Meaning
a compound of paizo, "to play like a child" (pais), "to sport, jest," prefixed by en, "in" or "at," is used only in the Synoptists, and, in every instance, of the "mockery" of Christ, except in Mat 2:16 (there in the sense of deluding, or deceiving, of Herod by the wise men) and in Luk 14:29, of ridicule cast upon the one who after laying a foundation of a tower is unable to finish it. The word is used (a) prophetically by the Lord, of His impending sufferings, Mat 20:19, Mar 10:34, Luk 18:32; (b) of the actual insults inflicted upon Him by the men who had taken Him from Gethsemane, Luk 22:63; by Herod and his soldiers, Luk 23:11; by the soldiers of the governor, Mat 27:29, Mat 27:31, Mar 15:20, Luk 23:36; by the chief priests, Mat 27:41, Mar 15:31.
from mukter, "the nose," hence, "to turn up the nose at, sneer at, treat with contempt," is used in the Passive Voice in Gal 6:7, where the statement "God is not mocked" does not mean that men do not mock Him (see Pro 1:30, where the Sept. has the same verb); the Apostle vividly contrasts the essential difference between God and man. It is impossible to impose upon Him who discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Note: Ekmukterizo, a strengthened form of the above, "to scoff at," is used in Luk 16:14, Luk 23:35 (RV, "scoffed at;" AV, "derided"). See DERIDE, SCOFF.
"to jest, mock, jeer at" (from chleue, "a jest"), is said of the ridicule of some of the Athenian philosophers at the Apostle's testimony concerning the resurrection of the dead, Act 17:32.
an intensive form of No. 3, "to scoff at," whether by gesture or word, is said of those who jeered at the testimony given on the Day of Penticost, Act 2:13 (some mss. have No. 3).
"a mocker" (akin to A, No. 1), is used in 2Pe 3:3, RV, "mockers." (AV, "scoffers"); Jud 1:18, RV and AV, "mockers." In the Sept., Isa 3:4.
the act of the empaiktes, "a mocking," is used in Heb 11:36, "mockings." In the Sept., Psa 38:7, Eze 22:4.
an abstract noun, "mockery," is used in 2Pe 3:3 (some mss. omit it, as in AV): (see also No. 1, above).
