Definition and Meaning:
Derision refers to the act of mocking, ridiculing, or scornfully laughing at someone or something. In the biblical context, it often denotes a contemptuous or dismissive attitude towards God, His people, or His commandments. Derision is portrayed as an expression of pride and unbelief, often associated with the wicked or those who oppose God's will.

Biblical Instances of Derision:

1. Derision of God and His Prophets:
Throughout the Bible, the prophets of God often faced derision from those who rejected their messages. For instance, the prophet Jeremiah experienced mockery and scorn from his contemporaries. In Jeremiah 20:7, he laments, "I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me." This derision was not merely personal but was directed at the message of God he carried.

2. Derision of the Righteous:
The righteous often endure derision from the wicked. In Psalm 123:4, the psalmist expresses the contempt they face: "We have endured much scorn from the arrogant, much contempt from the proud." This highlights the tension between those who follow God's ways and those who oppose them.

3. Derision of Jesus Christ:
Jesus Christ Himself was subjected to derision, particularly during His trial and crucifixion. In Luke 23:35, it is recorded, "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.'" This mockery was a fulfillment of the prophecies concerning the suffering Messiah and demonstrated the hardness of human hearts.

4. God's Response to Derision:
The Bible also speaks of God's response to the derision of the wicked. In Psalm 2:4, it is written, "The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them." This divine derision is not born of malice but is a demonstration of God's sovereignty and the futility of opposing His will.

Theological Implications:

· Pride and Unbelief: Derision is often rooted in pride and unbelief. Those who mock God or His people do so from a position of arrogance, failing to recognize their own need for repentance and salvation.

· Perseverance of the Faithful: The faithful are called to endure derision with patience and trust in God. Jesus taught in Matthew 5:11-12, "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven."

· Divine Justice: While derision may seem to prevail temporarily, the Bible assures believers of God's ultimate justice. Those who mock God and His people will face His righteous judgment, as seen in Proverbs 3:34, "He mocks the mockers but gives grace to the humble."

Practical Application:

Believers are encouraged to respond to derision with grace and truth, following the example of Christ. They are to remain steadfast in their faith, knowing that God sees and will vindicate them in His time. Engaging with those who mock with love and patience can sometimes open doors for witnessing and sharing the gospel.1. (n.) Ridicule; mockery; scornful or contemptuous treatment which holds one up to ridicule.

2. (n.) An object of derision or scorn; a laughing-stock.

DERISION

de-rizh'-un: Three verbs are so translated luts, "scorn" (Psalm 119:51); la`agh, "mock" (Psalm 2:4; Psalm 59:8 Ezekiel 23:32); and sachaq, "laugh at" (Job 30:1 Exodus 32:25 margin, "a whispering"; compare The Wisdom of Solomon 5:3). This word is found almost exclusively in the Psalms and Prophets; Jeremiah is fond of it. It is used both as a substantive and a verb, the latter in the phrase "to have in derision:"

1592. ekmukterizo -- to hold up the nose in derision of
... to hold up the nose in derision of. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ekmukterizo
Phonetic Spelling: (ek-mook-ter-id'-zo) Short Definition: I deride, scoff ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1592.htm - 7k

1701. empaigmos -- mockery
... Cognate: 1701 -- scoffing (mocking). See 1702 (). mocking. From empaizo; derision --
mocking. see GREEK empaizo. (empaigmone) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1701.htm - 6k

3933. laag -- a mocking, derision
... 3932, 3933. laag. 3934 . a mocking, derision. Transliteration: laag Phonetic
Spelling: (lah'-ag) Short Definition: derision. Word ...
/hebrew/3933.htm - 6k

7047. qeles -- derision
... 7046, 7047. qeles. 7048 . derision. Transliteration: qeles Phonetic
Spelling: (keh'-les) Short Definition: derision. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/7047.htm - 6k

7814. sechoq -- laughter, derision, sport
... 7813, 7814. sechoq or sechoq. 7815 . laughter, derision, sport. Transliteration:
sechoq or sechoq Phonetic Spelling: (sekh-oke') Short Definition: laughter ...
/hebrew/7814.htm - 6k

8103. shimtsah -- whisper, derision
... 8102, 8103. shimtsah. 8104 . whisper, derision. Transliteration: shimtsah
Phonetic Spelling: (shim-tsaw') Short Definition: derision. ...
/hebrew/8103.htm - 6k

3887. luts -- ambassador, have in derision, interpreter, make a ...
... luts. 3888 . ambassador, have in derision, interpreter, make a mock, mocker.
Transliteration: luts Phonetic Spelling: (loots) Short Definition: ambassador. ...
/hebrew/3887.htm - 6k

4890. mischaq -- object of derision
... 4889, 4890. mischaq. 4891 . object of derision. Transliteration: mischaq
Phonetic Spelling: (mis-khawk') Short Definition: laughing. ...
/hebrew/4890.htm - 6k

7048. qallasah -- derision
... 7047, 7048. qallasah. 7049 . derision. Transliteration: qallasah Phonetic
Spelling: (kal-law-saw') Short Definition: mocking. Word ...
/hebrew/7048.htm - 6k

7832. sachaq -- to laugh
... deride, have in derision, laugh, make merry, mocker, play, rejoice, laugh to
scorn,. A primitive root; to laugh (in pleasure or detraction ...
/hebrew/7832.htm - 6k

8322. shereqah -- (object of derisive) hissing
... Word Origin from sharaq Definition (object of derisive) hissing NASB Word Usage
derision (1), hissing (6). hissing. From sharaq; a derision -- hissing. ...
/hebrew/8322.htm - 6k

3932. laag -- to mock, deride, stammer
... A primitive root; to deride; by implication (as if imitating a foreigner) to speak
unintelligibly -- have in derision, laugh (to scorn), mock (on), stammering. ...
/hebrew/3932.htm - 6k

Whether Derision Can be a Mortal Sin?
... OF DERISION [*Or mockery] (TWO ARTICLES) Whether derision can be a mortal sin?
Objection 1: It would seem that derision cannot be a mortal sin. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether derision can be a.htm

Whether Derision is a Special Sin Distinct from those Already ...
... OF DERISION [*Or mockery] (TWO ARTICLES) Whether derision is a special
sin distinct from those already mentioned? Objection 1: It ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether derision is a special.htm

Of Derision [*Or Mockery] (Two Articles)
... OF DERISION [*Or mockery] (TWO ARTICLES). We must now speak of derision, under which
head there are two points of inquiry: ... (2) Whether derision is a mortal sin? ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/of derision or mockery two.htm

Of the Derision Ascribed to the Robbers, and of the Question ...
... Chapter XVI."Of the Derision Ascribed to the Robbers, and of the Question Regarding
the Absence of Any Discrepancy Between Matthew and Mark on the One Hand ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter xvi of the derision ascribed.htm

Of Scoffing and Derision.
... Section VII. Of Scoffing and Derision. ... Twas also the Prophet Jeremiah's complaint,
I am in Derision daily, everyone mocketh at me, Jer.20.7. ...
/.../allestree/the government of the tongue/section vii of scoffing and.htm

Psalm II.
... 3. "He that dwelleth in the heavens shall laugh them to scorn, and the Lord shall
have them in derision" (ver.4). The sentence is repeated; for "He who ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm ii.htm

St. Ambrose Returns to the Main Question, and Shows that Whenever ...
... sometimes indeed to a particular office; for if you understand it of His Godhead,
then God was made into an object of insult and derision inasmuch as it is ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xi st ambrose returns.htm

Messiah Derided Upon the Cross
... persecuted servants, under the most exquisite tortures which malice could invent,
have frequently raised no other emotions, than those of derision and scorn. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 1/sermon xxi messiah derided upon.htm

The Dying Thief
... By its foot was to be seen the derision of the scribes and the stupor of the soldiery;
and now here are the two thieves"the one chiming in with the universal ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/the dying thief.htm

An Awful Contrast
... "It was in contempt of this claim, in derision of this honor which he foretold for
himself, that "then did they spit in his face," as if they could bear it no ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 42 1896/an awful contrast.htm

Derision (24 Occurrences)
... to ridicule. 2. (n.) An object of derision or scorn; a laughing-stock.
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. DERISION. de-rizh ...
/d/derision.htm - 14k

Laughter (14 Occurrences)
... of the muscles of the face, particularly of the lips, with a peculiar expression
of the eyes, indicating merriment, satisfaction, or derision, and usually ...
/l/laughter.htm - 13k

Laughingstock (10 Occurrences)
... Exodus 32:25 When Moses saw that the people had broken loose, (for Aaron had
let them loose for a derision among their enemies), (See NIV). ...
/l/laughingstock.htm - 9k

Ridicule (14 Occurrences)
... wit of that species which provokes contemptuous laughter; disparagement by making
a person an object of laughter; banter; -- a term lighter than derision. ...
/r/ridicule.htm - 10k

Mockery (12 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Insulting or contemptuous action or speech; contemptuous merriment; derision;
ridicule. 3. (n.) Subject of laughter, derision, or sport. ...
/m/mockery.htm - 9k

Scoff (18 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Derision; ridicule; mockery; derisive or mocking expression of scorn, contempt,
or reproach. 2. (n.) An object of scorn, mockery, or derision. ...
/s/scoff.htm - 12k

Mocking (25 Occurrences)
... & vb. n.) of Mock. 2. (a.) Imitating, esp. in derision, or so as to cause derision;
mimicking; derisive. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. MOCK; MOCKER; MOCKING ...
/m/mocking.htm - 18k

Mock (43 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To imitate; to mimic; esp., to mimic in
sport, contempt, or derision; to deride by mimicry. 2. (vt ...
/m/mock.htm - 23k

Ridiculed (12 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 23:32 Thus says the Lord Yahweh: You will drink of your sister's cup, which
is deep and large; you will be ridiculed and held in derision; it contains ...
/r/ridiculed.htm - 10k

Laugh (23 Occurrences)
... 1. (vi) To show mirth, satisfaction, or derision, by peculiar movement of the muscles
of the face, particularly of the mouth, causing a lighting up of the face ...
/l/laugh.htm - 13k

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