לָעַב
to deride
Definition
The Hebrew verb לָעַב (lâʻab) means to deride, mock, or treat with contempt. It describes a scornful attitude, often directed toward God or His messengers. In its single biblical occurrence, it is used to describe the people's response to God's prophets, treating them with open disrespect. This action implies not just verbal mockery but a broader attitude of disdain and rejection toward divine authority.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in 2 Chronicles 36:16, where it describes how the people of Judah 'mocked the messengers of God, despised his words, and scoffed at his prophets.' The context is the final period before the Babylonian exile, highlighting a pattern of persistent, willful rejection of God's warnings through His prophets. The usage is specific to a serious spiritual rebellion against divine communication.
Etymology
לָעַב is a primitive root in Hebrew, meaning its origin is not derived from another Hebrew word. It is a distinct verb for expressing mockery or derision. While its exact cognates in other Semitic languages are uncertain, its meaning aligns with the semantic field of scorn and contempt found in related languages.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it captures the ultimate human response of rebellion against God's gracious warnings. Mocking God's messengers represents a hardening of the heart that precedes judgment, as seen in 2 Chronicles 36:16-17. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of this passage by emphasizing the deliberate, contemptuous nature of the sin, which is more severe than mere disbelief or ignorance. It underscores the seriousness with which God views the rejection of His word.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, mocking a king's messengers was a grave act of political rebellion and insult. Applying this to God's prophets framed Israel's sin not as a private religious matter but as a direct, public affront to divine sovereignty. The cultural weight of this action helps modern readers grasp why such behavior brought swift and severe covenantal consequences.
לָעַג (lāʻag, H3932) — often used for mocking speech or scorn; more common. בּוּז (bûz, H936) — to despise or hold in contempt, broader than just verbal mockery.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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