SCOFF, SCOFFER (לִיץ, H4329; ἐμπάικτης). To willfully refuse to learn the way of the Lord; to mock those who do.

OT usage. In Proverbs the scoffer is characterized by his refusal to learn the way of wisdom, the basis of true happiness. Since wisdom is more than an intellectual achievement, but is also an ethical-religious attitude of committment to God, scoffing is more than a matter of naive ignorance; it is sinful, foolish pride (Prov 9:7-10; 21:24; 24:9).

The account of the expulsion of the mocking Hagar stands as God’s attitude to all such (Gen 16:4-6). God punishes His disobedient people by sending His reproach upon them, which is echoed by the attitude of the nations (Ps 79:12-14; Jer 24:9; 42:18; 44:8, 12; 49:13, Zeph 2:8-10). This reproach of God is borne by a mediator, the anointed of the Lord (Ps 89:50, 51), the one who bears reproach for God’s sake so there will be no reproach on others (Ps 69:6-12; John 2:17), whose words are the words of Jesus on the cross (Ps 22:7, cf. Matt 27:46).

2. The scorning and vindication of Christ. This predicted mocking of the Messiah is explicitly fulfilled in both the Jewish and Roman trials, culminating in the mock coronation (Luke 22:63; 23:11). The cross itself is a mark of shame (Gal 3:13) and its preaching was regarded as offense and foolishness (1 Cor 1:23; Gal 5:11); even the message of the resurrection was an occasion for scoffing (Acts 17:32). Also in this the followers of Christ were not to be above their Master, and were to share in this aspect of suffering and rejection (Matt 10:17); the heroes of faith of all ages have cruel mockings as their lot (Heb 11:36), with Moses regarding abuse suffered for Christ as the greatest wealth (Heb 11:26). But Christ’s humiliation leads to His exaltation, and His triumph over the powers enables Him to scoff publicly at them (Col 2:13). In His work is seen God’s choice of the weak and foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise and the strong (1 Cor 1:18-31): Christ’s victory over Satan humiliates His opponents (Luke 13:17).

3. The believer’s triumph over scoffing. The underlying motive for scoffing at Christ is the desire for self-justification (Luke 16:11), the refusal to accept Christ as one’s only righteousness. For those who have their honor in Christ it is inappropriate that they seek the dishonor of any (James 2:6). For any to fall away from Christ would mean their exclusion from any future repentance, for they would have put Christ again to shame (1 Cor 11:27; Heb 6:6).

There will continue to be mockers, questioning the return of Christ (2 Pet 3:3; Jude 18), but God will not be mocked and will indeed come in judgment (Gal 6:7). The shame of the cross includes also its “foolishness,” but Christ is made unto us wisdom (1 Cor 1:17-31). The life of faith is not ashamed of the shame of Christ (Heb 11:26, 36) and boasts in Christ and in fellow Christians (2 Cor 7:14; 9:4).

This boasting is based on Christ’s victory over evil, His shaming and mocking of it in its total defeat (1 Cor 1:27-29; Col 2:15; cf. Luke 13:17). If self-justification is a mocking of Christ (Luke 16:14, 15) then glorying in Him must be identified with justification by faith in Him alone. The life of faith is necessarily one that has counted the cost of forsaking all to follow Him; anything else deserves proper scoffing (Luke 14:29).

Bibliography G. Bertram, “Empaizō,” TWNT, V (1954), 630-636. Cf. commentaries on Proverbs.