:
- From πένθος (grief)
- Related to πάθος (suffering)
- Forms verb of mourning action
- Indo-European root *kwenth- (to suffer)
D – Defining Meanings
- To mourn deeply
- To lament
- To grieve spiritually
- To show sorrow
For compound words: Not applicable as this is a primary verb
Translation Options:
- Mourn – General usage
- Grieve – Emotional emphasis
- Lament – Formal/liturgical context
E – Exploring Similar Words
- θρηνέω [thrēneō, thray-NEH-oh] – to wail
- κλαίω [klaiō, KLAY-oh] – to weep
- ὀδυράομαι [odyromai, o-dee-RAH-oh-my] – to bewail
R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology
Verb features:
- Present Active: πενθέω
- Future: πενθήσω
- Aorist: ἐπένθησα
- Perfect: πεπένθηκα
- Cross-references: πένθος (mourning), πενθικός (mournful)
S – Studying Lexicon Insights
BDAG emphasizes spiritual dimension. Thayer’s notes depth of emotion. LSJ traces ritual usage. Vine’s highlights transformative aspect. Moulton and Milligan show funeral contexts.
T – Tracing the Scriptures
First appearance:
“Blessed are those who mourn [πενθέω], for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4)
Additional References:
Mark 16:10, Luke 6:25, 1 Corinthians 5:2, James 4:9
A – Analyzing Classical Usage
| Author: Work | Text |
|---|---|
| Homer: Iliad | “They mourned [πενθέω] their fallen hero.” |
| Sophocles: Ajax | “The chorus lamented [πενθέω] the tragedy.” |
| Herodotus: Histories | “The city mourned [πενθέω] its losses.” |
N – Noteworthy Summary
Πενθέω reveals that godly sorrow leads to spiritual transformation. Jesus promises comfort to those who mourn, showing how spiritual grief becomes a pathway to divine consolation and joy. This encourages believers that their sorrows are not wasted but lead to spiritual growth.
D – Did You Know?
- Used in ancient funeral rituals
- Key term in early Christian penitential practices
- Influenced development of monastic mourning traditions
Strong’s G3996: A verb meaning to mourn, lament, or grieve deeply. In NT usage, describes both spiritual and emotional mourning. Significant in beatitudes and calls for repentance. Carries connotation of profound sorrow that leads to spiritual transformation and comfort from God.
Part of speech: Verb
Tags: #Mourning #Grief #Repentance #Beatitudes #GodlySorrow #Comfort #SpiritualTransformation #Lamentation #DivineSolace #ChristianLife
Note: While this entry strives for accuracy, readers engaged in critical research should verify citations and keyword occurrences in their Bible translation of choice. For Biblical citations, the F.O.G Bible project recommends Logos Bible software.
