What does κλαίω · πικρῶς mean in the Bible?
κλαίω · πικρῶς is a Greek phrase meaning "wept bitterly".
Greek · G2799, G4090
ἔκλαυσεν πικρῶς
To weep · bitterly
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
κλαίω G2799 to weep
Pronunciation klaíō
Loud, audible weeping expressing deep pain or sorrow, often for the dead; distinct from silent tears.
Open lexicon entry →
πικρῶς G4090 bitterly
Pronunciation pikrōs
Emotional anguish expressed through tears, often in contexts of profound regret or remorse.
Open lexicon entry →
What does ἔκλαυσεν πικρῶς (eklausen pikrōs) mean in the Bible?
κλαίω · πικρῶς is a Greek phrase meaning "wept bitterly".
Full entry for ἔκλαυσεν πικρῶς (G2799, G4090) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for G2799, G4090?
G2799, G4090 is connected to 40 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Greek phrase. wept bitterly
Source Gloss
wept bitterly
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 5 Aligned forms 40 Tenses Present, Aorist, Imperfect, Future Voices Active
Tenses
Voices
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 16×
Present Active Luke 6:21 · Acts 21:13 · 1 Cor 7:30 · Rev 18:15 · Rev 18:19 · Matt 2:18 · Luke 7:38 · John 20:11 · Mark 5:38 · John 11:33 · Mark 16:10 · Acts 9:39 · Rom 12:15 · Phil 3:18 16×
Indicative states a fact or reality 15×
Aorist Active Matt 26:75 · Luke 19:41 · Luke 22:62 · Luke 7:32 4×
Imperfect Active Mark 14:72 · John 20:11 · Luke 8:52 · Rev 5:4 4×
Present Active John 20:13 · John 20:15 · Mark 5:39 · Rev 18:11 4×
Future Active Luke 6:25 · John 16:20 · Rev 18:9 3×
Imperative command or strong request 7×
Present Active Luke 8:52 · Luke 23:28 · Luke 7:13 · Rev 5:5 5×
Aorist Active Jas 4:9 · Jas 5:1 2×
Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 1×
Aorist Active John 11:31 1×
Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 1×
Present Active Rom 12:15 1×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 35 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
present 23 aorist 7 imperfect 3 future 2
Voice
active 35
Mood
participle 15 indicative 11 imperative 7 subjunctive 1 infinitive 1
NT Occurrences
Matthew 2:18 κλαίουσα present active participle participle Matthew 26:75 ἔκλαυσεν aorist active indicative completed Mark 14:72 ἔκλαιεν imperfect active indicative background Mark 16:10 κλαίουσιν present active participle participle Luke 6:21 κλαίοντες present active participle participle Luke 6:25 κλαύσετε future active indicative prospective Luke 7:13 κλαῖε present active imperative imperative Luke 7:32 ἐκλαύσατε aorist active indicative completed Luke 7:38 κλαίουσα present active participle participle Luke 8:52 κλαίετε present active imperative imperative Luke 19:41 ἔκλαυσεν aorist active indicative completed Luke 22:62 ἔκλαυσεν aorist active indicative completed Luke 23:28 κλαίετε present active imperative imperative Luke 23:28 κλαίετε present active imperative imperative John 11:31 κλαύσῃ aorist active subjunctive subjunctive John 11:33 κλαίουσαν present active participle participle John 11:33 κλαίοντας present active participle participle John 16:20 κλαύσετε future active indicative prospective John 20:11 κλαίουσα present active participle participle John 20:11 ἔκλαιεν imperfect active indicative background John 20:13 κλαίεις present active indicative ongoing John 20:15 κλαίεις present active indicative ongoing Acts 9:39 κλαίουσαι present active participle participle Acts 21:13 κλαίοντες present active participle participle Romans 12:15 κλαίειν present active infinitive infinitive Romans 12:15 κλαιόντων present active participle participle 1 Corinthians 7:30 κλαίοντες present active participle participle 1 Corinthians 7:30 κλαίοντες present active participle participle Philippians 3:18 κλαίων present active participle participle James 4:9 κλαύσατε aorist active imperative imperative James 5:1 κλαύσατε aorist active imperative imperative Revelation 5:4 ἔκλαιον imperfect active indicative background Revelation 5:5 κλαῖε present active imperative imperative Revelation 18:15 κλαίοντες present active participle participle Revelation 18:19 κλαίοντες present active participle participle
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Word Origins
ἔκλαυσεν πικρῶς is of uncertain origin - no further derivation.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain