1592. ekmuktérizó

Lexical Summary

ekmuktérizó: To mock, to ridicule, to sneer at

Original Word: ἐκμυκτηρίζω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: ekmuktérizó
Pronunciation: ek-mook-tay-REE-zo
Phonetic Spelling: (ek-mook-ter-id'-zo)
KJV: deride
NASB: scoffing, sneering
Word Origin: [from G1537 (ἐκ - among) and G3456 (μυκτηρίζω - mocked)]

1. to sneer outright at

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

deride.

From ek and mukterizo; to sneer outright at -- deride.

see GREEK ek

see GREEK mukterizo

HELPS Word-studies

1592 ekmyktērízō (from 1537 /ek, "out of" and 3456 /myktērízō, "to blow the nose," see there) – properly, turn the nose out (up), i.e. sneer, scoff; (figuratively) scornfully reject ("blow someone off"), like expelling mucus out of the nose.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from ek and muktérizó
Definition
to hold up the nose in derision of
NASB Translation
scoffing (1), sneering (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 1592: ἐκμυκτηρίζω

ἐκμυκτηρίζω: imperfect ἐξεμυκτήριζον; to deride by turning up the nose, to sneer at, scoff at: τινα, Luke 16:14; Luke 23:35. (For לָעַג, Psalm 2:4; (Psalm 34:16 ()); 2 Kings 19:21 (here the simple verb); 1 Esdr. 1:49 Alex.; Ev. Nicod. c. 10. Secular writings use the simple verb (from μυκτήρ the nose); (cf. Winer's Grammar, 25).)

Topical Lexicon

Range of Meaning and Nuance

1592 describes an open, facial display of contempt—curling the lip, flaring the nostril, turning ridicule into a kind of public theater. It is more than a whispered insult; it is mockery meant to be seen and to gather agreement. Scripture reserves the term for reactions to the authoritative words or person of Jesus Christ, thereby highlighting the moral weight of such scorn.

Occurrences in the New Testament

1. Luke 16:14 – “The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all of this and were scoffing at Jesus.”
2. Luke 23:35 – “The people stood watching, and the rulers sneered at Him, saying, ‘He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.’”

These two scenes form book-ends in Luke’s Gospel: rejection of Jesus’ teaching during His ministry and rejection of His person at the cross.

Connection with Wealth-Loving Pharisees (Luke 16:14)

• Context: Jesus has just taught the parable of the shrewd manager, declaring, “You cannot serve both God and money” (Luke 16:13).
• Response: The religious elite, exposed in their greed, answer with sneers. Their outward gesture betrays an inward idolatry; ridicule becomes a shield to defend their love of money.
• Insight for ministry: Confrontation of cherished sins often provokes ridicule. Faithful proclamation must therefore expect and endure scoffing without retreat.

Mockery at Calvary (Luke 23:35)

• Setting: The rulers stand beneath the crucified Christ, savoring what they assume is His defeat.
• Irony: Their jeer—“He saved others; let Him save Himself”—unwittingly declares the very gospel they refuse: Jesus will not save Himself precisely because He is saving others.
• Prophetic echo: Psalm 22:7 anticipated this scene—“All who see me mock me; they sneer and shake their heads.”
• Christ’s response: Silence, prayer for forgiveness (Luke 23:34), and ultimate vindication in resurrection. The passage becomes a template for Christian endurance under persecution.

Old Testament Background of Public Mockery

• Psalm 2:4 – “The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord taunts them.” Divine derision answers human derision.
• Proverbs 3:34 – “He mocks the mockers, but gives grace to the humble.” God’s character stands in moral opposition to scoffing pride.
• Isaiah 37:22 – Zion “shakes her head” at the Assyrian taunter, showing that unbelieving ridicule cannot overthrow God’s purposes.

Eschatological Warnings

• 2 Peter 3:3 predicts the rise of latter-day scoffers who reject the promise of Christ’s return.
• Galatians 6:7 declares that while men may mock God, God will not ultimately be mocked; final judgment will expose every sneer.

The Spiritual Anatomy of Scoffing

1. Pride – An over-high view of self incapable of receiving correction.
2. Unbelief – Rejection of revealed truth, often hidden behind intellectual posturing.
3. Fear – Mockery can serve as a defense mechanism against conviction.
4. Contagion – Public sneering invites others to join, magnifying the sin (Psalm 1:1).

Pastoral and Practical Application

• Expect resistance when preaching truths that confront cultural idols (wealth, autonomy, pleasure).
• Respond with the meekness and courage modeled by Christ—silence when silence serves, gracious words when words serve.
• Remember that ridicule does not nullify truth; it often confirms it.
• Pray for scoffers; some, like Saul of Tarsus, may yet become servants of Christ.
• Teach believers to guard their own hearts from subtle forms of mockery—sarcasm that belittles holiness, humor that undermines reverence.

Summary

1592 captures a visible, audible contempt directed at Jesus and, by extension, at all who bear witness to Him. Scripture traces such scoffing to pride and unbelief, warns that it will continue until the end, and assures that God Himself will have the last word. The faithful are called neither to imitate nor to fear the sneer, but to follow the crucified Lord who “committed Himself to the One who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23).

Forms and Transliterations

εκμυκτηριεί εξεμυκτηριζον εξεμυκτήριζον ἐξεμυκτήριζον εξεμυκτήρισαν εξεμυκτήρισάν exemukterizon exemuktērizon exemykterizon exemyktērizon exemyktḗrizon

Englishman's Concordance

Luke 16:14 V-IIA-3P
GRK: ὑπάρχοντες καὶ ἐξεμυκτήριζον αὐτόν
NAS: these things and were scoffing at Him.
KJV: these things: and they derided him.
INT: being and they derided him

Luke 23:35 V-IIA-3P
GRK: λαὸς θεωρῶν ἐξεμυκτήριζον δὲ καὶ
NAS: the rulers were sneering at Him, saying,
KJV: them derided [him], saying,
INT: people beholding were deriding moreover also

Strong's Greek 1592
2 Occurrences

ἐξεμυκτήριζον — 2 Occ.