📖 Biblical Definition
Scorn is the disposition of contemptuous derision — the heart that mocks what God has spoken. Scripture treats the scorner as a fixed type, not merely an unbeliever but a militant despiser: "Blessed is the man... that sitteth not in the seat of the scornful" (Psalm 1:1); "Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge" (Proverbs 19:25); "Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee" (Proverbs 9:8). The scorner cannot be argued out of his position because the scoff itself is his argument. The remedy is not more debate — it is the LORD’s own response: "Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly" (Proverbs 3:34).
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
SCORN, n.
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1. Extreme contempt; that disdain which springs from a person's opinion of the meanness of an object, and a consciousness or belief of his own superiority or worth. 2. Subject of extreme contempt, disdain or derision. 3. The act of treating with contempt, or that which excites contempt.
📖 Key Scripture
Psalm 1:1 — "Blessed is the man... that sitteth not in the seat of the scornful."
Proverbs 9:12 — "If thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it."
Proverbs 13:1 — "A scorner heareth not rebuke."
Acts 17:32 — "When they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern discourse has built whole platforms on scorn and called them virtue.
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Psalm 1 names three escalating postures: the counsel of the ungodly, the way of sinners, and finally the seat of the scornful. The progression matters — once a man sits, he is comfortable. He has stopped resisting the contempt and started monetizing it. Twitter, cable news, podcast culture, and large slices of academia have institutionalized the scorner's seat.
Scripture treats the scorner with rare severity: he that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame (Prov 9:7). Engaging him directly is often a mistake; the cure is the gospel reaching deeper than argument. Pray for his eyes to open. In the meantime, do not sit where he sits, do not learn what he laughs at, and do not measure your courage by his contempt.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew luts (H3887); Greek chleuazo (G5512).
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H3887 — luts — to scorn, deride; the scoffer
H3932 — laag — to mock, deride
G5512 — chleuazo — to jeer, scoff
Usage
"Scorn is the seat — once a man sits, he stops listening."
"You cannot reason a scorner out of a sneer; only grace pulls him from the seat."
"A culture that elevates scorn as wit is one verse away from Acts 17."