LAUGHTER (שָׂחַק, H8471, לָעַג, H4352; γελάω, G1151). The term does not signify amusement in the Bible. As he considered his and Sarah’s age, Abraham laughed with gentle incredulity at the promise of an heir (Gen 17:17). Most often however, laughter denotes derision, mockery and scorn in the Bible. The psalmist speaks of God’s laughing derisively at the efforts of earthly rulers to declare their independence of Him (Ps 2:4), a theme also expressed concerning Sennacherib, king of Assyria (2 Kings 19:22f.). Hezekiah’s couriers sent to call the people to return to the Lord and to celebrate the passover, were laughed to scorn (2 Chron 30:10; cf. Isa 37:22), as was Nehemiah when he proposed rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem (Neh 2:19). Job expressed his sense of being unjustly afflicted by pointing out that he, a just and blameless man, was a laughingstock (Job 12:4). The crowd of mourners laughed at Jesus when He said Jairus’ daughter was sleeping, not dead (Matt 9:24; cf. Mark 5:40 and Luke 8:53). The jaded cynic of Ecclesiastes speaks of laughter as madness (Eccl 2:2) and mourning as better than laughter (7:3). Laughter, thus, occupied a different place in the ancient, oriental world than in the modern occidental world.

But laughter also is associated with joy at Zion’s restoration (Ps 126:2); bread is said to be made for laughter (Eccl 10:19) and our Lord promised, “Blessed are you that weep now, for you shall laugh” (Luke 6:21). Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance has twenty-nine listings for “merry,” e.g., “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine” (Prov 17:22 KJV); eighty-four listings for “delight” and related words; one hundred forty-two listings of “glad” and related words; whereas “joy” and related words appear hundreds of times. It is clear, therefore, that the common use of laughter for mockery and scorn does not suggest that a premium was placed on dourness nor that solemnity was a mark of sanctity.

The different uses for “laughter” in the several passages cited can be subsumed under the terms “wit” and “humor.” “Wit” is the aggressive use of humor. In wit, laughter is tinged with the sardonic. It contains elements of scorn, mockery, and disparagement, for it seeks to deflate or shrivel, to make a person feel small, foolish, and unworthy. True humor springs from a sense of strength, security, and joy. It stems from the ability to take a healthy perspective on self, others, and the vicissitudes of life. True humor has a healing effect upon moods and upon relationships. It has been defined as a person’s ability to laugh at the things he loves, including himself, while continuing to love them. This is the merry heart that “does good like medicine.” Its laughter is a healing force, and results from imagination, zestfulness, and delight.