Bible Dictionary
CRIER
A crier was a public announcer who called out messages, commands, or important news. Biblical imagery also uses the idea of a voice crying aloud, as with Wisdom and John the Baptist.
Definition
A crier is one who cries aloud to proclaim mandates, give public messages, or announce important news. The term describes the function of a herald or public announcer even where the exact English noun is not used.
Biblical Usage
Wisdom cries aloud in the chief place of concourse. John the Baptist calls himself the voice of one crying in the wilderness, like a herald going before a king.
Historical Background
In the East, villages had public criers who announced orders from governors or authorities. The muezzin and the heralds of medieval Europe provide comparable examples of public proclamation.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>kri'-er (qara'; compare boao):</p><p>(1) Neither is this exact word found in English Versions of the Bible, nor a word exactly corresponding to it in the Hebrew Bible, but the character it stands for appears as "one who cries aloud," i.e., proclaims mandates or gives public messages. In Pr 1:21 it is said, "She (Wisdom) crieth in the chief place of concourse." John the Baptist calls himself "the voice of one crying in the wilderness" (Joh 1:23)--like a herald going before the king.</p><p>(2) In the East today every village even has its public crier, selected for his loud or penetrating voice, and appointed to give notice of the fresh orders or mandates of the mudir ("governor") or other authorities. The muezzin of the Moslems, who at the five appointed times of prayer mounts the minaret and calls the faithful to prayer, is another striking example. Something like the ancient "heralds" of the king were the "heralds" of the Middle Ages in Europe who, preceded by trumpeters, made official proclamations:</p><p>George B. Eager</p>