Bible Dictionaries
Cry, Crying

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

an onomatopoeic word, is used in Matthew 25:6; Luke 1:42 (some mss. have phone); Acts 23:9 , RV, "clamor;" Ephesians 4:31 , "clamor;" Hebrews 5:7; Revelation 21:4 , "crying." Some mss. have it in Revelation 14:18 (the most authentic have phone). See CLAMOR.

especially "a cry for help," an onomatopoeic word (cp. Eng., "boo"), connected with boao (see B, No. 1), is found in James 5:4 .

akin to A, No. 2, signifies (a) "to raise a cry," whether of joy, Galatians 4:27 , or vexation, Acts 8:7; (b) "to speak with a strong voice," Matthew 3:3; Mark 1:3; 15:34; Luke 3:4; 9:38 (some mss. have anaboao here: see No. 2); John 1:23; Acts 17:6; 25:24 (some mss. have epiboao, No. 3, here); (c) "to cry out for help," Luke 18:7,38 . For Acts 21:34 , see No. 8.

ana, "up," intensive, and No. 1, "to lift up the voice, cry out," is said of Christ at the moment of His death, a testimony to His supernatural power in giving up His life, Matthew 27:46; in some mss. in Mark 15:8 , of the shouting of a multitude; in some mss. in Luke 9:38 , of the "crying" out of a man in a company (see No. 1).

epi, "upon," intensive, and No. 1, "to cry out, exclaim vehemently," is used in some mss. in Acts 25:24 (see No. 1.)

akin to A, No. 1, "to cry out," an onomatopoeic word, used especially of the "cry" of the raven; then, of any inarticulate cries, from fear, pain etc; of the "cry" of a Canaanitish woman, Matthew 15:22 (so the best mss., instead of kraugazo); of the shouts of the children in the Temple, Matthew 21:15; of the people who shouted for Christ to be crucified, Matthew 27:23; Mark 15:13,14; of the "cry" of Christ on the Cross at the close of His sufferings, Matthew 27:50; Mark 15:39 (see No. 2, above).

In John's Gospel it is used three times, out of the six, of Christ's utterances, 7:28,37; 12:44. In the Acts it is not used of "cries" of distress, but chiefly of the shouts of opponents; in the Apocalypse, chiefly of the utterances of heavenly beings concerning earthly matters; in Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6 , of the appeal of believers to God the Father; in Romans 9:27 , of a prophecy concerning Israel; in James 5:4 , metaphorically, of hire kept back by fraud.

Note: A recent translator renders this verb in Matthew 27:50 "uttered a scream," an utterly deplorable mistranslation and a misrepresentation of the nature of the Lord's "cry."

ana, "up," intensive, and No. 4, signifies "to cry out loudly," Mark 1:23; 6:49; Luke 4:33; 8:28; 23:18 .

a stronger form of No. 4, "to make a clamor or outcry" (A, No. 1), is used in Matthew 12:19 , in a prophecy from Isaiah of Christ; in Luke 4:41 (in the best mss., instead of krazo); John 11:43; 12:13 (in the best mss.); 18:40; 19:6,12,15; Acts 22:23 .

"to utter a loud sound or cry," whether of animals, e.g., Matthew 26:34; or persons, Luke 8:8; 16:24; this is the word which Luke uses to describe the "cry" of the Lord at the close of His sufferings on the cross, Luke 23:46 (see under anaboao and krazo, above); also, e.g., Acts 16:28; Revelation 14:18 . See CALL , A, No. 8, CROW.

No. 7, with epi, "upon," or "against," signifies "to shout," either against, Luke 23:21; Acts 21:34 (in the best mss., No. 1); 22:24, or in acclamation, Acts 12:22 . See SHOUT.

Note: For aphiemi, Mark 15:37 , See UTTER. Comparing the various verbs, kaleo, denotes "to call out for any purpose," boao, "to cry out as an expression of feeling," krazo, "to cry out loudly." kaleo suggests intelligence, boao, sensibilities, krazo, instincts.