Topical Bible: Laughing

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Topical Encyclopedia

Definition and General Overview:
Laughing is a physical expression of joy, amusement, or derision, often characterized by vocal sounds and facial movements. In the Bible, laughter is depicted in various contexts, ranging from expressions of joy and celebration to scorn and disbelief. The act of laughing can reflect a person's inner state and is often used to convey deeper spiritual truths.

Biblical Instances of Laughter:

1. Laughter of Joy and Celebration:
· Sarah's Laughter: One of the most notable instances of laughter in the Bible is Sarah's reaction to the promise of a son in her old age. Initially, Sarah laughs in disbelief when she hears the prophecy (Genesis 18:12). However, her laughter turns to joy upon the birth of Isaac, whose name means "he laughs." Sarah declares, "God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears of this will laugh with me" (Genesis 21:6).
· Joyful Laughter in Psalms: The Psalms often associate laughter with joy and divine blessing. Psalm 126:2 describes the laughter of the Israelites upon their return from exile: "Then our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with shouts of joy" .

2. Laughter of Scorn and Derision:
· Mocking Laughter: Laughter is also used to express scorn or derision. In the account of Elisha, young boys mock the prophet, saying, "Go up, you baldhead!" (2 Kings 2:23). Their laughter is not one of joy but of contempt, leading to a severe consequence.
· Divine Laughter: The Bible also speaks of God laughing in derision at the plans of the wicked. Psalm 2:4 states, "The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them" . This laughter signifies God's supreme authority and the futility of human rebellion against His will.

3. Laughter of Disbelief:
· Abraham's Laughter: Similar to Sarah, Abraham also laughs when God promises him a son through Sarah. His laughter is a mix of disbelief and wonder at the prospect of fathering a child at his advanced age (Genesis 17:17).

Theological Implications:
Laughter in the Bible often serves as a reflection of human emotions in response to God's actions and promises. It can signify a range of emotions from disbelief to joy, and from scorn to celebration. Theologically, laughter can be seen as a response to the unexpected and miraculous works of God, as well as a reminder of His ultimate authority over human affairs.

Moral and Ethical Considerations:
The Bible encourages believers to discern the nature of their laughter. Joyful laughter that stems from gratitude and recognition of God's blessings is celebrated, while mocking or scornful laughter is discouraged. Proverbs 14:13 warns, "Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in sorrow" , highlighting the complexity of human emotions and the importance of aligning one's heart with God's truth.

Cultural and Historical Context:
In ancient Near Eastern cultures, laughter was a common expression of both joy and derision. The biblical narratives reflect this cultural understanding, using laughter to convey complex emotional and spiritual realities. The transformation of Sarah's laughter from disbelief to joy underscores the transformative power of faith and God's faithfulness to His promises.

Conclusion:
Laughter in the Bible is multifaceted, serving as an expression of human emotion in response to divine interaction. Whether in joy, disbelief, or scorn, laughter reveals the heart's posture towards God and His works.

Topical Bible Verses

Genesis 18:15
Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, No; but you did laugh.
Topicalbible.org

Ecclesiastes 3:4
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
Topicalbible.org

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Laugh.

2. (a. & n.) from Laugh.

Greek

2606. katagelao -- to deride
... Word Origin from kata and gelao Definition to deride NASB Word Usage laughing
(3). laugh at, scorn. To laugh down, ie Deride -- laugh to scorn. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2606.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

4890. mischaq -- object of derision
... object of derision. Transliteration: mischaq Phonetic Spelling: (mis-khawk') Short
Definition: laughing. ... scorn. From Shachatsowm; a laughing-stock -- scorn. ...
/hebrew/4890.htm - 6k

7047. qeles -- derision
... Word Origin from qalas Definition derision NASB Word Usage derision (3). derision.
From qalac; a laughing-stock -- derision. see HEBREW qalac. 7046, 7047. ...
/hebrew/7047.htm - 6k

Library

Whether Derision is a Special Sin Distinct from those Already ...
... mentioned above. For laughing to scorn is apparently the same as derision.
But laughing to scorn pertains to reviling. Therefore ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether derision is a special.htm

Definitions, Genera, and Species.
... The faculty of laughing, accordingly, being added to the definition of man, makes
the whole"a rational, mortal, terrestrial, walking, laughing animal. ...
/.../the stromata or miscellanies/chapter vi definitions genera and species.htm

On Laughter.
... to be found imitators of things of which we are prohibited to be listeners; and
still more absurd for a man to set about making himself a laughing-stock, that ...
/.../clement/the instructor paedagogus/chapter v on laughter.htm

ecce Iterum Crispinus!'
... Neither, you trifler from Antioch!' answered Eutyches, laughing; but they look like
spectres. ... Why? Did he think one ear enough?' asked Eutyches, laughing. ...
/.../chapter xliii ecce iterum crispinus.htm

O what Amazement Befel the Evil One, of a Sudden, My Brethren ...
... craftiness."12. Carved images henceforth are a mockery and the carvers:
a derision, and the worshippers a laughing-stock."13. I ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn lx o what amazement.htm

MAY MIRACLES
... Wrought us by the May? See how all are laughing yonder,. Whether priest or lay. ...
Welcoming the May. With our dancing, laughing, singing: No sad dumps to-day! ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/winkworth/christian singers of germany/may miracles.htm

The Anthropomorphites not So Bad as the Manich??ans.
... I join with you in laughing at the folly of carnal men, unable as yet to form
spiritual conceptions, who think of God as having a human form. ...
/.../chapter 23 name anthropomorphites not.htm

Wesley and the Oatmeal Sellers
... I had observed to the society last week that I had not seen one congregation ever
in Ireland behave so ill at church as that at Athlone, laughing and staring ...
/.../wesley/the journal of john wesley/wesley and the oatmeal sellers.htm

Reductio Ad Absurdum
... should be standing here now with us all, circumscribed by the limits of this small
court." Then Simon, seeing Peter and all the people laughing, said: "Do you ...
/.../unknown/recognitions of clement /chapter lii reductio ad absurdum.htm

Philip and the Desposyni
... houses opened beneath them as they rode up the mountain-path; and here and
there"for it happened to be a day of festival"they met little laughing groups of ...
/.../chapter lxiv philip and the.htm

Thesaurus

Laughing (38 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Laughing (38 Occurrences). Matthew 9:24 He said, Make
room; for the girl is not dead, but sleeping. And they were laughing at him. ...
/l/laughing.htm - 17k

Laughing-stock (3 Occurrences)
Laughing-stock. Laughingstock, Laughing-stock. Laughs . Int. Standard
Bible Encyclopedia LAUGHING-STOCK. laf'-ing-stok: Something ...
/l/laughing-stock.htm - 8k

Laughingstock (10 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) An object of ridicule; a butt of sport. Int.
Standard Bible Encyclopedia. LAUGHING-STOCK. laf'-ing-stok ...
/l/laughingstock.htm - 9k

Laughter (14 Occurrences)
... has also this sense (Job 8:21 Psalm 126:2). It is, however, "laughed to scorn" in
Job 12:4; the Revised Version (British and American) "laughing-stock"; so ...
/l/laughter.htm - 13k

Sport (99 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 36:16 But they put shame on the servants of God, making sport of his
words and laughing at his prophets, till the wrath of God was moved against ...
/s/sport.htm - 35k

Scorn (65 Occurrences)
... In Habakkuk 1:10 (the King James Version) the word translated "scorn" is micchaq,
"an object of laughter," "laughing-stock." In Psalm 44:13; Psalm 79:4 the ...
/s/scorn.htm - 31k

Newly-married (8 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 7:34 And in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, I will
put an end to the laughing voices, the voice of joy and the voice of the newly ...
/n/newly-married.htm - 9k

Mocking (25 Occurrences)
... 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 ...
/m/mocking.htm - 18k

Voices (76 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 7:34 And in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, I will
put an end to the laughing voices, the voice of joy and the voice of the newly ...
/v/voices.htm - 29k

Resources

Does God have a sense of humor? | GotQuestions.org

What is holy laughter? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Third Wave Movement? | GotQuestions.org

Laughing: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Laughing (38 Occurrences)

Matthew 9:24
He said, Make room; for the girl is not dead, but sleeping. And they were laughing at him.
(BBE NAS)

Mark 5:40
And they were laughing at him. But he, having sent them all out, took the father of the child and her mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was.
(BBE YLT NAS)

Mark 15:31
In the same way the chief priests, laughing at him among themselves with the scribes, said, A saviour of others, he has no salvation for himself.
(BBE)

Luke 6:25
Unhappy are you who are full of food now: for you will be in need. Unhappy are you who are laughing now: for you will be crying in sorrow.
(BBE YLT)

Luke 8:53
And they were laughing at him, being certain that she was dead.
(BBE NAS)

Luke 14:29
For fear that if he makes a start and is not able to go on with it to the end, all who see it will be laughing at him,
(BBE)

Luke 23:11
Then, laughing to scorn the claims of Jesus, Herod (and his soldiers with him)
(WEY)

James 4:9
Be troubled, with sorrow and weeping; let your laughing be turned to sorrow and your joy to grief.
(BBE)

Genesis 17:17
Then Abraham went down on his face, and laughing, said in his heart, May a man a hundred years old have a child? will Sarah, at ninety years old, give birth?
(BBE)

Genesis 18:12
And Sarah, laughing to herself, said, Now that I am used up am I still to have pleasure, my husband himself being old?
(BBE)

Genesis 18:13
And the Lord said, Why was Sarah laughing and saying, Is it possible for me, being old, to give birth to a child?
(BBE)

Genesis 18:15
Then Sarah said, I was not laughing; for she was full of fear. And he said, No, but you were laughing.
(BBE)

Genesis 21:6
And Sarah said, God has given me cause for laughing, and everyone who has news of it will be laughing with me.
(BBE)

Judges 5:11
Give ear to the women laughing by the water-springs; there they will give again the story of the upright acts of the Lord, all the upright acts of his arm in Israel.
(BBE)

2 Chronicles 30:10
And the runners are passing over from city to city, in the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, even unto Zebulun: and they are laughing at them, and mocking at them,
(YLT)

2 Chronicles 36:16
But they put shame on the servants of God, making sport of his words and laughing at his prophets, till the wrath of God was moved against his people, till there was no help.
(BBE)

Nehemiah 2:19
But Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, hearing of it, made sport of us, laughing at us and saying, What are you doing? will you go against the king?
(BBE)

Job 8:21
Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.
(KJV BBE DBY WBS)

Job 12:4
I am as one that is a laughing-stock to his neighbor, I who called upon God, and he answered: The just, the perfect man is a laughing-stock.
(ASV BBE JPS RSV NIV)

Job 17:2
Truly, those who make sport of me are round about me, and my eyes become dark because of their bitter laughing.
(BBE)

Job 29:24
I was laughing at them when they had no hope, and the light of my face was never clouded by their fear.
(BBE)

Psalms 2:4
Then he whose seat is in the heavens will be laughing: the Lord will make sport of them.
(BBE)

Psalms 52:6
The upright will see it with fear, and will say, laughing at you:
(BBE)

Psalms 59:8
But you are laughing at them, O Lord; you will make sport of all the nations.
(BBE)

Psalms 80:6
You make us a cause of war among our neighbours; our haters are laughing at us among themselves.
(BBE)

Psalms 126:2
Then our mouths were full of laughing, and our tongues gave a glad cry; they said among the nations, The Lord has done great things for them.
(BBE)

Proverbs 1:26
So in the day of your trouble I will be laughing; I will make sport of your fear;
(BBE)

Proverbs 14:13
Even while laughing the heart may be sad; and after joy comes sorrow.
(BBE)

Proverbs 29:9
If a wise man goes to law with a foolish man, he may be angry or laughing, but there will be no rest.
(BBE)

Ecclesiastes 2:2
Of laughing I said, It is foolish; and of joy--What use is it?
(BBE)

Ecclesiastes 3:4
A time for weeping and a time for laughing; a time for sorrow and a time for dancing;
(BBE)

Ecclesiastes 10:19
A feast is for laughing, and wine makes glad the heart; but by the one and the other money is wasted.
(BBE)

Jeremiah 7:34
And in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, I will put an end to the laughing voices, the voice of joy and the voice of the newly-married man and the voice of the bride: for the land will become a waste.
(BBE)

Jeremiah 20:8
For every word I say is a cry for help; I say with a loud voice, Violent behaviour and wasting: because the word of the Lord is made a shame to me and a cause of laughing all the day.
(BBE)

Jeremiah 25:10
And more than this, I will take from them the sound of laughing voices, the voice of joy, the voice of the newly-married man, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the stones crushing the grain, and the shining of lights.
(BBE)

Jeremiah 30:19
And from them will go out praise and the sound of laughing: and I will make them great in number, and they will not become less; and I will give them glory, and they will not be small.
(BBE)

Ezekiel 22:4
You are responsible for the blood drained out by you, and you are unclean through the images which you have made; and you have made your day come near, and the time of your judging has come; for this cause I have made you a name of shame to the nations and a cause of laughing to all countries.
(BBE NIV)

Habakkuk 1:10
And at kings it doth scoff, And princes 'are' a laughter to it, At every fenced place it doth laugh, And it heapeth up dust, and captureth it.
(See NAS)

Subtopics

Laughing

Related Terms

Laughing (38 Occurrences)

Jest (1 Occurrence)

Laughing-stock (3 Occurrences)

Ridicule (14 Occurrences)

Song (207 Occurrences)