Bible Dictionary
Lamentation
Lamentation is an elegy or expression of grief, often used in mourning. Biblical lament may also appear in prophecy when it announces judgment and coming calamity.
Definition
Lamentation is an elegy, dirge, or formal expression of grief. It commonly accompanies mourning and may also describe prophetic speech that announces calamity or judgment.
Biblical Usage
David’s lament over Saul and Jonathan is presented as the first biblical example of this poetic form. He also lamented Abner, while prophetic lamentations announced coming disasters.
Historical Background
The Hebrew term identified for lamentation is qinah, referring to an elegiac or dirge-like composition.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(Heb. qinah), an elegy or dirge. The first example of this form of poetry is the lament of David over Saul and Jonathan (2 Sam. 1:17-27). It was a frequent accompaniment of mourning (Amos 8:10). In 2 Sam. 3:33, 34 is recorded David’s lament over Abner. Prophecy sometimes took the form of a lament when it predicted calamity (Ezek. 27:2, 32; 28:12; 32:2, 16).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>lam-en-ta'-shun.</p><p>See BURIAL, III, 2; IV, 4, 5, 6.</p>