📖 Biblical Definition
Mockery employing humor to belittle; the device of Sanballat against Nehemiah's wall, of Israel's enemies against the prophets, and of the world against Christ's people (Neh 4:1-3; Heb 11:36).
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Mockery employing humor to belittle.
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Words or actions intended to provoke contemptuous laughter at a person or idea; in Scripture often the first weapon of the enemy when direct opposition is too costly — Sanballat ridiculed before Tobiah attacked, Job's mockers laughed before they accused.
📖 Key Scripture
Nehemiah 4:1-2 — "When Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth... and mocked the Jews. And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews?"
Hebrews 11:36 — "And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment."
Acts 17:32 — "When they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Treated as harmless wit; Scripture treats it as a weapon often deployed against godly work.
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Ridicule has been recoded as legitimate political and cultural weapon — late-night television, viral takedowns, public shaming campaigns. The age defends it as "punching up." Scripture treats it as a weapon often deployed against godly work; Sanballat ridiculed before he attacked, and the cross-watchers ridiculed the Crucified.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Latin ridiculum — laughable.
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['Latin', '—', 'ridiculum', 'laughable thing']
['Greek', 'G1701', 'empaigmos', 'mocking']
Usage
"Expect ridicule; build anyway."
"Sanballat mocked first; opposed second."