Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  8000 The life of the believer  »  8700 Threats to the life of faith  »  8815 ridicule  »  8816 ridicule, nature of

Scripture declares that ridicule of the weak, the poor and the godly is unacceptable. Those who ridicule them invite judgment upon themselves.

Warnings against ridicule

Ridicule is foolish

Proverbs 11:12 See also Proverbs 1:20-22; Proverbs 14:6,9

Ridicule creates trouble

Proverbs 9:12 See also Proverbs 19:29; Proverbs 22:10; Proverbs 29:8; Proverbs 30:17; Matthew 5:22 “Raca” probably means “empty-head”, a term of derision.

Ridicule is a sign of the last days

2 Peter 3:3-4 See also Jude 18

Examples of ridicule

Judges 9:28-29,38; 1 Samuel 17:41-44; 1 Kings 22:24; 2 Kings 2:23-24; Kings 18:23-25; Nehemiah 2:19; Nehemiah 4:1-3

Ridicule associated with divine punishment

Isaiah 14:3-4 See also Isaiah 37:22-23; Jeremiah 49:17; Jeremiah 50:13; Ezekiel 36:1-7; Habakkuk 2:6; Zephaniah 2:15

Micah 2:3-4 See also Deuteronomy 28:37; 1 Kings 9:6-9 pp 2 Chronicles 7:19-22; Jeremiah 19:8; Jeremiah 24:9; Ezekiel 5:14-15; Ezekiel 23:32; Ezekiel 22:3-5; Hosea 7:16; Micah 6:16

Prophets ridicule idolatry

1 Kings 18:27 See also Isaiah 41:7,21-24; Isaiah 44:12-17; Isaiah 46:1-2; Jeremiah 10:3-5

See also

5484  punishment by God
5550  speech, negative
5818  contempt
5879  humiliation
5893  insults
5900  laughter
5951  slander
8365  wisdom, human
8471  respect for human beings
8760  fools, characteristics
8769  idolatry, in OT
8794  persecution