What Does the Bible Say About Laughter?
Laughter is a powerful and deeply human response, capable of expressing joy, disbelief, celebration, or even contempt. But what does the Bible say about laughter? Is it always good? Is it ever inappropriate? The answer is not one-sided.
Throughout Scripture, laughter appears in moments of blessing, surprise, mockery, and judgment. The Bible’s view of laughter is layered and theological—it affirms its goodness in the right context while also warning against its misuse. In this article, we’ll explore what the Bible says about laughter, tracing its presence from Genesis to the Gospels, and examining its meaning in both joy and judgment.
1. Laughter as Joy and Blessing in the Bible
The Bible recognizes that laughter is sometimes a beautiful, holy expression of joy—especially when tied to God’s unexpected provision. Ecclesiastes 3:4 says there is “a time to weep and a time to laugh,” affirming that laughter has a rightful place in human life and community.
One of the most significant moments of laughter in the Bible occurs in the story of Abraham and Sarah:
In Genesis 17:17 and 18:12, both Abraham and Sarah laugh at the promise of bearing a child in their old age.
In Genesis 21:6, Sarah rejoices after Isaac’s birth, saying, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.”
This type of laughter is born out of wonder, gratitude, and divine blessing. It reflects the surprising goodness of God breaking into human impossibility.
Additionally, Proverbs 8:30–31 presents divine Wisdom rejoicing—almost laughing—with delight in the creation of the world. This poetic image suggests that holy laughter is embedded in the joy of creation itself.
2. Inappropriate or Superficial Laughter
Though the Bible celebrates joy, it also warns against shallow or untimely laughter. Ecclesiastes 7:3 boldly states, “Sorrow is better than laughter,” not to condemn laughter altogether, but to remind us that there are times when lament is more appropriate than levity.
Examples of misused laughter in the Bible include:
Mocking laughter in Genesis 19:14, where Lot’s sons-in-law laugh at his warning about Sodom’s destruction.
Derisive laughter directed at Jesus in Mark 5:40, when He said a dead girl was only sleeping—they “laughed at Him.”
In Luke 6:25, Jesus offers a sobering warning: “Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.” Here, laughter becomes a symbol of self-satisfaction or spiritual blindness, out of sync with the sorrow of a fallen world.
This shows that not all laughter is redemptive. The Bible calls for discernment—some laughter distracts from truth rather than delighting in it.
3. Divine Laughter and the Justice of God
Surprisingly, the Bible also depicts God Himself as laughing—not out of amusement, but in response to human pride and rebellion. Psalm 2:4 says, “He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.” This divine laughter is not playful—it is a form of judgment.
Other references include:
Psalm 37:13, “The Lord laughs at the wicked, for He sees that his day is coming.”
Proverbs 1:26, where Wisdom says, “I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you.”
In these passages, laughter expresses God’s holy scorn toward those who oppose His will. This isn’t cruelty—it’s a theological affirmation that human pride is futile against divine sovereignty.
This use of laughter flips the human script: those who mock God now may one day experience His just reversal.
4. Gospel Reversal: From Weeping to Laughter
Jesus’ teaching in Luke 6:21—“Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh”—points forward to a future reversal. In the Gospel, laughter becomes a symbol of the joy that awaits those who mourn in this age but are faithful to God.
This eschatological hope includes:
The restoration of joy in the Kingdom of God.
The vindication of the righteous who now suffer and weep.
The fullness of laughter in resurrection and eternal communion.
For the believer, laughter is not just an emotional reaction—it is part of what we hope for in the new creation. The Bible promises that sorrow will be turned into dancing, and tears into joy (Psalm 30:5, Revelation 21:4).
Thus, the Gospel doesn’t merely redeem the soul—it redeems laughter itself.
5. The Clown as a Symbol: Laughter in Tension with Truth
In biblical reflection, the clown functions as a powerful symbol of laughter—particularly laughter that lives in the tension between sorrow and joy, judgment and grace. The clown is not merely a comedic figure but a subversive icon that exposes pride, reverses expectations, and reminds us of the strange paradoxes in God’s world. (See A Biblical Symbology of Clowns.)
Drawing from that symbolism, the clown:
Mocks the powerful but mourns the broken.
Laughs in absurdity, revealing how human pride looks in the light of divine wisdom.
Embodies paradox—joy and grief, celebration and satire, presence and alienation.
In this way, the clown bears resemblance to prophetic figures in Scripture who, through symbolic action or poetic derision, reveal uncomfortable truths. Elijah mocking the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:27), or Paul saying “we are fools for Christ’s sake” (1 Corinthians 4:10), demonstrates a kind of holy foolishness that confronts and corrects.
The Bible’s laughter, then, is not always comfortable. Sometimes, like the clown’s painted smile, it hides a deeper warning or invites a deeper hope. It forces the hearer to ask: Is your laughter rooted in the joy of truth—or the denial of it?
Conclusion: What the Bible Says About Laughter
What does the Bible say about laughter? It says that laughter can be holy, healing, and joyful—but also mocking, shallow, or dangerous. Scripture invites us to laugh with gratitude at God’s blessings, to rejoice with creation, and to look forward to the day when joy will be made full.
At the same time, the Bible warns against laughter that blinds us to sin, distracts us from repentance, or mocks what is sacred. In both celebration and warning, laughter in the Bible reveals what the heart treasures.
Ultimately, the Gospel tells us that Christ came to turn our mourning into joy. In Him, the laughter of Sarah becomes the laughter of the church—a people who have seen God do the impossible and now rejoice, not in ignorance, but in hope.
Bible verses about laughter:
Ecclesiastes 3:4, "A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance."
Genesis 21:6, "And Sarah said, 'God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me.'"
Job 8:21, "He will yet fill your mouth with laughing, and your lips with rejoicing."
Luke 6:21, "Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh."
Luke 6:25, "Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep."
Psalm 2:4, "He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall hold them in derision."
Proverbs 17:22, "A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones."
Ecclesiastes 7:3, "Sorrow is better than laughter, for by a sad countenance the heart is made better."
Proverbs 8:30–31, "Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him, rejoicing in His inhabited world..."
Mark 5:40, "And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child… and entered where the child was lying."
