📖 Biblical Definition
A song or speech of bitter mockery, especially the prophetic taunt-song against fallen kings and nations. Hebrew mashal in this specific genre: a proverb-song that derides a defeated enemy. The canonical example is Isaiah 14, the taunt against the king of Babylon: How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! (v. 12) — a song that begins as derision of Babylon's human king and lifts toward the dragon-fall behind every tyrant. Habakkuk 2:6 introduces a fivefold woe-taunt against the Chaldean: Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him? Micah 2:4 promises that when judgment falls, the people will take up a parable against themselves. The taunt-song is a specific prophetic genre with theological function: the LORD's victory over His enemies is rehearsed in song, not gloated over personally but proclaimed publicly as testimony to His justice. The taunt belongs to the LORD's vindication, not the saints' private contempt.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
A bitter mocking speech, especially prophetic against the fallen.
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A speech or song of bitter mockery; the prophets compose extended taunt-songs against fallen Babylon (Isa 14), Tyre (Ezek 27), and the proud rich (Hab 2). The form is divinely sanctioned poetic mockery of evil judged.
📖 Key Scripture
Isaiah 14:4 — "Thou shalt take up this proverb (taunt) against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!"
Habakkuk 2:6 — "Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him."
Micah 2:4 — "In that day shall one take up a parable against you, and lament with a doleful lamentation."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Confused with personal insult; Scripture's taunt is a prophetic genre against systemic evil.
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The biblical taunt is corporate and prophetic, not personal. The prophet sings a taunt over the fallen tyrant after God has judged him. It is not playground mockery; it is canonical mocking-poetry of evil broken.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew mashal — taunt-proverb.
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['Hebrew', 'H4912', 'mashal', 'proverb, taunt-song']
['Hebrew', 'H2778', 'charaph', 'to reproach']
Usage
"Read Isaiah 14 as a taunt-song over Babylon."
"Prophetic taunt is canonical."