Lexical Summary empaiktés: Mocker, scoffer Original Word: ἐμπαίκτης Strong's Exhaustive Concordance mocker, scoffer. From empaizo; a derider, i.e. (by implication) a false teacher -- mocker, scoffer. see GREEK empaizo HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 1703 empaíktēs – a scoffer (mocker). See 1702 (empaizō). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom empaizó Definition a mocker, i.e. by impl. a false teacher NASB Translation mockers (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1703: ἐμπαίκτηςἐμπαίκτης (see ἐν, III. 3), ἐμπαικτου, ὁ, (ἐμπαίζω), a mocker, a scoffer: 2 Peter 3:3; Jude 1:18; playing like children, Isaiah 3:4. Not used by secular authors. Topical Lexicon Scope of the TermStrong’s Greek 1703 designates men and women who openly ridicule the truth of God, treat His promises with contempt, and entice others to adopt the same posture of unbelief. Scripture consistently presents such scoffers as moral rather than merely intellectual opponents of divine revelation; their mockery springs from “their own evil desires” (2 Peter 3:3) and “ungodly desires” (Jude 1:18). Occurrences in the New Testament • 2 Peter 3:3 – “Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.” Though limited to two verses, these appearances are strategic. Both occur in epistles that combat false teachers and assure believers of the certainty of Christ’s coming judgment. The scoffer is therefore the archetypal antagonist in the church’s final chapter of history. Links to Old Testament Wisdom Literature Peter and Jude stand within a long biblical tradition that contrasts the righteous with “scoffers” (Psalms 1:1; Proverbs 9:7–8; 13:1). Hebrew wisdom often portrays the scoffer as hardened, unreachable by rebuke, and a corrosive influence on community life. The New Testament writers amplify this profile, showing that such mockery will intensify as history nears its culmination. Eschatological Emphasis 1. Denial of Divine Intervention Scoffers question the very foundation of biblical hope—God’s direct involvement in time. Peter records their taunt: “Where is the promise of His coming?” (2 Peter 3:4). By rejecting future judgment, they free themselves, in their own minds, from accountability. 2. Willful Forgetfulness Peter stresses that their ignorance is chosen: they “deliberately overlook” God’s past acts (3:5–6). The scoffer’s problem is moral rebellion, not insufficient evidence. 3. Inevitable Reckoning Both epistles counter mockery with a reinforced declaration that the Lord’s return is certain and His judgment sure (2 Peter 3:7–10; Jude 1:14–15). Historical Setting and Church Context The late first-century church faced speculative philosophies, libertine sects, and early strains of Gnosticism. Such movements often ridiculed the hope of bodily resurrection or a literal Parousia. Peter and Jude write to stabilize believers amid these voices, equipping them to discern mockery that masks moral compromise. Ministry Implications 1. Apologetic Readiness Shepherds must prepare congregations to meet intellectual scorn with gracious truth (1 Peter 3:15), pairing sound argument with holy living that undercuts accusations of hypocrisy. 2. Moral Vigilance Because scoffing is fueled by sinful desire, leaders address the heart, not merely the mind. Church discipline, clear teaching on holiness, and pastoral care guard saints from subtle contagion (2 Peter 3:17). 3. Patient Endurance Believers resist discouragement by remembering that apparent delay magnifies divine mercy (3:9). The antidote to scoffing is trust in God’s timetable and commitment to “holy and godly lives” (3:11). Contemporary Application Modern culture prizes irony and skepticism, often cloaking rebellion in humor. The biblical portrait of ἐμπαῖκται calls the church to discern between honest inquiry and mocking unbelief, engaging the first with compassion and the second with sober warning, always anchored in the certainty of Christ’s return. Related Concepts • Unbelief (John 3:18–20) Summary Strong’s 1703 encapsulates a timeless reality: deliberate mockery of God’s promises will characterize the climactic era before Christ’s appearing. Scripture equips believers not merely to refute the scoffer’s arguments but to live in such a way that their very hope exposes scoffing for what it is—an evanescent rebellion against an unchanging Judge. Forms and Transliterations εμπαικται εμπαίκται ἐμπαῖκται εμπαραγίνεταί empaiktai empaîktaiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Peter 3:3 N-NMPGRK: ἐν ἐμπαιγμονῇ ἐμπαῖκται κατὰ τὰς NAS: days mockers will come KJV: the last days scoffers, walking after INT: with mocking mockers according to the Jude 1:18 N-NMP |
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