μυκτηρίζω (muktērizō)
muktērizō
to mock
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb muktērizō describes mocking by turning up the nose in contempt. Its root connects to the word for "nose" or snout, creating a vivid image of someone sneering with physical disdain. This is not merely verbal criticism but an attitude of superiority expressed through a gesture of rejection.
In Scripture, this word appears only once, in Galatians 6:7. Paul uses it to warn that God cannot be mocked. The context suggests that those who try to deceive God by sowing selfish desires will face inevitable consequences. The physical act of sneering implies a belief that one is above the rules, yet Paul reminds readers that divine justice sees through such arrogance.
Translators often render this as "mock," but the Greek carries a sharper edge of contempt. It captures the specific moment when someone looks down on another with a lifted nose, signaling they consider the other unworthy or foolish. This single usage in the New Testament highlights how God views such haughty attitudes with serious judgment.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
This single verse in Galatians reminds us that our actions carry weight we cannot escape. The Greek word here describes mocking with a sneer, a gesture of arrogance that assumes one is above the rules. It captures the attitude of someone who believes they can live selfishly without consequence.
Paul uses this vivid image to show that God sees through such pretense. We cannot trick Him by hiding our true motives or living in secret rebellion. The warning is clear: what we sow determines what we reap, and no amount of cleverness changes that reality.
This truth offers a quiet comfort. It means the world is not as chaotic or unjust as it may seem. God’s justice is reliable, and His standards are firm. We can trust that He will set things right, even when we cannot see how.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- is mocked;1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- μυκτηρίζεται·1×
Key Verses
-
Galatians 6:7
Don’t be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
Paul uses this specific word for sneering mockery to warn believers that God cannot be tricked by hidden selfishness.