Tears in the Biblical Narrative: Exploring the Depths of Character, Plot, and Theme Through Analysis of When and Why Biblical Characters Cry

Abstract

Biblical narrative is brimming with channels through which we can delve into the depths of the narrative. Specifically, exploration of the emotional dimension of biblical narrative contributes to an understanding of character, plot, and theme. One of the most visible displays of emotion in the Bible are scenes in which characters cry. This study will demonstrate how the Bible focuses on emotional reactions as a key facet of the human experience, enriching the reader’s perception of the complex, multidimensional personalities of the biblical characters, the dynamic progression of the plot, and the thematic underpinnings of the stories. A close study of biblical stories that explicitly describe this emotive manifestation (bakhah) reveals that they can be interpreted through the lens of the catalyst for the tears—loss of control over the past, current, or future reality. Viewing the crying through this lens will help develop a broad generalization about the episodes in which the Bible records that a character cries