Sarcasm is explored throughout a number of Bible passages. The Bible presents both notable instances and warnings against sarcasm. This demonstrates the Bible’s nuanced understanding of communication styles and their potential impact on social relations. The Bible acknowledges the power of words to either build up or tear down relationships, advocating for respectful dialogue above demeaning remarks. The topic of sarcasm in the Bible reflects the broader biblical themes of love, respect, and kindness.
What Does the Bible Say About Sarcasm?
The Bible addresses sarcasm, primarily as a form of communication to avoid. It recognizes sarcasm as a type of caustic humor that can cause harm, consistent with principles that value loving, kind, and respectful interaction. Sarcastic comments, which often aim to mock or disparage others, contradict the Bible’s call for love and gentleness in communication. While the Bible does not outrightly condemn humor, it suggests a level of discernment in the types of humor utilized.
Where is Sarcasm Highlighted in the Bible?
Sarcasm in the Bible is found sprinkled throughout both the Old and New Testament. Instances where sarcasm is adopted by biblical figures are often presented as teachable moments. A classic example is the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal where Elijah uses sarcasm to underscore the futility of their actions. These instances of sarcasm in the Bible generally serve as warnings against the potential harm of demeaning speech and the need for respectful, loving communication.
Why Does the Bible Caution Against Sarcasm?
The guidance against sarcasm provided in the Bible aligns with its teachings around love, respect, and kindness. Sarcastic remarks, due to their often derogatory nature, can cause pain and divisions. The Bible reveals this understanding of the power of words, indicating that they can be deeply harmful if misused. In the spirit of unity, peace, and kindness, the Bible encourages individuals to use words constructively to uplift and help one another, which sarcasm can often undermine.
When Does the Bible Acknowledge the Use of Sarcasm?
The Bible cites several instances where figures employ sarcasm, but these are usually within a context that leads to or reinforces a lesson or moral. It is important to note that such usage does not affirm sarcasm as a positive communication trait. Rather, it predominately demonstrates the potential for discord when sarcasm is used, underscoring the Bible’s guidance to communicate with kindness and respect. These instances are deliberate and serve to highlight, in stark terms, the importance of considerate, loving dialogue.
Who in the Bible Uses Sarcasm?
Various figures in the Bible are shown utilizing sarcasm including, notably, Elijah and Job. However, it is critical to consider the context in which these instances occur. These instances of sarcasm are often leveraged as parables or life lessons. The instances depict the harm sarcasm can cause, underlining the Bible’s warning against the careless use of words and aligning with its broader teaching about respectful, loving interaction. These serve as lessons about the power and potential destructiveness of words, particularly when they are used as a derisive form of humor. The Bible’s depiction of these figures aims to emphasize the significance of respectful, considerate communication and the potential harm caused by sarcasm.
Below is our full list of bible verses on sarcasm (King James Version – KJV) provided in ranked order.
Most Popular Bible Verses About Sarcasm
Proverbs 26:18-19
“18 As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,19 So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?”
Related Themes: Reputation Lying Joking Teasing
Ephesians 4:29
“29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”
Related Themes: Gossip Criticism Complaining Judging Others Cursing
Ephesians 5:4
“4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.”
Matthew 5:37
“37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.”
Related Themes: Telling The Truth Honesty Consistency Leadership
Proverbs 18:21
“21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”
Related Themes: Gossip Life New Life Self-Control Attitude
1 Kings 18:27
“27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.”
Proverbs 12:18
“18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.”
Related Themes: Criticism Health Communication Gossip Insults
Proverbs 26:16
“16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.”
Genesis 4:9
“9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?”
1 Timothy 4:7
“7 But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.”
Related Themes: Health Superstition Discipline Self-Control Traditions
Exodus 14:11
“11 And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?”
Related Themes: Complaining
Judges 10:14
“14 Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.”
Related Themes: Idolatry
Ezekiel 2:6
“6 And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.”
Ephesians 4:15
“15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”
Related Themes: Telling The Truth Criticism Gossip Judging Others Resolving Conflict
John 19:3
“3 And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.”
Acts 26:28
“28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”
Job 12:2-3
“2 No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?”
Related Themes: Doubt
2 Corinthians 11:19
“19 For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.”
Galatians 5:12
“12 I would they were even cut off which trouble you.”
Related Themes: Anger Motivation
Isaiah 44:19
“19 And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?”
Related Themes: Abomination
Luke 23:11
“11 And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.”
Job 11:12
“12 For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass’s colt.”
Nehemiah 4:1-2
“1 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.2 And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?”
Related Themes: Rebuilding Self-Defense
Job 38:5
“5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?”
Matthew 27:28-29
“28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!”
Related Themes: Suffering Omnipotence Sacrifice
Nehemiah 4:2-3
“2 And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.”
1 Kings 20:11
“11 And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off.”
Related Themes: Pride
2 Kings 14:9-10
“9 And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.10 Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thine heart hath lifted thee up: glory of this, and tarry at home: for why shouldest thou meddle to thy hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?”
2 Chronicles 25:18-19
“18 And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.19 Thou sayest, Lo, thou hast smitten the Edomites; and thine heart lifteth thee up to boast: abide now at home; why shouldest thou meddle to thine hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?”
Numbers 11:20
“20 But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?”
