View All Biblical Expressions

Rivers or streams of tears

Here’s what it means

A person wept deeply and continually over sin, ruin, or disobedience.

Why the Bible says it this way

The writer deliberately uses very strong language to make an important point. The point is serious even though the wording is not meant literally.

A helpful detail: The tears are real, while the river image measures their abundance emotionally rather than literally.

Where it appears