Men weeping and crying in the Bible.

Scriptural references to men shedding tears and weeping

1. God wiping away all tears

• Revelation 7:17

  
  

2. “walking and jumping, and praising God”

• Acts 3:8

  
  

3. Other references to Jesus crying

• Luke 19:41; Hebrews 5:7

  
  

4. “Jesus wept”

• John 11:35

  
  

5. Peter wept

• Matthew 26:75

  
  

6. “Sons of Thunder”

• Mark 3:17; Luke 9:54

  
  

7. Jesus repeatedly blasting religious leaders

• e.g. Matthew 23:13-39

  
  

8. Jewish leaders were behind Jesus’ execution

• Matthew 26:3-4, 47-48, 57-67; 27:1-2, 20

  
  

9. On the brink of stoning the woman caught in adultery

• John 8:4-7

  
  

10. Stephen stoned

• Acts 7:58-60

  
  

11. Jews flaying the apostle Paul’s back

• 2 Corinthians 11:24

  
  

12. Jesus and the temple moneychangers

• John 2:14-15

  
  

13. Temple guards

• Acts 4:1,3; 26:21; 2 Kings 11:4-11

  
  

14. Call down battalions of supernaturally fierce angels

• Matthew 26:53

  
  

15. Set his “face like flint”

• Isaiah 50:6-7; Luke 9:51

  
  

16. His disciples dragging their heels behind him

• Mark 10:32-33; Luke 19:28

  
  

17. Jeremiah: “a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall”

• Jeremiah 1:18

  
  

18. Jeremiah’s tears

• Jeremiah 48:31-32; Lamentations 2:11; 3:48-49

  
  

19. A lion and lamb lying together

• Alluded to in Isaiah 11:6; 65:25

  
  

20. Jesus called the Lion and the Lamb

• Revelation 5:5-6 “. . .  See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah . . . Then I saw a Lamb . . .”

  
  

21. David the giant-killer

• 1 Samuel 17:4

  
  

22. David and his men crying until they had no strength left to cry

• 1 Samuel 30:4

  
  

23. David’s had been burned to the ground etc

• 1 Samuel 30:1-3

  
  

24. David’s once-loyal men plotting to murder him

• 1 Samuel 30:6

  
  

25. David’s pursuit and defeat of the army

• 1 Samuel 30:8-19

  
  

26. David’s men ridiculously outnumbered

• Only 400 of David’s men fought (1 Samuel 30:10). Besides all the foot soldiers etc, David faced 400 men on camels (1 Samuel 30:17). Imagine trying to attack armed men who are mounted on camels!

  
  

27. Paul mentioning tears

• Acts 20:19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears . . .

  Acts 20:31 . . . Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

  2 Corinthians 2:4 . . . For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears

  Philippians 3:18 For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears . . .

  
  

28. Bible references to men crying. See Men Crying.

29. “The God of all comfort . . .”

• 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

  
  

30. Ask in order to receive

• Matthew 7:7,11; 9:38; 18:19; 21:22; John 14:13-16; 15:7,16; 16:24

  
  

31. Jesus asking sick people what they wanted

• Mark 5:30-34; 10:51; John 5:6

  
  

32. Healing linked to confessing our sins to each other

• James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

  
  

33. Shouted from the housetops

• Luke 12:3 What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.

  
  

34. Naked and exposed

• Hebrews 4:13

  
  

35. Jesus is the Truth

• John 14:6

  
  

36. The truth shall set us free

• John 8:32

  
  

37. God want us to live in truth, not in denial

• Psalms 32:3,5 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. . . . Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD” – and you forgave the guilt of my sin.

  Proverbs 28:13 He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

  
  

  Jeremiah 2:23 How can you say, “I am not defiled; I have not run after the Baals”? See how you behaved in the valley; consider what you have done. . . .

  
  

  Acts 19:18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds

  
  

  1 John 1:8-10 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

  
  

38. Worship in spirit and in truth

• John 4:24

  
  

39. God weaving all things together for good

• Romans 8:28

  
  

40. “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good”

• Genesis 50:20

  
  

41. “You killed the author of life”

• Acts 3:15

  
  

42. Jesus upholding the entire cosmos by his word

• Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:17

  
  

43. In him that we live and move etc.

• Acts 17:28

  
  

44. By whom and for whom, all things were created

• Colossians 1:16

  
  

45. Jesus, the sinless one

• Hebrews 7:26 Such a high priest meets our need – one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.

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  For much more about Jesus’ sinlessness, see Jesus Uniquely Perfect

Men Crying in the Bible

To save space, references solely to women crying are omitted, but the fact that all these references are to men crying is particularly impacting.

Scriptures Specifically Mentioning Men Crying

• Genesis 27:38  . . . Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.

  
  

  Genesis 29:11 Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.

  
  

  Genesis 33:4 Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, fell on his neck, kissed him, and they wept.

  
  

  Genesis 37:35 All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. He said, “For I will go down to Sheol to my son mourning.” His father wept for him.

  
  

  Genesis 42:24 He turned himself away from them, and wept. . . .

  
  

  Genesis 43:30 Joseph hurried, for his heart yearned over his brother; and he sought a place to weep. He entered into his room, and wept there.

  
  

  Genesis 45:2 He wept aloud. The Egyptians heard, and the house of Pharaoh heard.

  
  

  Genesis 45:14 He fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck, and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck.

  
  

  Genesis 45:15 He kissed all his brothers, and wept on them. . . .

  
  

  Genesis 46:29 Joseph . . . presented himself to him, and fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.

  
  

  Genesis 50:1 Joseph fell on his father’s face, wept on him, and kissed him.

  
  

  Genesis 50:17  . . . Joseph wept when they spoke to him.

  
  

  1 Samuel 20:41  . . . David . . . fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times. They kissed one another, and wept one with another, and David wept the most.

  
  

  1 Samuel 24:16  . . . Saul said, “Is that your voice, my son David?” Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.

  
  

  1 Samuel 30:4 Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voice and wept until they had no more power to weep.

  
  

  2 Samuel 1:12 They mourned, wept, and fasted until evening, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel; because they had fallen by the sword.

  
  

  2 Samuel 3:16 Her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go! Return!” and he returned.

  
  

  2 Samuel 3:32  . . . the king lifted up his voice, and wept at Abner’s grave; and all the people wept.

  
  

  2 Samuel 12:21 Then his servants said to him, “What is this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive, but when the child was dead, you rose up and ate bread.”

  
  

  2 Samuel 12:22 He said, “While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will not be gracious to me, that the child may live?’

  
  

  2 Samuel 13:36 As soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king’s sons came, and lifted up their voice, and wept. The king also and all his servants wept bitterly.

  
  

  2 Samuel 15:30 David went up by the ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered, and went barefoot: and all the people who were with him each covered his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.

  
  

  2 Samuel 18:33 The king was much moved, and went up to the room over the gate, and wept. As he went, he said, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died for you, Absalom, my son, my son!”

  
  

  2 Samuel 19:1 Joab was told, “Behold, the king weeps and mourns for Absalom.”

  
  

  2 Kings 8:11  . . . Then the man of God wept.

  
  

  2 Kings 8:12 Hazael said, “Why do you weep, my lord?” . . .

  
  

  2 Kings 13:14 Now Elisha became sick with the illness of which he died; and Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over him . . .

  
  

  2 Kings 20:3  . . . And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

  
  

  2 Kings 20:5  . . .tell Hezekiah the prince of my people, ‘The Lord, the God of David your father, says, “I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. . . .

  
  

  2 Kings 22:19 because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the Lord, when you heard what I spoke against this place, and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and have torn your clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard you,’ says the Lord.

  
  

  2 Chronicles 34:27 because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God, when you heard his words against this place, and against its inhabitants, and have humbled yourself before me, and have torn your clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard you,” says the Lord.

  
  

  Ezra 3:12-13 But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ households, the old men who had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice. Many also shouted aloud for joy so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people; for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard far away.

  
  

  Ezra 10:1 Now while Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before God’s house, there was gathered together to him out of Israel a very great assembly of men and women and children; for the people wept very bitterly.

  
  

  Nehemiah 1:4 When I heard these words, I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days . . .

  
  

  Esther 4:1  . . . Mordecai tore his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the middle of the city, and wailed loudly and a bitterly.

  
  

  Job 2:12 When they lifted up their eyes from a distance, and didn’t recognize him, they raised their voices, and wept; and they each tore his robe, and sprinkled dust on their heads toward the sky.

  
  

  Job 16:16 My face is red with weeping. Deep darkness is on my eyelids.

  
  

  Job 16:20 My friends scoff at me. My eyes pour out tears to God

  
  

  Job 30:25 Didn’t I weep for him who was in trouble? Wasn’t my soul grieved for the needy?

  
  

  Psalms 6:6 I am weary with my groaning. Every night I flood my bed. I drench my couch with my tears.

  
  

  Psalms 6:8 Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity, for the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping.

  
  

  Psalms 30:11 You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy (NIV)

  
  

  Psalms 39:12 Hear my prayer, Lord, and give ear to my cry. Don’t be silent at my tears. . . .

  
  

  Psalms 42:3 My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually ask me, “Where is your God?”

  
  

  Psalms 69:10 When I wept and I fasted, that was to my reproach.

  
  

  Psalms 102:9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mixed my drink with tears

  
  

  Psalms 119:136 Streams of tears run down my eyes, because they don’t observe your law.

  
  

  Isaiah 16:9 Therefore I will weep, with the weeping of Jazer for the vine of Sibmah. I will water you with my tears . . .

  
  

  Isaiah 22:4  . . . Look away from me. I will weep bitterly. . . .

  
  

  Isaiah 33:7 Behold, their valiant ones cry outside; the ambassadors of peace weep bitterly.

  
  

  Isaiah 38:3  . . . Hezekiah wept bitterly.

  
  

  Isaiah 38:5 Go, and tell Hezekiah, ‘The Lord says, the God of David your father, “I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life.

  
  

  Jeremiah 25:36 A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and the wailing of the principal of the flock! for the Lord lays waste their pasture.

  
  

  Jeremiah 41:6 Ishmael the son of Nethaniah went out from Mizpah to meet them, weeping all along as he went . . .

  
  

  Jeremiah 48:31-32 Therefore I will wail for Moab; yes, I will cry out for all Moab: for the men of Kir Heres shall they mourn. With more than the weeping of Jazer will I weep for you . . .

  
  

  Lamentations 2:11 My eyes do fail with tears, my heart is troubled; My liver is poured on the earth, because of the destruction of the daughter of my people . . .

  
  

  Lamentations 3:48-49 My eye runs down with streams of water, for the destruction of the daughter of my people. My eye pours down, and doesn’t cease, without any intermission

  
  

  Hosea 12:4  . . . he wept, and made supplication to him. . . .

  
  

  Micah 1:8 For this I will lament and wail; I will go stripped and naked; I will howl like the jackals, and moan like the daughters of owls.

  
  

  Zechariah 11:3 A voice of the wailing of the shepherds! . . .

  
  

  Malachi 2:13 This again you do: you cover the altar of the Lord with tears, with weeping, and with sighing . . .

  
  

  Matthew 26:75 Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” He went out and wept bitterly.

  
  

  Mark 14:72 The rooster crowed the second time. Peter remembered the word, how that Jesus said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” When he thought about that, he wept.

  
  

  Luke 19:41 When he came near, he saw the city and wept over it

  
  

  Luke 22:62 He went out, and wept bitterly.

  
  

  John 11:35 Jesus wept.

  
  

  Acts 20:19 serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears, and with trials which happened to me by the plots of the Jews

  
  

  Acts 20:31 Therefore watch, remembering that for a period of three years I didn’t cease to admonish everyone night and day with tears.

  
  

  Acts 20:37 They all wept a lot, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him

  
  

  Acts 21:13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

  
  

  2 Corinthians 2:4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears . . .

  
  

  Philippians 3:18 For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, as the enemies of the cross of Christ

  
  

  2 Timothy 1:4 longing to see you, remembering your tears, that I may be filled with joy

  
  

  Hebrews 5:7 He, in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and petitions with strong crying and tears to him who was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear

  
  

  Hebrews 12:17  . . . he found no place for a change of mind though he sought it diligently with tears.

  
  

  Revelation 5:4 And I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the book, or to look in it.

  
  

  Revelation 5:5 One of the elders said to me, “Don’t weep. Behold, the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome; he who opens the book and its seven seals.”