The concept of being "tickled" is not directly mentioned in the Bible; however, the idea of being amused or entertained, often associated with being tickled, can be explored through various scriptural themes and passages. In a biblical context, the notion of being "tickled" can be metaphorically linked to the idea of having one's ears "tickled" by teachings that are pleasing but not necessarily truthful or sound.

Ear-Tickling Teachings

The Apostle Paul warns against the danger of seeking teachings that merely satisfy personal desires rather than adhering to sound doctrine. In 2 Timothy 4:3-4 , Paul writes, "For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears, they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." This passage highlights the human tendency to prefer messages that are comforting or entertaining, rather than those that challenge or convict.

The Pursuit of Truth

The Bible consistently emphasizes the importance of seeking truth and wisdom over mere amusement or superficial satisfaction. Proverbs 2:1-5 encourages the pursuit of wisdom: "My son, if you accept my words and hide my commandments within you, if you incline your ear to wisdom and direct your heart to understanding, if you truly call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding, if you seek it like silver and search it out like hidden treasure, then you will discern the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God."

Discernment and Wisdom

The call to discernment is a recurring theme in Scripture. Believers are urged to test all things and hold fast to what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21). This discernment is crucial in distinguishing between teachings that are merely pleasing to the ear and those that are rooted in biblical truth. The Bereans are commended in Acts 17:11 for their noble character, as they "received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true."

Joy and Laughter

While the Bible warns against ear-tickling teachings, it also acknowledges the place of joy and laughter in the life of a believer. Ecclesiastes 3:4 states that there is "a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance." Joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22), and laughter can be a natural expression of the joy found in the Lord. However, this joy is rooted in the truth of God's Word and the salvation found in Christ, rather than in fleeting or superficial amusements.

Conclusion

While the Bible does not explicitly mention being "tickled," it provides guidance on the importance of seeking truth and wisdom over teachings that merely entertain or satisfy personal desires. Believers are encouraged to pursue discernment, embrace the joy found in the Lord, and remain steadfast in sound doctrine.(imp. & p. p.) of Tickle.2833. knetho -- to scratch, itch
... pass: I itch. Word Origin a late form of knao (to scrape) Definition to
scratch, itch NASB Word Usage tickled (1). itching. From a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2833.htm - 6k

Of the Need for Some Protest against the Psychics and their Self ...
... on the very last day of trial, at high noon, you premedicated with drugged wine
as an antidote, and so completely enervated, that on being tickled"for his ...
/.../on fasting in opposition to the psychics/chapter xiiof the need for.htm

Perils to the virgins Themselves Attendant Upon Not-Veiling.
... by the public exhibition [327] of herself, while she is penetrated by the gaze of
untrustworthy and multitudinous' eyes, while she is tickled by pointing ...
/.../tertullian/on the veiling of virgins/chapter xiv perils to the virgins.htm

Book x. It is Manifest that There is Nothing which Men have ever ...
... They delight, with an uncontrollable pleasure, to have their itching ears tickled
by the novelty of their favourite preaching; they estrange themselves utterly ...
/.../hilary/the life and writings of st hilary of poitiers/book x it is manifest.htm

Diamond Became a Great Favourite with all the Men About the Mews. ...
... All the time the old horse went on eating his hay, and, but with an occasional whisk
of his tail when Diamond tickled or scratched him, took no notice of the ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 17 diamond became a.htm

Chapter xii.
... to lust after her," [109] ie turneth toward her with this aim and this intent, that
he may lust after her; which, in fact, is not merely to be tickled [110] by ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/our lords sermon on the mount/chapter xii.htm

How Should we Make Use of Christ, in Going to the Father, in ...
... We are too much tickled and fain when duties go well with us, and troubled on the
other hand when it is not so; and the ground of all this is, because we lean ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/chapter xxix how should we.htm

Against the Sophists.
... show themselves greater chatterers than turtle-doves; scratching and tickling, not
in a manly way, in my opinion, the ears of those who wish to be tickled. ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter iii against the sophists.htm

What Then was this Feeling? for of a Truth it was Too Foul...
... It was the sport, which as it were tickled our hearts, that we beguiled those
who little thought what we were doing, and much disliked it. ...
/.../augustine/the confessions of saint augustine/chapter ix what then was.htm

And Yet, I Sinned Herein, O Lord God, the Creator and Disposer of ...
... For I disobeyed, not from a better choice, but from love of play, loving the pride
of victory in my contests, and to have my ears tickled with lying fables ...
/.../augustine/the confessions of saint augustine/chapter x and yet i.htm

If Perchance it is not This, are victims not Slain in Sacrifice to ...
... by pleasures, that they long for sensual enjoyment, and, like some base creatures,
are affected by agreeable sensations, and charmed and tickled for the moment ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/4 if perchance it is.htm

Tickled (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Tickle. Multi-Version Concordance
Tickled (1 Occurrence). 2 Timothy 4:3 For a time is coming ...
/t/tickled.htm - 6k

Tibni (2 Occurrences)

/t/tibni.htm - 8k

Tidal (2 Occurrences)

/t/tidal.htm - 11k

Wholesome (10 Occurrences)
... 2 Timothy 4:3 For a time is coming when they will not tolerate wholesome instruction,
but, wanting to have their ears tickled, they will find a multitude of ...
/w/wholesome.htm - 10k

Wanting (27 Occurrences)
... 2 Timothy 4:3 For a time is coming when they will not tolerate wholesome instruction,
but, wanting to have their ears tickled, they will find a multitude of ...
/w/wanting.htm - 14k

Fancies (3 Occurrences)
... 2 Timothy 4:3 For a time is coming when they will not tolerate wholesome instruction,
but, wanting to have their ears tickled, they will find a multitude of ...
/f/fancies.htm - 7k

Tolerate (8 Occurrences)
... 2 Timothy 4:3 For a time is coming when they will not tolerate wholesome instruction,
but, wanting to have their ears tickled, they will find a multitude of ...
/t/tolerate.htm - 9k

Satisfy (32 Occurrences)
... 2 Timothy 4:3 For a time is coming when they will not tolerate wholesome instruction,
but, wanting to have their ears tickled, they will find a multitude of ...
/s/satisfy.htm - 16k

Instruction (117 Occurrences)
... 2 Timothy 4:3 For a time is coming when they will not tolerate wholesome instruction,
but, wanting to have their ears tickled, they will find a multitude of ...
/i/instruction.htm - 35k

Instead (139 Occurrences)
... 2 Timothy 4:3 For a time is coming when they will not tolerate wholesome instruction,
but, wanting to have their ears tickled, they will find a multitude of ...
/i/instead.htm - 36k

What does 2 Timothy 4:3 mean by itching ears? | GotQuestions.org

Tickled: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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