Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Usage:The term "mock" refers to the act of treating someone or something with scorn, contempt, or ridicule. In the biblical context, mocking often involves derision or making fun of someone, particularly in a way that is disrespectful or dismissive of their dignity or beliefs. Mocking can be verbal or non-verbal and is frequently associated with unbelief, pride, and rebellion against God.
Biblical Instances:1.
Old Testament Examples:·
Elisha and the Youths: In
2 Kings 2:23-24, the prophet Elisha is mocked by a group of youths who jeer at him, saying, "Go up, you baldhead!" Elisha curses them in the name of the LORD, and two bears come out of the woods and maul forty-two of the youths. This incident underscores the seriousness of mocking God's appointed servants.
·
Job's Suffering: Job, in his distress, laments being mocked by those younger than him, who he describes as having fathers he would have disdained to put with his sheepdogs (
Job 30:1). This highlights the added pain of mockery during times of suffering.
2.
New Testament Examples:·
Jesus Christ: The most poignant example of mockery in the New Testament is the treatment of Jesus during His trial and crucifixion. The soldiers mock Him, dressing Him in a purple robe and placing a crown of thorns on His head, sarcastically hailing Him as "King of the Jews" (
Mark 15:17-20). This mockery fulfills the prophecy of the suffering servant in
Isaiah 53.
·
Paul's Experience: The Apostle Paul also faced mockery, particularly when he preached about the resurrection of the dead. In
Acts 17:32, some of the Athenians sneer at him, though others express interest in hearing more.
Theological Implications:·
Divine Justice: Mockery is often portrayed as an act that invites divine retribution.
Proverbs 3:34 states, "He mocks the mockers but gives grace to the humble." This suggests that God opposes those who scorn others, especially His messengers or His Word.
·
Wisdom Literature: The Book of Proverbs frequently contrasts the behavior of the wise and the foolish, with mockers often depicted as those who reject wisdom and instruction (
Proverbs 9:7-8). Mockery is seen as a characteristic of the fool, who despises correction and wisdom.
·
Eschatological Warning: In the context of eschatology, mockery is a sign of the last days.
2 Peter 3:3 warns that "in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires." This serves as a caution to believers to remain steadfast in their faith despite ridicule.
Moral and Ethical Considerations:·
Christian Conduct: Believers are admonished to avoid mocking others, as it is contrary to the love and respect that should characterize Christian behavior.
Ephesians 4:29 advises, "Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen."
·
Response to Mockery: Christians are encouraged to respond to mockery with patience and love, following the example of Christ, who, "when He was reviled, did not revile in return" (
1 Peter 2:23). This response is a testament to the transformative power of the Gospel.
Conclusion:While the Bible acknowledges the reality of mockery, it consistently points to a higher standard of conduct for believers, emphasizing humility, wisdom, and love in the face of scorn.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) To imitate; to mimic; esp., to mimic in sport, contempt, or derision; to deride by mimicry.
2. (v. t.) To treat with scorn or contempt; to deride.
3. (v. t.) To disappoint the hopes of; to deceive; to tantalize; as, to mock expectation.
4. (v. i.) To make sport contempt or in jest; to speak in a scornful or jeering manner.
5. (n.) An act of ridicule or derision; a scornful or contemptuous act or speech; a sneer; a jibe; a jeer.
6. (n.) Imitation; mimicry.
7. (a.) Imitating reality, but not real; false; counterfeit; assumed; sham.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
MOCK; MOCKER; MOCKINGmok, mok'er, mok'-ing (hathal, la`agh, empaizo): To mock is the translation of hathal, "to play upon," "mock," "deride" (Judges 16:10, 13, 151 Kings 18:27, "Elijah mocked them";Job 13:9 twice, the Revised Version (British and American) "deceiveth," "deceive," margin "mocketh," "mock"); of la`agh, "to stammer" or "babble in mimicry," "to mock" or "scorn" (2 Chronicles 30:10Nehemiah 4:1Job 11:3;Job 21:3Proverbs 1:26;Proverbs 17:5;Proverbs 30:17Jeremiah 20:7). Other words are tsachaq, "to laugh," etc. (Genesis 19:14;Genesis 21:9;Genesis 39:14, 17); qalac, "to call out," or "cry after," "to scoff" or "mock at" (2 Kings 2:23Ezekiel 22:5); sachaq, "to laugh," "mock" (Job 39:22Lamentations 1:7); luts, "to scorn" (Proverbs 14:9); sechoq, "laughter," "derision" (Job 12:4); empaizo, "to treat as a child," "mock" (Matthew 2:16;Matthew 20:19;Matthew 27:29, 31, 41Luke 14:29, etc.); diachleuazo, "to mock," "laugh," etc. (Acts 2:13;Acts 17:32); mukterizo, "to sneer at," "mock," literally, "to turn up the nose" (Galatians 6:7, "God is not mocked," "will not let himself be mocked"); epigelao, "laugh" (Job 2:8;1Ma 7:34; compare2Ma 7:39;2Ma 8:17).
Mocker, hathulim, "deceivers," "mockers" (Job 17:2); luts (Proverbs 20:1Isaiah 28:22 the King James Version); la`egh, "stammering," "mocking" (Psalm 35:16; compareIsaiah 28:11); sachaq (Jeremiah 15:17); empaiktes, "a mocker," "scoffer," literally, "sporting as children" (Jude 1:18; compare2 Peter 3:3).
Mocking is the translation of qallacah "mocking," "derision" (Ezekiel 22:4); of empaigmos the Septuagint for qallacah) (Hebrews 11:36; Wis 12:25; Ecclesiasticus 27:28, "mockery";2Ma 7:7, "mocking-stock," the Revised Version (British and American) "the mocking"; 2 Maccabees 7:10, "made a mocking-stock" (empaizo)); of mokos (Ecclesiasticus 33:6).
For "mocked of" (Job 12:4) the Revised Version (British and American) has "a laughing-stock to"; for "mockers" (Isaiah 28:22), the English Revised Version "scorner," the American Standard Revised Version "scoffer"; for "the mockers" (Jeremiah 15:17), "them that made merry"; for "scorneth" (Proverbs 19:28), "mocketh at"; for "As one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?" (Job 13:9), "As one deceiveth a man will ye deceive him?" (margin, "mocketh," "mock"); "mock" for "laugh" (Job 9:23); for "There shall come in the last days scoffers" (2 Peter 3:3), "In the last days (margin, "Greek in the last of the days") mockers shall come with mockery" (empaigmone empaiktai).
W. L. Walker
Greek
1702. empaizo -- tomock at... to
mock at. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: empaizo Phonetic Spelling:
(emp-aheed'-zo) Short Definition: I
mock Definition: I
mock, ridicule.
...5512. chleuazo -- to jest,mock, jeer
... to jest,mock, jeer. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: chleuazo Phonetic Spelling:
(khlyoo-ad'-zo) Short Definition: Imock, scoff Definition: Imock, scoff...
1315b. diachleuazo -- to scoff,mock
... to scoff,mock. Transliteration: diachleuazo Short Definition: mocking. Word Origin
from dia and chleuazo Definition to scoff,mock NASB Word Usage mocking (1)....
3456. mukterizo -- to turn up the nose or sneer at
... 3456 (from , "nose") -- properly, to turn up the nose, turning away to ;
(figuratively)mock, scornfully disdain ( reject)....mock....
1592. ekmukterizo -- to hold up the nose in derision of
... of. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ekmukterizo Phonetic Spelling:
(ek-mook-ter-id'-zo) Short Definition: I deride, scoff at,mock greatly Definition:...
2635. katalaleo -- to speak evil of
... 2635 (from 2596 , ", according to," intensifying 2980 , "to prattle on") -- properly,
speak to in a hostile, deriding way; tomock (revile), from someone's...
3679. oneidizo -- to reproach
... 3679 (from a primitive root meaning "to upbraid, revile, like in showing one's teeth,"
K. Wuest) -- properly, to (), reproach;mock (curse); insult, (create...
1796. enubrizo -- to insult
... Phonetic Spelling: (en-oo-brid'-zo) Short Definition: I insult, outrage, treat
contemptuously Definition: I insult, outrage, treat contemptuously,mock at....
Strong's Hebrew
7046. qalas -- tomock, scoff... 7045, 7046. qalas. 7047 . to
mock, scoff. Transliteration: qalas Phonetic
Spelling: (kaw-las') Short Definition:
mock. Word Origin a prim.
...3932. laag -- tomock, deride, stammer
... laag. 3933 . tomock, deride, stammer. Transliteration: laag Phonetic Spelling:
(law-ag') Short Definition: mocked. Word Origin a prim.... laugh, scorn,mock....
2048. hathal -- to deceive,mock
... to deceive,mock. Transliteration: hathal Phonetic Spelling: (haw-thal') Short
Definition: mocked.... root Definition to deceive,mock NASB Word Usage mocked (1)....
4167. muq -- tomock, deride
... muq. 4168 . tomock, deride. Transliteration: muq Phonetic Spelling: (mook) Short
Definition:mock.... root Definition tomock, deride NASB Word Usagemock (1)....
3887. luts -- ambassador, have in derision, interpreter, make a...
... luts. 3888 . ambassador, have in derision, interpreter, make amock, mocker.
Transliteration: luts Phonetic Spelling: (loots) Short Definition: ambassador....
8524. talal -- tomock, deceive, trifle with
... 8523, 8524. talal. 8525 . tomock, deceive, trifle with. Transliteration: talal
Phonetic Spelling: (taw-lal') Short Definition: deceived. Word Origin a prim...
8591a. taa -- tomock
... taa. 8591b . tomock. Transliteration: taa Short Definition: deceiver. Word Origin
a prim. root Definition tomock NASB Word Usage deceiver (1), scoffed (1)....
8591. ta'a' -- tomock
ta'a'. 8590, 8591. ta'a'. 8591a . tomock. Transliteration: ta'a' Phonetic
Spelling: (taw-ah') Short Definition: deceive. deceive, misuse...
7832. sachaq -- to laugh
... 1), celebrate (2), celebrating (3), hold a contest (1), joking (1), laugh (6), laughed
them to scorn (1), laughs (6), merrymakers (2),mock (1), mocked (1...
6711. tsachaq -- to laugh
... laugh,mock, play, make sport. A primitive root; to laugh outright (in merriment
or scorn); by implication, to sport -- laugh,mock, play, make sport....
Library
True Religion Contrasted with theMock Piety of the Pharisees.
... CHAPTER IX. SECOND COURSE OF EXTENDED LABOURS IN GALILEE. IV. True Religion
contrasted with theMock Piety of the Pharisees. Section 156....
Lo! Death was Prompt Beforehand, toMock Satan
... Hymn LVIII. Lo! Death was prompt beforehand, tomock Satan. 1. Lo! Death
was prompt beforehand, tomock Satan: him who was doomed...
Of True Humility, and How Abbot Serapion Exposed theMock Humility...
... The Conferences of John Cassian. Chapter XI. Of true humility, and how
Abbot Serapion exposed themock humility of a certain man....
Excursus on the Conciliabulum Styling Itself the Seventh...
... Excursus on the Conciliabulum Styling Itself the Seventh Ecumenical Council,
But Commonly Called theMock Synod of Constantinople. ad754....
Listen, My Brethren, to Death, Mocking the Evil One: that Caused...
... people!"12. Let the justmock thee at the last, and Joseph rejoice! whose
brethren mocked him, set on by thee!"13. Let vapour...
The Hopeless Condition of the Left-Behind Ones.
... God will laugh at them, laugh at their calamity andmock at their fear. Listen...
sown. Hitherto they had mocked God; now God shallmock them....
And Antony Also was Exceeding Prudent, and the Wonder was that...
... 73. And again others such as these met him in the outer mountain and thought
tomock [1120] him because he had not learned letters....
Psalm CXXIII.
... But perhaps when they are miserable, they do notmock us.... Then perchance theymock
when they are happy, when they boast themselves in the pomp of their riches!...
In Time. The Beginning of Creation.
... meaning, however, appears more plainly in the Book of Job in the passage: [4532]
"This is the beginning of God's creation, made for His angels tomock at." One...
The Crown of Thorns.
... a Roman holiday. Their horseplay took the form of amock coronation. They had...
Thus was themock king dressed up. And then, as on occasions...
Thesaurus
Mock (43 Occurrences)... 3. (vt) To disappoint the hopes of; to deceive; to tantalize; as, to
mock expectation.
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
MOCK; MOCKER; MOCKING.
...Mocking (25 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) ofMock. 2. (a.) Imitating,
esp.... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.MOCK; MOCKER; MOCKING....
Mocker (11 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) A deceiver; an impostor. 3. (n.) A mocking bird. Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia.MOCK; MOCKER; MOCKING. mok, mok'er, mok...
Scorn (65 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) To treat with extreme contempt; to make the object of insult; to
mock; to scoff at; to deride. 6. (vi) To scoff; tomock...
Insult (25 Occurrences)
... (See NAS NIV). Genesis 39:14 she called to the men of her house, and spoke to them,
saying, "Behold, he has brought in a Hebrew to us tomock us....
Abuse (17 Occurrences)
... 11. (vt) Violation; rape; as, abuse of a female child. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
ABUSE. a-buz': "To dishonor," "to makemock of," "to insult," etc....
Mocked (40 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) ofMock. Multi-Version Concordance
Mocked (40 Occurrences). Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, when he...
Scourge (24 Occurrences)
... Matthew 20:19 and will hand him over to the Gentiles tomock, to scourge, and to
crucify; and the third day he will be raised up." (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT...
Third (192 Occurrences)
... Matthew 20:19 and will hand him over to the Gentiles tomock, to scourge, and to
crucify; and the third day he will be raised up." (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS...
Shame (412 Occurrences)
... 6. (vt) To cover with reproach or ignominy; to dishonor; to disgrace. 7. (vt) To
mock at; to deride. 8. (n.) To be ashamed; to feel shame. Int....
Resources
Why does God allow people to mock Him? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that God is not mocked? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that “zeal for your house will consume me” in John 2:17? | GotQuestions.orgMock: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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