In the Bible, laughter is depicted in various contexts, ranging from expressions of joy and disbelief to scorn and derision. The act of laughing is a human response that can reflect a wide array of emotions and attitudes, and the Scriptures provide several instances where laughter plays a significant role in the narrative.

Laughter of Joy and Amazement

One of the most notable instances of laughter in the Bible is found in the account of Sarah, the wife of Abraham. In Genesis 18:12, Sarah laughs upon overhearing the promise that she would bear a son in her old age: "So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, 'After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?'" . Her laughter here is a mix of disbelief and amazement at the seemingly impossible promise of God. Later, when the promise is fulfilled with the birth of Isaac, whose name means "he laughs," Sarah declares, "God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears of this will laugh with me" (Genesis 21:6). This laughter is one of joy and fulfillment, celebrating the miraculous work of God.

Laughter of Disbelief and Doubt

Laughter can also be an expression of doubt or skepticism. In Genesis 17:17, Abraham himself laughs when God tells him that Sarah will bear a son: "Then Abraham fell facedown and laughed, saying to himself, 'Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah give birth at the age of ninety?'" . This laughter reflects a moment of human incredulity in the face of divine promise, highlighting the tension between human limitations and God's omnipotence.

Laughter of Scorn and Derision

The Bible also records instances where laughter is used in a negative sense, as a form of mockery or scorn. In 2 Kings 2:23, young boys jeer at the prophet Elisha, saying, "Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!" . Their mocking laughter is met with a severe response, as Elisha calls down a curse upon them, resulting in their demise. This incident underscores the seriousness of showing contempt for God's messengers.

Similarly, in the New Testament, Jesus encounters laughter of derision when He declares that a girl presumed dead is merely sleeping. In Mark 5:40, the crowd "laughed at Him" , doubting His power to raise her. Yet, Jesus proceeds to perform the miracle, turning their scorn into astonishment.

Laughter in Wisdom Literature

The Book of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes also address the theme of laughter, often contrasting it with wisdom and folly. Proverbs 14:13 notes, "Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in sorrow" , suggesting that laughter can sometimes mask deeper emotional pain. Ecclesiastes 3:4 acknowledges that there is "a time to weep and a time to laugh," recognizing laughter as a natural and appropriate response in certain seasons of life.

Divine Laughter

In a unique portrayal, the Psalms describe God Himself as laughing, particularly in response to the futile schemes of the wicked. Psalm 2:4 states, "The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them" . This divine laughter signifies God's sovereignty and the ultimate futility of human rebellion against His will.

Throughout the Bible, laughter serves as a multifaceted expression, reflecting the complexity of human emotions and the profound truths of God's interaction with His creation. Whether as a response to joy, disbelief, or scorn, laughter in the biblical narrative invites readers to consider the deeper realities of faith, doubt, and divine power.(imp. & p. p.) of Laugh.6712. tsechoq -- laughter
... 6711, 6712. tsechoq. 6713 . laughter. Transliteration: tsechoq Phonetic Spelling:
(tsekh-oke') Short Definition: laughed. ... laughed to scorn. ...
/hebrew/6712.htm - 6k

7832. sachaq -- to laugh
... root Definition to laugh NASB Word Usage amuse (1), amusing (1), celebrate (2),
celebrating (3), hold a contest (1), joking (1), laugh (6), laughed them to ...
/hebrew/7832.htm - 6k

6711. tsachaq -- to laugh
... root Definition to laugh NASB Word Usage caressing (1), entertained* (1), jesting
(1), laugh (4), laughed (2), make sport (2), mocking (1), play (1). ...
/hebrew/6711.htm - 6k

The Longbeards' Saga. AD 400
... Far on the moorlands Behind the war-lindens, In vain for the bill's doom Watch Winil
heroes all, One against seven.' Sweetly the Queen laughed:" 'Hear thou ...
/.../kingsley/andromeda and other poems/the longbeards saga a d 400.htm

Dread of Ridicule.
... S. Matthew 9:24. "And they laughed Him to scorn.". ... It had ended in nothing on Sunday,
so they laughed and pointed at them. What a ludicrous sight! ...
/.../the village pulpit volume ii trinity to advent/lxi dread of ridicule.htm

Meanwhile, Angela Sovrani was Detained in Her Studio by the ...
... Yet I am now in love!"truly!"ah, you laugh!"" and she laughed herself, shaking her
pretty head, adorned with its delicate "creation" in gossamer and ...
/.../corelli/the master-christian/xi meanwhile angela sovrani was.htm

Further Diplomacy
... He told me, and laughed as he said it, that if thy soft heart had any passion for
him it was hate.". ... Har-hat flung his head back and laughed heartily. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xxvi further diplomacy.htm

No one ever Afterwards Quite Knew How the Crowd in the Church ...
... disdain. Miraudin laughed carelessly. "Yes ... common. For the rest, we are
absolutely different"absolutely!". Again Miraudin laughed. "As ...
/.../corelli/the master-christian/xiv no one ever afterwards.htm

A Short-Lived Peace
... They laughed at his sacrifices, where he was often to be seen tearing open with
his own hands the bleeding victim to see if he could read inside the signs of ...
/.../forbes/saint athanasius/chapter 9 a short-lived peace.htm

Humdrum
... I heard them say, as I passed through their midst, "Who will fall into the pit of
the Christian Way!" And they laughed, and the Brahman laughed. ...
/.../wilson-carmichael/things as they are/chapter iii humdrum.htm

It was Late in the Afternoon when Diamond and his Mother and the ...
... situations? Yet neither father nor mother thought him hard-hearted because
he crowed and laughed in the middle of their troubles. ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 15 it was late.htm

"A Strange Lad!" Said Abbe Vergniaud, Abruptly. ...
... down the room. Then he laughed. "Upon my ... to the clergy. It is all very
amusing!"I assure you I have often laughed at it. It is ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/corelli/the master-christian/viii a strange lad said.htm

The Inch-Worm and the Mountain
... services. The animals laughed her to scorn. ... up! But she would not be laughed
out of her purpose, and she began to climb up the cliff. ...
/.../fifty-two story talks to boys and girls/the inch-worm and the mountain.htm

Laughed (27 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Laugh. Multi-Version Concordance Laughed
(27 Occurrences). ... And they laughed him to scorn. (KJV WEY ASV RSV NIV). ...
/l/laughed.htm - 14k

Laugh (23 Occurrences)
... Mark 5:40 And they laughed him to scorn. ... Job 29:24 If I laughed on them, they believed
it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down. ...
/l/laugh.htm - 13k

Scorn (65 Occurrences)
... Matthew 9:24 He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth.
And they laughed him to scorn. ... Mark 5:40 And they laughed him to scorn. ...
/s/scorn.htm - 31k

Shamed (91 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 19:21 This is the word which the Lord has said about him: In the eyes of
the virgin daughter of Zion you are shamed and laughed at; the daughter of ...
/s/shamed.htm - 33k

Laughter (14 Occurrences)
... Luke 6:21, 25) has the same meaning of gladness and rejoicing; sechoq, "laughter,"
has also this sense (Job 8:21 Psalm 126:2). It is, however, "laughed to scorn ...
/l/laughter.htm - 13k

Damsel (43 Occurrences)
... Matthew 9:24 he said, Give place: for the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. And
they laughed him to scorn. ... (KJV WBS). Mark 5:40 And they laughed him to scorn. ...
/d/damsel.htm - 20k

Despises (16 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 19:21 This is the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning him: The virgin
daughter of Zion hath despised thee and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter ...
/d/despises.htm - 11k

Scorns (6 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 19:21 This is the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning him: The virgin
daughter of Zion hath despised thee and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter ...
/s/scorns.htm - 8k

Sport (99 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 19:21 This is the word which the Lord has said about him: In the eyes of
the virgin daughter of Zion you are shamed and laughed at; the daughter of ...
/s/sport.htm - 35k

Trampled (41 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 19:21 this 'is' the word that Jehovah spake concerning him: 'Trampled on
thee -- laughed at thee, Hath the virgin daughter of Zion Behind thee shaken ...
/t/trampled.htm - 19k

Who was Sarah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Did Jesus ever laugh? | GotQuestions.org

What are the psalms of lament? | GotQuestions.org

Laughed: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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