What does 'laughing-stock' mean in the Bible?

In the Bible, a 'laughing-stock' refers to a person or thing set up to be ridiculed and mocked by others. It translates the Hebrew word 'sechoq,' meaning 'laughter' or 'derision,' and describes a state of humiliation (Jeremiah 20:7).

Where is the term 'laughing-stock' found in scripture?

The term appears in Job 12:4, where Job says he has become a 'laughing-stock' to his friends, and in Jeremiah 20:7, where the prophet feels deceived and mocked. The concept is also present in Lamentations 3:14 and Jeremiah 48:26-27.

Why is the concept of a 'laughing-stock' significant in the Bible?

It is significant because it often describes the intense suffering and social rejection experienced by faithful individuals like Job and Jeremiah. Their experiences highlight the cost of obedience to God and the reality of being scorned for righteousness.

EncyclopediaLaughing-stock

TheologyL

Laughing-stock

Laughing-stock laf'-ing-stok: Something set up to be laughed at; thrice in the Revised Version (British and American) the translation of sechoq, "laughter," etc. (Job 12:4 twice; Jer 20:7; compare Jer 48:26-27,39; La 3:14). See MOCK,MOCKING .

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