καταγελάω (katagelaō)
katagelaō
to mock
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb katageleō describes a specific kind of mockery: to deride or laugh scornfully at someone. It is not gentle teasing but a harsh, contemptuous ridicule that seeks to diminish the dignity of its target. The prefix kata intensifies the action, suggesting a downward, crushing attitude toward the person being mocked.
This word appears in only three New Testament verses, all recording moments when Jesus’ followers or onlookers reacted with disbelief to His power over death. In Matthew 9:24, Mark 5:40, and Luke 8:53, the crowd laughs at Jesus when He says Jairus’ daughter is not dead but sleeping. Their reaction highlights a stark contrast between human skepticism and divine authority.
The sources note that this term often corresponds to the Hebrew sachaq in the Septuagint, used for scornful laughter such as that of enemies in Job 5:22 or Proverbs 29:9. By using katageleō, the Gospel writers emphasize the seriousness of the rejection Jesus faced. It was not mere amusement but a deliberate dismissal of His message and identity.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When Jesus told Jairus’s relatives that his daughter was merely sleeping, they laughed at Him. The Greek word used here, katagelaō, describes a sharp, scornful ridicule that seeks to diminish the dignity of its target. It is not gentle teasing but a harsh dismissal born of disbelief. In these moments, the crowd’s laughter reveals how easily human skepticism can harden into contempt when faced with divine possibilities that exceed our understanding.
This word reminds us that faith often requires stepping beyond what we can see or prove. The disciples and onlookers relied on their eyes, which told them death was final. Jesus, however, spoke of life where there seemed to be none. Their mockery highlights the gap between human limitation and God’s power. We are invited to trust His word even when circumstances look hopeless.
Ultimately, this passage points to the reality that Jesus holds authority over death itself. The ridicule of the crowd could not stop Him from raising the girl. For us, this offers hope: no situation is beyond His reach. When we face moments that seem impossible, we can rest in the knowledge that He sees what we cannot and acts with power we do not possess.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they were mocking1×
- they were laughing at1×
- they were laughing1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- κατεγέλων3×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 9:24
he said to them, “Make room, because the girl isn’t dead, but sleeping.” They were ridiculing him.
This verse shows the initial reaction of ridicule when Jesus declared the girl was only sleeping, highlighting the immediate clash between human skepticism and His claim.
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Mark 5:40
They ridiculed him. But he, having put them all out, took the father of the child, her mother, and those who were with him, and went in where the child was lying.
Here the mockery is so persistent that Jesus removes the crowd entirely, emphasizing that true faith requires removing the noise of doubt to hear Him clearly.
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Luke 8:53
They were ridiculing him, knowing that she was dead.
Luke adds that they knew she was dead, showing their ridicule was rooted in a firm belief that death was final, making Jesus’ subsequent miracle even more striking.