3932. laag

Lexicon

laag: To mock, deride, scorn

Original Word: לָעַג
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: la`ag
Pronunciation: lah-ag
Phonetic Spelling: (law-ag')
Definition: To mock, deride, scorn
Meaning: to deride, to speak unintelligibly

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

laugh, scorn, mock

A primitive root; to deride; by implication (as if imitating a foreigner) to speak unintelligibly -- have in derision, laugh (to scorn), mock (on), stammering.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to mock, deride, stammer
NASB Translation
laugh (1), mock (3), mocked (5), mocks (4), scoff (2), scoffs (1), sneer (1), stammering (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[לָעַג] verb mock, deride; also (Niph`al) stammer, in poetry (Late Hebrew Hiph`il id.; ᵑ7 לְעֵג Aph`el id.; stutter (compare Late Hebrew לִגְלֵג mock, ᵑ7 לַגְלֵג id.; Syriac stutter, Arabic id.)); —

Qal Perfect3feminine singular לָֽעֲגָה 2 Kings 19:21; Isaiah 37:22; Imperfect יִלְעַגֿ Job 22:19; Psalm 2:4 יִלְעָ֑ג Job 9:23; 3feminine singular תִּלְעַג Proverbs 30:17; 2masculine singular תִּלְעַג Psalm 59:9, ׳וַתִּל Job 11:3; 1singular אֶלְעַג Proverbs 1:26; 3masculine plural יִלְעֲגוּֿ Psalm 80:7; Participle לֹעֵג Proverbs 17:5; Jeremiah 20:7; — mock, deride, have in derision, of Jerusalem triumphing over enemy (with לְ person or thing) 2 Kings 19:21 = Isaiah 37:22 ("" בזה); of the innocent Job 22:19 ("" שׂמח); of God (with לְ) Job 9:23; Psalm 2:4; Psalm 59:9; absolute of wisdom Proverbs 1:26 ("" שׂחק); of wicked (with לְ) Proverbs 17:5 ("" שׂמח), Proverbs 30:17 ("" בוז), Jeremiah 20:7 ("" שׂחק); so also perhaps Psalm 80:7 (read לָנוּ for לָמוֺ with ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ9), compare (absolute) Job 11:3.

Niph`al Participle עַם ֗֗֗ נִלְעַג לָשׁוֺן Isaiah 33:19 a people stammering of tongue (i.e. barbarians, compare v^a; but read נעלג [√ עלג] Gr^{Monatsschr. 1884, 45}; "" עִמְקֵי שָׂפָה).

Hiph`il (late; compare Late Hebrew) Imperfect3masculine singular וַיַּלְעֵג Nehemiah 3:33; 2masculine singular תַּלְעִיג Job 21:3; 3masculine plural יַלְעִגוּ Psalm 22:8, וַיַּלְעִגוּ Nehemiah 2:19; Participle מַלְעִגִים2Chronicles 30:10; — mock, deride, always in bad sense: with לְ person Nehemiah 2:19 ("" בזה), Psalm 22:8; with עַלֿ person Nehemiah 3:33; with בְּ person 2 Chronicles 30:10 ("" השׂחיק); absolute Job 21:3. — So also יִלְעִיג (or יִלְעַג) Proverbs 18:1 for ᵑ0 יִתְגַּלַּע Gr^{l. c} (see גלע, p. 166 above).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G1592 (ἐκμυκτηρίζω, ekmukterizo): To deride, to mock
• G2606 (καταγελάω, katagelao): To laugh at, to scorn
• G3456 (μυκτηρίζω, mukterizo): To sneer at, to mock

These Greek terms reflect similar themes of derision and scorn found in the New Testament, often in the context of mocking Jesus or His followers. The connection between the Hebrew and Greek terms highlights the continuity of this concept across both Testaments, emphasizing the moral and spiritual implications of mockery in biblical theology.

Usage: The verb לָעַג (la'ag) is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe actions of mocking or deriding someone, often in a contemptuous or scornful manner. It can also imply speaking in a way that is unintelligible or nonsensical, akin to babbling or stammering.

Context: • The root לָעַג (la'ag) appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, often associated with ridicule or scorn directed towards individuals or groups. This term is used to describe the actions of those who mock others, whether in a direct confrontation or through derisive speech.
• In the context of the Hebrew Scriptures, mocking is often portrayed as a negative behavior, associated with the wicked or those who oppose God's people. For example, in 2 Kings 19:21, the term is used to describe the mocking of the Assyrian king by the people of Jerusalem: "This is the word that the LORD has spoken against him: 'The Virgin Daughter of Zion despises you and mocks you; the Daughter of Jerusalem shakes her head behind you.'"
• The act of mocking is not only directed towards humans but can also be seen in the context of idolatry, where false gods are derided for their impotence and inability to save (Isaiah 44:9-20).
• The usage of לָעַג (la'ag) underscores the biblical theme of the futility and moral corruption associated with mockery, contrasting it with the wisdom and righteousness that come from reverence for God.

Forms and Transliterations

אֶ֝לְעַ֗ג אלעג וַ֝תִּלְעַ֗ג וַיַּלְעִ֣גוּ וַיַּלְעֵ֖ג וּלְלַ֖עַג וּמַלְעִגִ֖ים וילעג וילעגו וללעג ומלעגים ותלעג יִלְעֲגוּ־ יִלְעַג־ יִלְעָֽג׃ יַלְעִ֣גוּ ילעג־ ילעג׃ ילעגו ילעגו־ לָעֲגָ֣ה לֹעֵ֣ג לֹעֵ֥ג לעג לעגה נִלְעַ֥ג נלעג תִּ֝לְעַ֗ג תִּֽלְעַ֣ג תַלְעִֽיג׃ תלעג תלעיג׃ ’el‘aḡ ’el·‘aḡ elAg lā‘ăḡāh lā·‘ă·ḡāh laaGah lō‘êḡ lō·‘êḡ loEg nil‘aḡ nil·‘aḡ nilAg ṯal‘îḡ ṯal·‘îḡ talIg til‘aḡ til·‘aḡ tilAg ū·lə·la·‘aḡ ū·mal·‘i·ḡîm ūləla‘aḡ uleLaag ūmal‘iḡîm umaliGim vaiyalEg vaiyalIgu vattilAg wat·til·‘aḡ wattil‘aḡ way·yal·‘êḡ way·yal·‘i·ḡū wayyal‘êḡ wayyal‘iḡū yal‘iḡū yal·‘i·ḡū yalIgu yil‘āḡ yil‘aḡ- yil‘ăḡū- yil·‘ă·ḡū- yil·‘āḡ yil·‘aḡ- yilAg yilagu

Englishman's Concordance

2 Kings 19:21
HEB: בָּזָ֨ה לְךָ֜ לָעֲגָ֣ה לְךָ֗ בְּתוּלַת֙
NAS: him: 'She has despised you and mocked you, The virgin
KJV: hath despised thee, [and] laughed thee to scorn; the daughter
INT: against has despised and mocked the virgin daughter

2 Chronicles 30:10
HEB: מַשְׂחִיקִ֣ים עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם וּמַלְעִגִ֖ים בָּֽם׃
NAS: but they laughed them to scorn and mocked them.
KJV: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.
INT: laughed and and mocked

Nehemiah 2:19
HEB: וְגֶ֙שֶׁם֙ הָֽעַרְבִ֔י וַיַּלְעִ֣גוּ לָ֔נוּ וַיִּבְז֖וּ
NAS: heard [it], they mocked us and despised
KJV: heard [it], they laughed us to scorn, and despised
INT: and Geshem the Arab mocked and despised against

Nehemiah 4:1
HEB: וַיִּכְעַ֖ס הַרְבֵּ֑ה וַיַּלְעֵ֖ג עַל־ הַיְּהוּדִֽים׃
NAS: and very angry and mocked the Jews.
KJV: indignation, and mocked the Jews.
INT: angry and very and mocked and the Jews

Job 9:23
HEB: לְמַסַּ֖ת נְקִיִּ֣ם יִלְעָֽג׃
NAS: suddenly, He mocks the despair
KJV: suddenly, he will laugh at the trial
INT: the despair of the innocent mocks

Job 11:3
HEB: מְתִ֣ים יַחֲרִ֑ישׁו וַ֝תִּלְעַ֗ג וְאֵ֣ין מַכְלִֽם׃
NAS: men? And shall you scoff and none
KJV: hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?
INT: men silence mockest and none ashamed

Job 21:3
HEB: וְאַחַ֖ר דַּבְּרִ֣י תַלְעִֽיג׃
NAS: I have spoken, you may mock.
KJV: and after that I have spoken, mock on.
INT: after have spoken may mock

Job 22:19
HEB: וְיִשְׂמָ֑חוּ וְ֝נָקִ֗י יִלְעַג־ לָֽמוֹ׃
NAS: And the innocent mock them,
KJV: and the innocent laugh them to scorn.
INT: glad and the innocent mock

Psalm 2:4
HEB: יִשְׂחָ֑ק אֲ֝דֹנָ֗י יִלְעַג־ לָֽמוֹ׃
NAS: laughs, The Lord scoffs at them.
KJV: the Lord shall have them in derision.
INT: laughs the Lord scoffs

Psalm 22:7
HEB: כָּל־ רֹ֭אַי יַלְעִ֣גוּ לִ֑י יַפְטִ֥ירוּ
NAS: who see me sneer at me; They separate
KJV: All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out
INT: All see sneer separate the lip

Psalm 59:8
HEB: תִּשְׂחַק־ לָ֑מוֹ תִּ֝לְעַ֗ג לְכָל־ גּוֹיִֽם׃
NAS: laugh at them; You scoff at all
KJV: at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.
INT: LORD laugh scoff all the nations

Psalm 80:6
HEB: לִשְׁכֵנֵ֑ינוּ וְ֝אֹיְבֵ֗ינוּ יִלְעֲגוּ־ לָֽמוֹ׃
NAS: And our enemies laugh among themselves.
KJV: and our enemies laugh among themselves.
INT: to our neighbors and our enemies laugh

Proverbs 1:26
HEB: בְּאֵידְכֶ֣ם אֶשְׂחָ֑ק אֶ֝לְעַ֗ג בְּבֹ֣א פַחְדְּכֶֽם׃
NAS: at your calamity; I will mock when your dread
KJV: at your calamity; I will mock when your fear
INT: your calamity laugh will mock comes your dread

Proverbs 17:5
HEB: לֹעֵ֣ג לָ֭רָשׁ חֵרֵ֣ף
NAS: He who mocks the poor taunts
KJV: Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth
INT: mocks the poor taunts

Proverbs 30:17
HEB: עַ֤יִן ׀ תִּֽלְעַ֣ג לְאָב֮ וְתָב֪וּז
NAS: The eye that mocks a father And scorns
KJV: The eye [that] mocketh at [his] father,
INT: the eye mocks A father and despiseth

Isaiah 33:19
HEB: שָׂפָה֙ מִשְּׁמ֔וֹעַ נִלְעַ֥ג לָשׁ֖וֹן אֵ֥ין
NAS: one comprehends, Of a stammering tongue
KJV: than thou canst perceive; of a stammering tongue,
INT: speech comprehends of a stammering tongue no

Isaiah 37:22
HEB: בָּזָ֨ה לְךָ֜ לָעֲגָ֣ה לְךָ֗ בְּתוּלַת֙
NAS: him: She has despised you and mocked you, The virgin
KJV: hath despised thee, [and] laughed thee to scorn; the daughter
INT: against has despised and mocked the virgin daughter

Jeremiah 20:7
HEB: הַיּ֔וֹם כֻּלֹּ֖ה לֹעֵ֥ג לִֽי׃
NAS: day long; Everyone mocks me.
KJV: daily, every one mocketh me.
INT: day Everyone mocks

Ezekiel 23:32
HEB: תִּהְיֶ֥ה לִצְחֹ֛ק וּלְלַ֖עַג מִרְבָּ֥ה לְהָכִֽיל׃
INT: become will be laughed mock much contains

19 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 3932
19 Occurrences

’el·‘aḡ — 1 Occ.
lā·‘ă·ḡāh — 2 Occ.
lō·‘êḡ — 2 Occ.
nil·‘aḡ — 1 Occ.
ṯal·‘îḡ — 1 Occ.
til·‘aḡ — 2 Occ.
ū·lə·la·‘aḡ — 1 Occ.
ū·mal·‘i·ḡîm — 1 Occ.
way·yal·‘êḡ — 1 Occ.
way·yal·‘i·ḡū — 1 Occ.
wat·til·‘aḡ — 1 Occ.
yal·‘i·ḡū — 1 Occ.
yil·‘āḡ — 3 Occ.
yil·‘ă·ḡū- — 1 Occ.