Lexical Summary luts: To scoff, to mock, to deride Original Word: לוּץ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance ambassador, have in derision, interpreter, make a mock, mockerA primitive root; properly, to make mouths at, i.e. To scoff; hence (from the effort to pronounce a foreign language) to interpret, or (generally) intercede -- ambassador, have in derision, interpreter, make a mock, mocker, scorn(-er, -ful), teacher. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originthe same as lits, q.v. Brown-Driver-Briggs [לִיץ] verb scorn (Late Hebrew id.; verb not in cognates; compare Phoenician מלץ interpreter CIS22; CIS44; CIS88; Arabic  is turn aside (intransitive); hence perhaps properly speak indirectly or obliquely, FlDe Pr.1, 6); — Qal Perfect3masculine לַצְתָּ Proverbs 9:12; Imperfect יָלִיץ Proverbs 3:34 2t.; Participle לֵץ Proverbs 9:7 11t.; plural לֵצִים Psalm 1:1 3t.; — scorn, וְלַצְתָּ לְבַדְּךָ תִשָּׂא Proverbs 9:12 if thou scornest thou alone shalt bear it (opposed to חָכַמְתָּ), with accusative Proverbs 14:9; Proverbs 19:28; with לְ, לַלֵּצִים הוּאיָֿלִיץ scorners he (God) scorneth Proverbs 3:34; הַלֵּץ the scorner is proud and haughty Proverbs 21:24, delights in scorning Proverbs 1:22, is incapable of discipline Proverbs 9:7, reproof Proverbs 9:8; is Proverbs 15:12, or rebuke is Proverbs 13:1, cannot find wisdom Proverbs 14:6; is an abomination Proverbs 24:9, should be avoided Psalm 1:1; smitten and punished for the benefit of the simple Proverbs 19:25; Proverbs 21:11 and banished for the removal of contention Proverbs 22:10; judgment is prepared for him Proverbs 19:29; "" עָרִיץ Isaiah 29:20; wine is a scorner Proverbs 20:1. — Hiph`il Perfect3masculine plural suffix הֱלִיצֻנִי Psalm 119:51; Participle מֵלִיץ Genesis 42:23; Job 33:23; plural construct מְלִיצֵי2Chronicles 32:31; suffix מְלִיצַי Job 16:20; מְלִיצֶיךָ Isaiah 43:27; — 1 deride Job 16:20; Psalm 119:51. 2 Participle interpreter Genesis 42:23 (E); figurative of intermediaries between God and man, Job 33:28; Isaiah 43:27; ambassador2Chronicles 32:31. Po`lel Participle plural לֹצֲצִים (מְ dropped Köii. 479) scorners Hosea 7:5. Hithpa`el Imperfect תִּתְלוֺצָ֑צוּ act as a scorner, shew oneself a mocker, Isaiah 28:22. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Essence of the Term The verb לוּץ (Strong’s H3887) describes the activity of the “scoffer,” one who turns truth and righteousness into an object of derision. It depicts verbal contempt, but also a settled attitude that resists correction, undermines authority, and fosters rebellion against the covenant purposes of God. Distribution in the Old Testament Approximately twenty-seven passages employ the word. The highest concentration is in Proverbs, where it appears fourteen times. Wisdom literature uses the term programmatically; historical books, psalms, and prophets apply it narratively and polemically. Character Profile of the Scoffer 1. Intellectually unteachable: “A mocker does not listen to rebuke” (Proverbs 13:1). Contrasts and Antitheses – Scoffer versus Wise: “Correct a wise man and he will love you; rebuke a mocker and he will hate you” (compare Proverbs 9:8). – Scoffer versus Humble: “He mocks those who mock, but gives grace to the humble” (Proverbs 3:34). – Scoffer versus Righteous: the blessed man of Psalm 1 deliberately avoids the “seat of mockers.” Consequences of Scoffing Personal—“If you mock, you alone shall bear the consequences” (Proverbs 9:12). Judicial—Divine judgment falls: “For the ruthless will vanish, the mocker will disappear” (Isaiah 29:20). National—“They mocked the messengers of God… until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, and there was no remedy” (2 Chronicles 36:16). Divine Response The Lord’s policy is measured reciprocity: “He mocks those who mock” (Proverbs 3:34). His justice eventually silences every scornful tongue (Isaiah 29:20). Didactic Use in Wisdom Literature Proverbs features a pedagogical strategy: punish the scoffer so the naïve learn (Proverbs 19:25; 21:11). The book treats mockery as a contagion; its presence ruins learning environments, so the teacher is instructed to “drive out the mocker, and conflict goes too” (Proverbs 22:10). Narrative Illustrations 1. National Revival Thwarted—Couriers proclaiming Hezekiah’s Passover are “scorned and ridiculed” (2 Chronicles 30:10). Prophetic Rebuke Isaiah addresses scoffers in leadership: “Hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers who rule this people in Jerusalem” (Isaiah 28:14). Their ridicule of covenant warnings accelerates the coming “overwhelming scourge.” Corporate and Societal Impact Mockery corrodes institutions. Justice is mocked (Proverbs 19:28), civic order is destabilized (Habakkuk 1:10), and worship is despised (2 Chronicles 30:10). Wine itself is labeled a “mocker” (Proverbs 20:1), symbolizing cultural forces that intoxicate society into ridicule of holiness. Practical Ministry Application 1. Discipline—Church leadership must address persistent scoffing to protect the flock (Proverbs 22:10). Christological Foreshadowing The ultimate scoffing fell upon the Messiah (Psalm 22:7-8), fulfilling the pattern that the righteous suffer mockery from the proud. In His resurrection the Father vindicated the One whom men derided, proving that divine justice outlasts human scorn. New Testament Continuity Peter warns of “scoffers who will come in the last days” (2 Peter 3:3), echoing Proverbs. Paul confronts mockers in Athens (Acts 17:32). The Old Testament portrait of לוּץ thus supplies a theological backdrop for apostolic exhortations against cynical unbelief. See Also Scorn; Mockery; Pride; Wine; Discipline; Humility Forms and Transliterations בִּמְלִיצֵ֣י ׀ במליצי הֱלִיצֻ֣נִי הַמֵּלִ֖יץ הליצני המליץ וְ֝לֵ֗ץ וְ֝לַ֗צְתָּ וְלֵצִ֗ים וּמְלִיצֶ֖יךָ ולץ ולצים ולצת ומליציך יָלִ֑יץ יָלִ֣יץ יליץ לֵ֑ץ לֵ֗ץ לֵ֝צִ֗ים לֵ֣ץ לֵ֭ץ לֵֽץ׃ לַלֵּצִ֣ים לַלֵּצִ֥ים ללצים לץ לץ׃ לצים מְלִיצַ֥י מֵלִ֗יץ מליץ מליצי תִּתְלוֹצָ֔צוּ תתלוצצו bim·lî·ṣê bimlîṣê bimliTzei ham·mê·lîṣ hammêlîṣ hammeLitz hĕ·lî·ṣu·nî hĕlîṣunî heliTzuni lal·lê·ṣîm lallêṣîm lalleTzim lê·ṣîm lêṣ lêṣîm Letz leTzim mə·lî·ṣay mê·lîṣ mêlîṣ məlîṣay meLitz meliTzai tiṯ·lō·w·ṣā·ṣū titloTzatzu tiṯlōwṣāṣū ū·mə·lî·ṣe·ḵā ūməlîṣeḵā umeliTzeicha veLatzta veLetz veleTzim wə·laṣ·tā wə·lê·ṣîm wə·lêṣ wəlaṣtā wəlêṣ wəlêṣîm yā·lîṣ yālîṣ yaLitzLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 42:23 HEB: יוֹסֵ֑ף כִּ֥י הַמֵּלִ֖יץ בֵּינֹתָֽם׃ KJV: understood [them]; for he spake unto them by an interpreter. INT: Joseph by an interpreter between 2 Chronicles 32:31 Job 16:20 Job 33:23 Psalm 1:1 Psalm 119:51 Proverbs 1:22 Proverbs 3:34 Proverbs 3:34 Proverbs 9:7 Proverbs 9:8 Proverbs 9:12 Proverbs 13:1 Proverbs 14:6 Proverbs 14:9 Proverbs 15:12 Proverbs 19:25 Proverbs 19:28 Proverbs 19:29 Proverbs 20:1 Proverbs 21:11 Proverbs 21:24 Proverbs 22:10 Proverbs 24:9 Isaiah 28:22 27 Occurrences |
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