לָעַב (la.av)
la.av
to jest
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb la’av describes the act of mocking or making fun of someone. In the Bible, it appears only once, in the Hiphil stem, which gives it a causative sense: to cause jesting or ridicule. This single occurrence is found in 2 Chronicles 36:16.
The context is tragic. The leaders and priests of Judah mocked God’s messengers, despising His words and scoffing at His prophets. Here, the word captures a deliberate, scornful attitude toward divine communication. It is not lighthearted humor but a sharp, disrespectful taunt that rejects authority.
Because this verb is so rare, its meaning is tightly bound to this specific historical moment. The chronicler uses it to show how persistent mockery led to severe consequences. The word reminds readers that ridicule of sacred things carries weight and danger in the biblical narrative.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word for jesting in this passage carries a heavy weight, far removed from lighthearted humor. It describes a sharp, scornful attitude that rejects divine authority. When we encounter ridicule toward sacred things or those speaking truth, it serves as a sober reminder of the danger inherent in dismissing God’s voice.
In 2 Chronicles 36:16, this mockery is linked to severe consequences, showing how persistent disdain can harden the heart. Yet, this warning also invites us to examine our own responses. Do we treat God’s Word with reverence, or do we allow cynicism to creep in? The text encourages a posture of humility and listening.
Reflecting on this rare verb helps us appreciate the seriousness of spiritual communication. It calls us to guard our tongues and hearts against scorn. By honoring divine instruction, we align ourselves with wisdom and avoid the pitfalls of arrogance that lead to isolation from God’s grace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- deriding1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַלְעִבִים֙1×
Key Verses
-
II Chronicles 36:16
but they mocked the messengers of God, despised his words, and scoffed at his prophets, until Yahweh’s wrath arose against his people, until there was no remedy.
This verse uniquely captures the causative mockery of God's messengers, linking scornful ridicule directly to the onset of divine wrath and the loss of remedy.