Topical Encyclopedia
Ridicule, in the context of the Bible, refers to the act of mocking, deriding, or belittling someone or something, often with the intent to humiliate or scorn. This behavior is frequently addressed in Scripture, where it is depicted as a tool of the wicked and a challenge for the faithful.
Old Testament InstancesRidicule is often portrayed in the Old Testament as a weapon used by the enemies of God and His people. In the book of Nehemiah, for example, when Nehemiah and the Israelites set out to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, they faced ridicule from their adversaries. Sanballat and Tobiah mocked the efforts of the Jews, saying, "What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from the heaps of rubble—burned as they are?" (
Nehemiah 4:2). Despite this mockery, Nehemiah and the people persevered, demonstrating faith and determination in the face of scorn.
The Psalms also address the theme of ridicule, often in the context of the righteous being mocked by the wicked.
Psalm 22, a messianic psalm, vividly describes the suffering of the righteous one who is scorned by others: "All who see me mock me; they sneer and shake their heads" (
Psalm 22:7). This passage not only reflects the personal anguish of the psalmist but also prophetically points to the ridicule faced by Jesus Christ during His crucifixion.
New Testament TeachingsIn the New Testament, ridicule is seen as a common response to the message of the Gospel. Jesus Himself was subjected to mockery, particularly during His trial and crucifixion. The soldiers, after flogging Him, placed a crown of thorns on His head and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" (
Matthew 27:29). This act of ridicule was a fulfillment of the prophecies and a demonstration of the world's rejection of Christ.
The apostles and early Christians also faced ridicule as they spread the Gospel. In
Acts 2, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples at Pentecost, some onlookers mocked them, accusing them of being drunk (
Acts 2:13). Despite this, Peter boldly addressed the crowd, leading to the conversion of many.
Biblical Response to RidiculeThe Bible provides guidance on how believers should respond to ridicule.
Proverbs 9:7-8 advises, "He who corrects a mocker brings shame on himself; he who rebukes a wicked man taints himself. Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you" . This suggests that engaging with mockers may be futile and that wisdom is found in discerning when to speak and when to remain silent.
Jesus taught His followers to expect persecution and ridicule, encouraging them to rejoice in such circumstances: "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven" (
Matthew 5:11-12). This perspective shifts the focus from the pain of ridicule to the eternal reward promised to those who endure.
ConclusionWhile ridicule is a reality for those who follow God, the Bible consistently encourages believers to remain steadfast in their faith. By looking to the examples of Christ and the early church, Christians are reminded that enduring ridicule for the sake of righteousness is a mark of true discipleship.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) Remarks designed to excite laughter with a degree of contempt; wit of that species which provokes contemptuous laughter; disparagement by making a person an object of laughter; banter; -- a term lighter than derision.
2. (n.) An object of sport or laughter; a laughingstock; a laughing matter.
3. (n.) Quality of being ridiculous; ridiculousness.
4. (v. t.) To laugh at mockingly or disparagingly; to awaken ridicule toward or respecting.
5. (a.) Ridiculous.
Greek
2606. katagelao -- to deride... to deride. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: katagelao Phonetic Spelling:
(kat-ag-el-ah'-o) Short Definition: I laugh at,
ridicule Definition: I laugh at
...1702. empaizo -- to mock at
... to mock at. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: empaizo Phonetic Spelling:
(emp-aheed'-zo) Short Definition: I mock Definition: I mock,ridicule....
3456. mukterizo -- to turn up the nose or sneer at
... mock. From a derivative of the base of mukaomai (meaning snout, as that whence lowing
proceeds); to make mouths at, ieRidicule -- mock. see GREEK mukaomai....
2301. theatrizo -- to make a spectacle of
... Cognate: 2301 (from 2302 , "theatre") -- toridicule, making a out of someone,
putting them on for and (used only in Heb 10:33). See 2300 ()....
5512. chleuazo -- to jest, mock, jeer
... 5512 (from , "a joke") -- properly, to joke (jest), ie to scoff (ridicule)
using barbed humor and mocking jeers (used only in Ac 17:32)....
Strong's Hebrew
7046. qalas -- to mock, scoff... mock, scoff, scorn. A primitive root; to disparage, ie
Ridicule -- mock, scoff,
scorn. 7045, 7046. qalas. 7047 . Strong's Numbers.
7048. qallasah -- derision
... Word Origin from qalas Definition derision NASB Word Usage mocking (1). mocking.
Intensive from qalac;ridicule -- mocking. see HEBREW qalac. 7047, 7048....
Library
Dread ofRidicule.
... LXI. DREAD OFRIDICULE. 24th Sunday after Trinity.... SUBJECT."The persecution you will
be subjected to, if you live godly in Jesus Christ is"Ridicule....
September the Fifth Faith andRidicule
... SEPTEMBER The Fifth FAITH ANDRIDICULE. MATTHEW ix.18-26. And, so one man's
faith is more than a match for many people's scorn. The...
Ridicule of the Philosophers.
... Chapter III."Ridicule of the Philosophers. I cannot approve of Heraclitus,
who, being self-taught and arrogant, said, "I have...
Ridicule of the Studies of the Greeks.
... Chapter XXVI."Ridicule of the Studies of the Greeks. Cease to make a parade
of sayings which you have derived from others, and...
Ridicule of the Solemnities of the Greeks.
... Chapter XXII."Ridicule of the Solemnities of the Greeks. And of what sort
are your teachings? Who must not treat with contempt...
Ridicule of the Heathen Divinities.
... Chapter X."Ridicule of the Heathen Divinities. There are legends of the
metamorphosis of men: with you the gods also are metamorphosed....
Ridicule of the Statues Erected by the Greeks.
... Chapter XXXIV."Ridicule of the Statues Erected by the Greeks. Worthy of
very great honour, certainly, was the tyrant Bhalaris, who...
Faustus Seeks to Bring intoRidicule the Orthodox Claim to Believe...
... Faustus seeks to bring intoridicule the orthodox claim to believe in the infinity
of God by caricaturing the anthropomorphic representations of the Old...
He Says, Indeed, that "WeRidicule the Egyptians, Although they...
... Chapter XIX. He says, indeed, that "weridicule the Egyptians, although
they present many by no means? He says, indeed, that "we...
But this Low Jester Celsus, Omitting no Species of Mockery and...
... Chapter XXII. But this low jester Celsus, omitting no species of mockery
andridicule which can be? But this low jester [3493] Celsus...
Thesaurus
Ridicule (14 Occurrences)... 4. (vt) To laugh at mockingly or disparagingly; to awaken
ridicule toward
or respecting. 5. (a.) Ridiculous.
...Ridicule (14 Occurrences).
...Scoff (18 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Derision;ridicule; mockery; derisive
or mocking expression of scorn, contempt, or reproach. 2...
Ridiculed (12 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) ofRidicule. Multi-Version Concordance
Ridiculed (12 Occurrences). Mark 5:40 They ridiculed him....
Deride (7 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (vt) To laugh at with contempt; toridicule; to laugh;
to scorn; to turn toridicule or make sport of; to mock; to scoff at....
Derision (24 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.)Ridicule; mockery; scornful or contemptuous
treatment which holds one up toridicule. 2. (n.) An...
Mockery (12 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.)Ridicule, deriding, exposure to contempt, by mimicry or insincere imitation,
or by a false show of earnestness; a counterfeit appearance....
Chaff (24 Occurrences)
... 6. (vi) To use light, idle language by way of fun orridicule; to banter.
7. (vt) To make fun of; to turn intoridicule by addressing...
Laugh (23 Occurrences)
... sport. 3. (vt) To affect or influence by means of laughter orridicule. 4.
(vt) To express by, or utter with, laughter; -- with out....
Lording (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (n.) The son of a lord; a person of noble lineage. 3. (n.) A little lord; a lordling;
a lord, in contempt orridicule. Multi-Version Concordance...
Laughingstock (10 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) An object ofridicule; a butt of sport. Int.
Standard Bible Encyclopedia. LAUGHING-STOCK. laf'-ing-stok...
Resources
What does the Bible say about satire and/or sarcasm? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about scoffers? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that he who endures to the end will be saved (Matthew 24:13)? | GotQuestions.orgRidicule: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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