Lexical Summary muq: To decay, to waste away, to pine Original Word: מוּק Strong's Exhaustive Concordance be corrupt A primitive root; to jeer, i.e. (intens.) Blaspheme -- be corrupt. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to mock, deride NASB Translation mock (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [מוּק, מִיק] verb mock, deride (Aramaic Pa`el מַיֵּיק,  , and Aph`el אָמֵיק); — Imperfect3masculine plural (probably Hiph`il) יָמִ֫יקוּ Psalm 73:8 ("" וִידַבְּרוּ בְּרָע). מוֺקֵד, מוֺקְדָה see יקד. מוֺקֵשׁ see יקשׁ. Topical Lexicon Overview Strong’s Hebrew 4167 (מוּק) surfaces once in the Old Testament, in Psalm 73:8, where Asaph laments that the ungodly “mock and wickedly speak of oppression.” Although rare, the verb embodies a theme that threads through the whole canon: the arrogance of the wicked who belittle God, His people, and His ways. Biblical Occurrence and Context Psalm 73 traces the inner struggle of a worship-leader who nearly stumbles when he observes the apparent ease of the wicked. Verse 8 pinpoints one of their distinguishing traits: verbal derision. The mockery (yemuqu) is not playful banter; it is malicious speech born of pride (73:6) and unbelief (73:11). Its target is both humanity (“oppression”) and God (“the Most High”). Asaph’s eventual entry “into the sanctuary of God” (73:17) reveals the outcome of such mockers: “Surely You set them on slippery ground” (73:18). Thus the lone occurrence of מוּק is strategically placed in a psalm that exposes the brevity of arrogant scorn when seen from an eternal vantage point. The Sin of Mockery in Scripture Though מוּק itself is rare, Scripture repeatedly condemns the attitude it signifies. The prevalence of other Hebrew and Greek terms for scoffing underscores the universality of the sin, even where מוּק itself is not used. Historical Background In the ancient Near East, mocking was a public weapon. Courtroom satire, battlefield taunts (1 Samuel 17:43), and civic ridicule (Nehemiah 2:19) all aimed to shame and demoralize opponents. Insults were often shouted from city walls or scrawled on ostraca. Such derision carried real social and even legal weight; to be publicly mocked was to be discredited. Asaph’s generation would have instantly recognized the peril of a society where such speech was unchecked. Theological Significance 1. Divine Justice. Mockery is portrayed as self-destructive. “The Lord scorns the scornful but gives grace to the humble” (Proverbs 3:34). The reciprocity embedded in this proverb echoes Asaph’s observation that mockers eventually reap what they sow. Christological Reflection The Gospels record that Jesus experienced the full fury of human contempt: “They knelt down before Him and mocked Him” (Matthew 27:29). The cross exposes the ugliness of derision but also displays divine patience; Christ “did not retaliate” (1 Peter 2:23). His resurrection vindicates righteousness and guarantees judgment on persistent scoffers (Psalm 2:4–5; Acts 17:31). Practical and Ministry Implications • Pastoral Care. Victims of ridicule, whether young believers in a hostile campus or elders maligned for biblical convictions, can find solidarity with Asaph and ultimately with Christ. Related Concepts Scoffer (לֵץ; Proverbs 9:7), derision (לַעַג; Psalm 2:4), revile (חרף; 1 Samuel 17:45), blaspheme (Greek βλασφημέω; Acts 13:45). Each term highlights facets of contemptuous speech that stands opposed to the fear of the Lord. Summary Strong’s 4167 מוּק, though appearing only once, crystallizes a decisive biblical warning: arrogant mockery thrives for a moment but meets an unyielding divine justice. The righteous, looking to the mocked yet triumphant Christ, are called to reject derision, trust God’s verdict, and speak words that build up rather than tear down. Forms and Transliterations יָמִ֤יקוּ ׀ ימיקו yā·mî·qū yaMiku yāmîqūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 73:8 HEB: יָמִ֤יקוּ ׀ וִידַבְּר֣וּ בְרָ֣ע NAS: They mock and wickedly speak KJV: They are corrupt, and speak wickedly INT: mock speak and wickedly 1 Occurrence |
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