# mourn, mourning #

## Facts: ##

The terms "mourn" and "mourning" refer to expressing deep grief, usually in response to the death of someone.

* In many cultures, mourning includes specific outward behaviors that show this sadness and grief.
* The Israelites and other people groups in ancient times expressed mourning through loud wailing and lamenting. They also wore rough clothing made of sackcloth and put ashes on themselves.
* Hired mourners, usually women, would loudly weep and wail from the time of death until well after the body was put in the tomb.
* The typical period of mourning was seven days, but could last as long as thirty days (as for Moses and Aaron) or seventy days (as for Jacob).
* The Bible also uses the term figuratively to talk about "mourning" because of sin. This refers to feeling deeply grieved because sin hurts God and people.

(See also: [sackcloth](../other/sackcloth.md), [sin](../kt/sin.md))

## Bible References: ##

* [1 Samuel 15:34-35](en/tn/1sa/help/15/34)
* [2 Samuel 01:11-13](en/tn/2sa/help/01/11)
* [Genesis 23:1-2](en/tn/gen/help/23/01)
* [Luke 07:31-32](en/tn/luk/help/07/31)
* [Matthew 11:16-17](en/tn/mat/help/11/16)