25 Bible Verses about Laughter
Most Relevant Verses
Sarah said, “God has made me laugh; all who hear [about our good news] will laugh with me.”
Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure;
And she smiles at the future [knowing that she and her family are prepared].
He said, “Go away; for the girl is not dead, but is sleeping.” And they laughed and jeered at Him.
They began laughing [scornfully] at Him [because they knew the child was dead]. But He made them all go outside, and took along the child’s father and mother and His own [three] companions, and entered the room where the child was.
Then they began laughing scornfully at Him and ridiculing Him, knowing [without any doubt] that she was dead.
“Clubs [also] are regarded as stubble;
He laughs at the rushing and the rattling of the javelin.
“They make fun of kings
And rulers are a laughing matter to them.
They ridicule every stronghold
And heap up rubble [for earth mounds] and capture it.
He who sits [enthroned] in the heavens laughs [at their rebellion];
The [Sovereign] Lord scoffs at them [and in supreme contempt He mocks them].
The Lord laughs at him [the wicked one—the one who oppresses the righteous],
For He sees that his day [of defeat] is coming.
But You, O Lord, will laugh at them [in scorn];
You scoff at and deride all the nations.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter
And our tongue with joyful shouting;
Then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
Blessed [joyful, nourished by God’s goodness] are you who hunger now [for righteousness, actively seeking right standing with God], for you will be [completely] satisfied. Blessed [forgiven, refreshed by God’s grace] are you who weep now [over your sins and repent], for you will laugh [when the burden of sin is lifted].
“You will laugh at violence and famine,
And you will not be afraid of the wild beasts of the earth.
“He will yet fill your mouth with laughter
And your lips with joyful shouting [if you are found blameless].
“When they are inflamed [with wine and lust during their drinking bouts], I will prepare them a feast [of My wrath]
And make them drunk, that they may rejoice
And may sleep a perpetual sleep
And not wake up,” declares the Lord.
Woe to you who are well-fed (gorged, satiated) now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now [enjoying a life of self-indulgence], for you will mourn and weep [and deeply long for God].
Be miserable and grieve and weep [over your sin]. Let your [foolish] laughter be turned to mourning and your [reckless] joy to gloom.
But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked us and regarded us with contempt and said, “What is this thing you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”
So the runners (couriers) passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as Zebulun; but the people laughed at them with scorn and mocked them.
So Sarah laughed to herself [when she heard the Lord’s words], saying, “After I have become old, shall I have pleasure and delight, my lord (husband) being also old?” And the Lord asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh [to herself], saying, ‘Shall I really give birth [to a child] when I am so old?’ Is anything too difficult or too wonderful for the Lord? At the appointed time, when the season [for her delivery] comes, I will return to you and Sarah will have a son.” read more.
Then Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh”; because she was afraid. And He (the Lord) said, “No, but you did laugh.”
All who see me laugh at me and mock me;
They [insultingly] open their lips, they shake their head, saying,
“He trusted and committed himself to the Lord, let Him save him.
Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.”
From Thematic Bible
Laughter » Attributed to God
The Lord laughs at him [the wicked one—the one who oppresses the righteous],
For He sees that his day [of defeat] is coming.
But You, O Lord, will laugh at them [in scorn];
You scoff at and deride all the nations.
Laughter » A time for
A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance.